Whether you’re a restaurant looking to establish yourself in the foodie scene or an up-and-coming cocktail maker hoping to be the talk of the town, reviews are critical to your business’s success. Unfortunately, getting positive reviews can be more difficult than it seems. Read on to learn the dos and don’ts of getting great Bar Client reviews and improving your reputation among today’s customers.
DO make a point to remember your customers’ names
Building a rapport with your customers is key to getting positive reviews. People are more likely to leave a review if they feel like they’re valued as an individual. So, make sure you remember your customers’ names and use them often when you’re talking to them. This will show that you care about them as people, not just as potential review-leavers.
DO follow up with customers after they’ve been served
The best way to get a review is to follow up with the customer after they’ve been served. This shows that you’re interested in their experience and that you care about their feedback. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to thank them for their business.
DON’T try to limit the conversation when serving customers
You might think that if you keep the conversation focused on business, you’ll be able to get a better review. But in reality, The best way to get a great review is to let the conversation flow naturally.
DO tell your staff it’s important to get feedback from every customer
As the owner or manager of a bar, you know that reviews can make or break your business. But getting customers to leave reviews can be tough. You don’t want to beg for reviews, but you also don’t want to ignore the importance of them. The best way to get your staff on board is to stress the importance of customer feedback and how it can help the business grow.
DON’T be pushy about asking for reviews
If you’re constantly pestering your customers for reviews, they’re going to get annoyed. And when they finally leave a review, it’s going to be a negative one.
DO make it easy for customers to leave reviews (five sentences): The easier you make it for customers to leave reviews, the more likely they are to do it. Make sure your business listing has an Ask us about our service button that pops up before checkout or offers links to online reviews after checkout. For mobile users, consider including a link in your mobile app that lets people share their experience on Facebook or Google+. You can also include social media buttons on your website so people can share their experiences with their friends on Facebook or Twitter.
DO keep track of how many times you ask your staff to give reviews
You don’t want to become that person who is always pestering their staff for reviews. Keep track of how many times you’ve asked in a given week/month, and make sure to space out your requests.
DO encourage guest feedback whenever possible
You should always encourage feedback from your guests, whether it’s positive or negative. This helps you understand what they liked or didn’t like about their experience, and how you can improve in the future. Make sure to thank them for their feedback, too! If a guest has left you a review online, let them know that you saw it and appreciate the time they took to write one. If you get reviews that are less than five stars (and sometimes even if they’re five stars), don’t be afraid to reach out to the customer and ask what went wrong so that next time there’s no repeat issues!