Competition is about being the best. Right?

Well, sort of. It goes a little deeper than that. Notably, in the restaurant industry, competing effectively entails providing an experience that customers just can’t get elsewhere.

Want to truly succeed? Set your restaurant apart from the rest. Here’s four ways to do it.

 

Hone in on what makes you different

What’s your big differentiating factor? Is it a special appetizer? Your signature sauce? Your fully-stocked bar, featuring a massive beer and wine list? These things are important to be aware of when it comes to competing.

Essentially, you need to find your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Entrepreneur defines USP as “The factor or consideration presented by a seller as the reason that one product or service is different from and better than that of the competition.”

There’s a good chance you already have a good idea of your restaurant’s USP is. It’s not always one individual thing. It could be a combination. For example, your restaurant might be known for its upscale, exclusive atmosphere – yet you also have relatively affordable prices.

 

Watch the competition

One of the most important parts of standing apart? Knowing exactly what you’re standing apart from in the first place. In order to ensure you’re competing properly, you’ll need to watch what your closest competitors are doing, and you’ll need to do it proactively.

Follow them on social media. Go eat at their restaurants. Look at their websites. Take note of their strengths and weaknesses.

Don’t just focus on what you do better though. Focus on what you do differently (as long as it’s positive). Examining your competitors is a great way to get a better idea of what your USP looks like.

 

Refine the customer experience

The most memorable part of a restaurant isn’t always just the food, it’s the service. Customers are much more likely to eat at a restaurant where they feel like they’re valued customers, rather than just another table before the next party.

Of course, a quality customer experience isn’t just tied into how you treat your customers – although good treatment certainly helps. Rewarding loyal customers is key. Try incorporating a loyalty program into your customer experience. Rewarding customers for repeat visits goes a long way towards impacting their decision on where to eat.

Furthermore, another way to really ramp up your loyalty program (along with your overall customer experience) is to get a little help from a service like CoGoBuzz. We’ll digitize your loyalty program, and simplify engagement down to a simple text message. Read ahead to learn more.

 

Beat The Competition With CoGoBuzz

With CoGoBuzz, standing apart from the competition has never been more straightforward and effortless. Our state-of-the-art digital marketing service redefines your restaurant experience with powerful WiFi, SMS, and Email solutions.

Your restaurant’s menu, deals, events, and more, all become accessible in-browser – all with a single, one-time connection to your in-store HotSpot. Your brand new, fully digital, text-based loyalty program lets you instantly engage and reward customers. To top that off, we even produce a full customer profile for every customer that logs in to your WiFi.

Want to learn more about CoGoBuzz – including how we get your restaurant more Facebook followers automatically? Check out the rest of our website!

How does your restaurant stand apart? Let us know in the comments!