We know the story all too well. Amazing restaurant opens up, locals rave and pack the venue every weekend, and a year later? They close their doors. It’s a story all too common. In fact, 80% of restaurants and bars are out of business within 5 years. (Business Insider)
Who would have thought? After all, on paper, they had it all right. They were active on social media, hosted events frequently, were inundated with local press, and treated every single customer like they were their own special star. Alas, all of the limited-release craft brews, hand-cut cocktail ice, and artisanal charcuterie meats in the world couldn’t save them.
Bypassing the ‘why’ (ahem, Millennials & Uber - I’m guilty also), we have a serious issue- people just aren’t showing up to restaurants as frequently. As Sam Wynne, our client & owner of BrainDead Brewing in Dallas, TX puts it-
“a few years ago it was all about getting a handshake at the front door, but now you have to get that first handshake digitally.” — Sam Wynne, BrainDead Brewing
Some restaurants are downright awful. For them, it’s only a matter of time. But for those who aren’t? One of my favorite spots in Dallas for Tacos and Old Fashioneds (don’t judge my taste buds, bud) was Victor Tangos. They closed this year after a decade of stellar service. This is a prime example of a great venue that provided immense value, but just couldn’t keep up with the times.
Now, let’s get to the meat of this post. I’m going to share two of the strategies we are using to help restaurants, bars, breweries, and others push through the hard times.
The Benefit
Chatbots can be used for many things. At Botsmith AI, we are leveraging them to build brand awareness, increase attendance, and distribute information on events & specials for our restaurant clients. Additionally, we are using them to thank visitors to ensure the best customer service.
It’s like email on steroids. Done right, the benefit here is obvious & incredibly potent.
A Few Strategies to Start
Quick Note on Choosing a Platform
I’ll cover this briefly as others have already written exhaustive lists on the pros and cons of each chatbot platform. For restaurateurs who want to go this alone, I highly recommend using ManyChat. It is incredibly visual and intuitive, and easier to manage than most platforms. That said, there are other great platforms out there, so do your research and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.
The Facebook Comments Growth Tool
Growth tools are the bread and butter of what makes chatbots great. We won’t go into a ton of detail here (again, tons of articles about these) but here is our favorite:
Facebook Comments GT Example: Run an organic page post or paid ad promoting an irresistible special. Ask users to comment on the feed to be sent a coupon. Create the tool + sequence in ManyChat. The bot automatically sends the opt-in + coupon, and informs them they will get some messages every now and then. Don’t forget to ask them to share with friends!
BrainDead Brewing Beer List Messenger QR Code
Using Messenger QR Codes
Here is a hot tip for you, and something we are doing at BrainDead Brewing. We are printing Messenger QR codes on menus & stickers, linked directly to the beer list. Now, instead of patrons getting up to read chalkboards, they can scan the code in Messenger and read the updated list on their phones.
The benefit here is that they become subscribers. The next day, you can thank them for their visit via Messenger, ask how their visit was, and welcome them back in. Bonus points? Give them a coupon to come back in the following week and thank them personally when they do.
P.S. If you want to see BrainDead Brewing’s Messenger QR Growth Tool, just open the Messenger app, go to the camera and hold your finger on the screen to scan the image above! Or Click Here to see the Welcome Sequence.
Final Note
Restaurateurs, you’ve got it rough right now, but we are all appreciative of your hard work, and for bringing our communities together with great food, masterfully crafted cocktails, and cold brews. My hope is this helps many of you keep your businesses running strong so I can continue stuffing my fat face.
If I can help, or if you would like us to build a bot for you, please shoot me a message!
Send Josh a Note on Messenger
Cheers to your success,
-Josh
Article Source: https://chatbotsmagazine.com/reviving-the-restaurant-industry-a-chatbot-story-cbbf77a3b938
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