Here is a video about EAT- a fast growing UK based restaurant chain that is not only leveraging Google apps for their business but also taking advantage of other emerging new technologies. They also have iPhone app and integrated contact less payment solution for their stores. In this new competitive restaurant market they clearly understand the importance of not just delivering fresh and delicious food but also managing every aspect of business operation efficiently leveraging new technology.
Over the past few years I have been closely watching the game played on the web. It’s interesting to watch the race especially between Google and Facebook.
Google has been there for over a decade now. They have been dominating the web since then. But the interesting thing that is happening right now is that Facebook is taking over the web. Facebook comes along in 2004. A baby in front of Google few years ago has grown so big so fast that Google is already starting to feel the heat. In fact Facebook is a threat to their dominance on the web. No wonder Google is scrambling to release product after product like Wave and Buzz just to counter defend themselves. I am not sure how effective they have been.
In the video Thomas Power of ecademy.com presents his insight about Facebook and the future.It is intriguing. I agree with him that Facebook will take over Google as a number one site on the web by this year 2010. He makes a prediction that Facebook might have a BILLION users by 2012. I wouldn’t be surprised if Facebook grows that big with the growth rate that I see at present. So for any businesses including restaurants it is the best time to get in and take advantage of the opportunity it offers.
They are so good at taking a simple concept and delivering it to the masses that it has become so popular and thus powerful force on the web. Just take an example of Fan Page. When it just got started it was static. Once they realized that it has to be more interactive, they made the status updates on Fan Page appear on personal profile page of the fan. Now look at all the businesses and may be even your restaurant has adopted Facebook simply because of this reason.
The biggest advantage that I see for your restaurant is the friend to friend recommendation of your restaurant on Facebook. We all know when we want to visit a new restaurant we tend to ask our friends for their recommendation. In a real life scenario you might be able to ask to a very few friends in person or on the phone. But the problem with this method is that recommendation is limited, as you can ask only few people. But with Facebook at a click you have an access to hundreds and even thousands of friends who might have recommendations for the restaurant that you are intending to visit. It would be like going to a restaurant review site like Yelp. But instead of reading review from random strangers you would be reading reviews from your own friends from your network. I’m sure you would trust your friends than the strangers recommendation. If Facebook buys Yelp or comes up with similar product then restaurants are winners here. Even the small restaurants with no brand name will have a chance to rise to the top just based on the good recommendations of your customers who are fans of your restaurant. So please treat your customers right and start gaining the great testimonials from now. Your restaurant will be far ahead when Facebook will integrate product something like that.
The race between Google and Facebook is not complete yet. It is still on. But as a restaurant entrepreneur I think you should be able to figure out who is going to be a winner and try to incorporate your present and future restaurant marketing based on that analysis.
So do you know who is going to be the winner. Who do you think is going to win the race?
As Thomas Power said that the winner of the race is the one with all the names. You know who has all the names now including your name and probably thousands of your customers name.
Your answer might give you a reason why your restaurant should really care about Facebook?
I saw the video clip of Chick-Fil-A’s Recipe for Success on Fox Business Online.It’s an interview with Truett and Dan Cathy. Dan Cathy talks about their recipe for success. I’m sure restaurant entrepreneurs like you can learn important lessons from them about how to create a successful restaurant empire.
Their first secret is Quality People. Dan Cathy mentioned that they attract high caliber people. I have heard that they go through thousands and thousands of applicants before they choose few who are right fit for operating their restaurant.They choose the people with the right mindset, attitude and drive and not necessarily with the money. This is the difference between their Franchise business model and other chain restaurants. The other restaurant chain go after people with money and sometimes not necessarily the right mindset and attitude.
Another recipe for Success is the quality service. It is the service that makes their business exceptional. No doubt the food is good, but the kindness and the great service of the employees makes the experience memorable.As Dan Cathy says the food tastes even better with excellent service.
Even during Economic Downturn in 2009 Chick-Fil-a weathered the storm and still made good revenues and profits. It is truely the answer to the test of how a restaurant based on principles of putting its people- employees and customers before profits can be strong even during the turbulent times. It shows the power of a business that is based on a strong foundation.
I hope you are inspired and if you at least try to incorporate some of the wisdoms from Chick-Fil-a I believe your restaurant would have a greater chance of success.
Do you like Chick-Fil-A’s business model and their business philosophy? How do you feel about their policy of closing their restaurant on Sundays? Is your restaurant incorporating some of the Chick-Fil-A’s recipe for Success? I would love to hear your thoughts.
