It can be easy to get caught up in dealing with staff and financial concerns when you’re running a restaurant, but if you spend all your time dealing with behind-the-scenes troubles you are missing out on opportunities to engage with guests and turn them into regulars. Running a restaurant is all about creating an experience, and good hospitality can be the difference between a successful business and a shuttered one.

The number one thing an operator can do to make their restaurant more hospitable is make themselves available to guests. Building a rapport with customers makes them feel like they’re at home and helps encourage loyalty and return visits. Personal appearances at the restaurant help accomplish this goal, and so does maintaining a responsive and fun social media presence. Social media shouldn’t be used just as a marketing device; it should be a tool that allows operators to get in tune with their customers’ needs and desires, and an opportunity for conversation.

In the modern age of the food service industry, simply offering good food is no longer enough. The food is just one facet of the overall restaurant experience, and customer engagement is nearly, if not just as important as the food.

Read the full article here: 5 Simple Moves to Boost Guest Engagement

Link: http://restaurant-hospitality.com/marketing/5-simple-moves-boost-guest-engagement