Getting your restaurant reviewed can significantly boost visibility and credibility. Whether you’re the owner of a cozy café or a bustling bistro, reviews are a vital part of your online reputation. In this blog post, we’ll explore actionable tips on how to get your restaurant reviewed, ensuring your restaurant not only attracts reviews but also thrives from them.
How to Get Your Restaurant Reviewed
Getting your restaurant reviewed effectively is about more than just serving excellent food—it’s about actively engaging with your local community and making your presence known. Here are tailored tips for local restaurants aiming to boost their review counts:
- Connect with Local Food Enthusiasts: Identify and reach out to local food bloggers and influencers who focus on the dining scene in your area. Offer them a unique experience at your restaurant to capture their interest.
- Make It Easy to Leave Reviews: Ensure your Google My Business profile is up to date and active. Provide direct links to your review page in strategic places like your website, social media pages, or even in an email signature.
- Ask Customers Directly: At the end of a meal, a personal request from the server or a note with the bill can encourage satisfied customers to leave a review. Emphasize how much their feedback helps your local business.
- Use Table Tents or Signs: Place small signs (like our one-tap stand) or table tents in visible areas of your restaurant that include QR codes or short URLs directing customers to your Google review page.
- Follow Up with Customers: If you have an email list, consider sending a follow-up thank you email after their visit, including a link to leave a review. Be sure to express how valuable their input is for your local restaurant.
- Engage with All Reviews: Make it a point to respond to every review, thanking reviewers for their feedback and addressing any concerns raised. This not only shows that you value customer input but also encourages others to share their own experiences.
Is It Wrong to Ask for Restaurant Reviews?
The simple answer is no, it is not wrong—as long as it’s done ethically and respectfully. Asking for feedback is a standard practice in the hospitality industry and can be integral to your strategy on how to get your restaurant reviewed. Here are a few guidelines to ensure your approach is both effective and considerate:
- Timing is Key: Ask for reviews at a moment when your customers are most likely to feel positive about their dining experience, such as after enjoying a satisfying meal.
- Be Polite and Non-Intrusive: Your request should always be framed as a suggestion, not a demand. Let your customers know that their feedback is valuable and appreciated, but they should never feel pressured.
- Personalize the Request: When possible, have the request come directly from someone who interacted with the customer during their visit, like their server. A personal touch can make the request feel more genuine.
- Respect Privacy: Avoid asking for reviews in a manner that could make customers feel uncomfortable or watched. It’s important to respect their space and privacy.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can effectively encourage reviews without stepping over any ethical boundaries. This strategy not only helps in how to get your restaurant reviewed but also builds trust and loyalty with your customers.
What Not to Do When Asking for Reviews
While understanding how to get your restaurant reviewed is crucial, it’s equally important to know what practices to avoid. These missteps can not only hinder your chances of gaining positive reviews but can also harm your restaurant’s reputation:
- Don’t Offer Compensation for Positive Reviews: It’s unethical and against the guidelines of most review platforms to offer compensation in exchange for positive reviews. Instead, focus on earning genuine feedback by providing excellent service and food.
- Avoid Pestering Customers: While it’s acceptable to ask for reviews, repeatedly asking customers can seem desperate and may turn them off. If a customer chooses not to review after an initial request, respect their decision.
- Never Fake Reviews: Do not create fake reviews or hire others to write them. This can lead to severe penalties from review platforms and damage your credibility among customers.
- Don’t Ignore Negative Feedback: Addressing negative reviews thoughtfully and proactively shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to improving. Ignoring or responding defensively to negative comments can discourage others from posting honest feedback.
How Many Reviews Should a Restaurant Get Per Month?
The number of reviews a restaurant should aim to receive per month can vary based on several factors, including the restaurant’s size, location, and customer base. However, a good benchmark for most local restaurants is to aim for at least 5 to 10 new reviews per month. This steady flow ensures that your Google My Business profile remains active and relevant, helping to boost your visibility in local searches.
While aiming for 5 to 10 reviews per month, it’s important to focus on the quality of the feedback rather than just the quantity. High-quality reviews with detailed descriptions can be more influential than a large number of short, less informative comments.
Understanding how to get your restaurant reviewed is a crucial aspect of building and maintaining a strong online presence. Remember, the key to success lies in the quality of service you provide and the genuine connections you build with your customers. Positive reviews are a byproduct of exceptional dining experiences and excellent customer service.
If you need help implementing these strategies or managing your online reviews, contact Digital One. Our expert team can assist you in creating a robust review management system tailored to your restaurant’s needs. Reach out to us today and let’s work together to boost your restaurant’s online presence and customer engagement.