Mastering SEO for food and drink

Running a specialty foods business is impossible without a strong online presence and a sound Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. Among the most important things when designing a website targeting foodies is to maximize your use of visual imagery. Fill your online space with appealing colors and tantalizing pictures. Social media should also be a big part of your SEO efforts, because people love to talk about food. It’s also very important that your website be mobile-friendly, since many people research or buy food on their phones.

Key Takeaways:

• Selling specialty food is not an easy thing because while one might believe that his food is the best diners and connoisseurs might be unwilling to try it.
• Many people wonder what they are doing wrong when no one comes to taste their specialty food and the money spent starts to bleed.
• A brand these days cannot be seen or accepted in the market without the brand having an online presence and with it an SEO strategy.

"Many speciality food experts do what they think they should be doing to market their brand, instead of doing what they have to do."

Read more: https://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/start-ups/mastering-seo-for-food-and-drink

Surviving the Kind of Crisis that Makes a Bad Yelp Review Seem Like a Love Note

The restaurant business can be both complex and simple. But what happens when a local television reporter turns undercover cop and begins to report that your kitchen has unsanitary conditions will determine the future of the restaurant. It becomes a challenge that needs to be tackled. Many restaurateurs turn to crisis communication pros for this sort of tasks. It is estimated that one doesn’t know when a crisis can hit an industry in this imperfect world. Yet for restaurants, crisis response is harder because of the unique circumstances that they face. This is because in the first place few restaurants have a crisis communication strategy with communicators that can help them to deal with any crisis. Many national chains can employ communication professionals but this luxury is not in the purview of small and local restaurants. Therefore, the restaurant industry is starkly different from the billions of companies in the country who make it a duty to employ these professionals because they always envision that a crisis can surface at anytime. One thing that is going for restaurants is that their crisis are what the general public can easily understand. When there is a food poisoning in a local restaurant, many persons can understand what the news is saying and what action they need to take. That is why crisis are harder on restaurants.

Key Takeaways:

• Have a solid communications plan in case there is a crisis when speaking to the media.
• Food connects us all, and if a local eatery has bad publicity, it can ruin a business.
• be on the look out for issues to avoid them in the first place.

"A crisis can hit any industry at any time. Yet restaurants face unique circumstances that make crisis response harder."

Read more: https://www.modernrestaurantmanagement.com/surviving-the-kind-of-crisis-that-makes-a-bad-yelp-review-seem-like-a-love-note/

Chipotle's digital sales up 100%

Past food safety issues put a dent on Chipotle’s reputation but now one can safely say that Chipotle has recovered from those events. On Thursday the Chipotle chain reported that they recorded a restaurant sales increase of 9.9 percent for quarter 1 that ended in March 2019. Of significant is the digital sales figures that shows a bump in that sector because the digital sales figures grew by about 100.7 percent and it was accountable for about 15.7 percent of the overall sales for that quarter. According to the CEO of Chipotle, Brian Niccol, these figures represent the fifth consecutive quarter where comps have shown remarkable acceleration and this makes the company to believe that customers respond enthusiastically when they connect with them through culturally relevant marketing with a focus on the great taste and the real ingredients that Chipotle provides. Some stats that were reported was a revenue growth of 13.9 percent to stand at $1.3 billion and an increase of operating margin by 21 percent. The figures show that the digital end of the restaurant chain has a lot to account for the improvement in sales.

Key Takeaways:

• Chipotle has seen an increase in comparable restaurant sales for the five quarter in a row.
• The recent successes for Chipotle appear to be driven by it's digital sales.
• Chipotle's digital sales account for 15 percent of all sales and are up nearly 100 percent since last year.

"Through a combination of delivery, order ahead and catering, the chain's digital sales accelerated from Q4 and grew nearly 101% year-over-year and quarter one."

Read more: https://www.fastcasual.com/news/chipotles-digital-sales-up-100/?fbclid=IwAR0HHjkqgrxTtRYw4alraGLtkd-z_Y_j4--md5Cfc0vEmkT3hm85GKF7Plo

Essentials for courting, retaining millennials

The fast casual restaurant industry is going to become increasingly reliant on hiring and retaining Millennial workers. Tech-savvy young people will expect an easy, efficient, tech-enabled hiring and on-boarding process, with computer-based training used when possible. More than a third of Millennial food service and hospitality employees say their employers could make better use of technology — not surprising given that the vast majority of Millennials use their smartphones daily, including in restaurants. Performance review technology can also help give Millennials the feedback and positive reinforcement they are often very responsive to.

Key Takeaways:

• The food and beverage industry is moving at a very fast pace and this makes restaurant managers to be pulled in more directions than ever before.
• Restaurant managers now rely on team members who are mostly millenials to make sure there is smooth running of the companies they supervise.
• When the technology is right for the work force, every member of the work force can be a star, and these technologies should attract the tech savvy population.

"While hiring and onboarding technology is important for attracting and hiring millennials, integrating technology to assist with daily restaurant operations and tasks is even more critical for consistently retaining top talent."

Read more: https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/essentials-for-courting-retaining-millennials/

The Future of Restaurant Advertising Is Machine Learning

The biggest buzzword in the marketplace over the last five years has been artificial intelligence and it has picked up momentum as products like Amazon Echo and self-driving cars are launched. But the term artificial intelligence, or AI as some call it, is not new. It was started in the 1950s and big business has been using it for advertising and marketing for years. In recent times though, it has become widespread and a part of our daily lives. Artificial intelligence involves machines using patterns and statistical method to infer what to do without specific instructions. It has become a godsend for local businesses and the restaurant industry. Twenty years ago it was difficult for small businesses to compete on technology of this sort with their bigger counterparts because of the cost involved. Then came facebook advertising and Google Ads which made it easier for them to do so but to succeed they have to analyze several data daily and multiple times per day. This was a huge task. That is why automation has been touted as godsend. It removes the inefficiency inherent in human processing. But machine learning and artificial intelligence are still new to the small business world. There is a lot that it holds for them for the future.

Key Takeaways:

• One of the biggest consumer buzzwords we have today is artificial intelligence and it has picked up momentum with products like Amazon Echo and self-driving cars.
• The author reckons that the term AI or artificial intelligence is not new as it was coined in the 1950s and many companies have been using it for decades.
• Twenty years ago it was difficult for small business owners to compete with their bigger counterparts because the technology for doing so was expensive.

"Put simply, machine learning is the scientific study of algorithms and statistical models that computer systems use to effectively perform a specific task without using explicit instructions, relying on patterns and inference instead. It sounds complicated, but with the right technology deploying machine learning, it’s what you would call a godsend for local store marketing."

Read more: https://www.modernrestaurantmanagement.com/the-future-of-restaurant-advertising-is-machine-learning/

The Digital Imperatives for Restaurants in 2019

Approximately 53% of millennial diners have reported that having access to digital devices during their dining experience is imperative in ensuring optimal customer service within the food industry. These devices should be in the center of the dining experience, and each device should include free WiFi, as well as flexible menu options that are easily accessible. Having direct access to reviews, menu options, locations, and other related information will provide customers with a much more transparent experience.

Key Takeaways:

• A new report states that the time is quite ripe for restaurants to start making use of digital tools in enhancing dining experiences.
• Restaurant guests expect an experience that is devoid of friction and makes them do things at their pace and time.
• If a dining experience is poor even for the first time, a survey found that restaurant customers are bound to take their business elsewhere.

"The dining public has spoken, and as the calendar turns to 2019, their message to restaurant operators is loud and clear: Deliver a digitally enabled dining experience or we’ll eat elsewhere."

Read more: https://www.modernrestaurantmanagement.com/the-digital-imperatives-for-restaurants-in-2019/

The Number One Reason Why Restaurants Should Run Social Media Contests to Increase Engagement

Having a visible social media presence is important for any entrepreneur, especially those who are in the restaurant business. Since consumers are going to take the initiative to photograph and share their dining experience, why not create a contest out of it in order to bring more recognition and incentive? Be sure to engage in whichever contest you choose daily so that the momentum never dwindles. A great way to get even more publicity is by creating a custom hashtag.

Key Takeaways:

• self-promote and  increase engagement.
• Pulling out the smartphone to take a snapshot of a meal is no longer viewed as being impolite but rather as the norm.
• Hosting regular contests across social media channels works for restaurants and they are encouraged to do so constantly to increase engagement.

"Successful social media marketing is all about creating engaging content for your followers to consume, and promoting organically is important, since it feels genuine to viewers and establishes your brand's credibility."

Read more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/internet-marketing-agency-fishbat-shares-the-number-one-reason-why-restaurants-should-run-social-media-contests-to-increase-engagement-300775302.html?fbclid=IwAR3oDB1de0o8AyKbP5XFV5vqu11pvZnplwWnBqOaqhWS89UZnd56A32Zsys