In today’s digital age, nearly all consumers flock to online review platforms in order to vet a business’s reputation. Restaurants, in particular, tend to be among the most visited.
While such a platform can make or break a restaurant depending on how good or bad the reviews are, it’s imperative that all restaurants optimize for their online reputation, not only to thrive but to survive.
In what follows, we’ll be discussing what review management software is, why it’s important to businesses and restaurants in particular, and what the benefits are of employing such a platform to grow your business.
So, if you’re a restaurant eager to take your business to the next level, this article is for you and review management software is what you’re going to want to focus on. Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
What is Review Management Software?
Simply put, review management software is just that; a platform whereby businesses collect testimonials. As a two-folded platform, review management software not only allows businesses to grow their reputation but also informs consumers of those
businesses that they may have an interest in visiting.
As you can imagine, this is especially useful for hospitality businesses such as restaurants. If you’re looking for a place to eat and you want to first vet the place before giving them your business, review management software is exactly the tool
you’d use!
While the primary purpose of review management software is to allow businesses to collect testimonials, it also allows them to respond to negative feedback, share positive feedback by posting them on website or social media pages, and it’s also a
fantastic tool to employ for word-of-mouth marketing.
There are an endless amount of review management software options available, however, below are some of the most common.
Common Types of Review Management Software:
• Yelp
• Google
• TripAdvisor
• Foursquare
• UrbanSpoon
• Angie’s List
As a consumer, you can likely understand the utility of such a platform. Similarly, if you’re a business owner, and restaurant owner at that, such a platform is that much more intimately appreciated. Let’s now dive deep into the importance of review management software for restaurants…
The Importance of Review Management Software for Restaurants
While it can be scary not having control of what consumers say about your business online, it’s also undeniable the importance of having a plethora of positive reviews shared for the world to see. As you can imagine, this can have a tremendous impact on your success. If you’re not yet sold on its importance, here are a few statistics to consider…
It’s suggested that 85% of consumers who seek out online reviews before visiting a restaurant trust those reviews just as much as they trust personal recommendations! Of those, 75% trust a company more if it has positive reviews. Similarly, 90% of those who read reviews claim that positive reviews influence their buying decision. That alone should illustrate its importance!
In short, as a restaurant owner, online reviews on platforms like Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor can provide immeasurable value for attracting new clientele, boosting brand awareness, and ultimately increasing total sales.
Below are a few helpful tips to ensure that a customer leaves a positive review on your restaurant:
• Provide Undeniably Incredible Service
• Prioritize Restaurant Atmosphere and Ambience
• Encourage or Incentivize Customer Feedback & Word-of-Mouth Referral
• Respond to Every Review
• Maintain a High Quality of Presence Online
• Gain Insights and Adapt Accordingly
Still not sold on the importance of review management software? Let’s dive a little deeper into the benefits, shall we?!
The Benefits of Tools like Yelp for Restaurants
Restaurants happen to be the second most commonly searched and reviewed category on Yelp, accounting for 22% of total viewership. For restaurants looking to capitalize on new eyes, it’s imperative to optimize their online brand identity through review management software platforms like Yelp.
Outside of the primary benefit of brand awareness, review management software’s like Yelp offers several other benefits that restaurants, in particular, can take advantage of.
Below are the Benefits of Review Management Software for Restaurants:
• Boosts Brand Awareness
• Lead Generation/Gain New Customers
• Improves Reputation
• Acts as a Means of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
• Ability to Gain Consumer Insight
• Helps Earn Industry Authority
• Indirectly Increases Revenue
Whether you’re trying to boost brand awareness, attract new clientele, increase revenue, gain consumer insight, or simply employ word-of-mouth marketing as a means of cost-saving, review management software is incredibly beneficial.
Of course, there are downsides to such a platform. One negative review is all you need to illustrate that…The truth, however, is that whether you like it or not, online reviews are here to stay.
As a restaurant fearful of online reviews, there’s only one thing to do…Prioritize customer satisfaction and do all that you can to ensure that should a consumer leave a review, it’ll be a positive one!