4 ways to improve restaurant customer loyalty

Customer loyalty is important in any type of business. If your customers are one-time visitors, your restaurant will eventually run out of customers. Therefore, good customer loyalty will generate more predictable revenue which is better for your restaurant’s sustainability.

To gauge your restaurant’s customer loyalty, you have to find out your customer retention rate.

What is a good customer retention rate for restaurants?

According to Statista, the average retention rate of restaurants worldwide is 55%. That means anything above that percentage, and your customer retention rates are good.

Listen to customer feedback

Listening and responding to customer feedback is important as it shows them that you care and that makes them feel more connected to your restaurant brand. 

Even if some of your customers are leaving bad reviews, it is important that you reply to them with finesse, so that they know that their issues are being addressed and that you value them.

This helps your restaurant brand build trust with your customers and trust is what keeps them coming back. 

Email Marketing

A perfect example would be Shopee and Lazada, sending you marketing emails and newsletters,so that whenever you are looking to buy something online, you will instinctively head to their ecommerce platforms. You could achieve the same effect with your restaurant too!

If you have a membership programme in place, you should leverage it to keep your customers coming back. Have a schedule where you send your customers attractive deals in your email newsletter, or new dishes that your restaurant chefs have come up with.

By having a routine schedule of reaching out to your customers through email newsletters, you ensure that your restaurant brand is always on their mind.

Loyalty programme

Most restaurants with great customer loyalty have set up an attractive loyalty programme. The problem with most loyalty programmes is the sign up process. Most restaurants and F&B outlets will have their customers sign up at the counter when placing an order. While this allows your staff the opportunity to explain the benefits of a membership, it slows down order taking.

On top of that, your customers may feel pressured by the long line of waiting customers and may simply reject the membership offer. 

If your restaurant is using a QR ordering system like iMakan for customers to self order through their smartphones, they can sign up to be a member and earn points by simply filling up their name and contact number just before they send in their orders.

A fuss-free and quick membership signup usually encourages customers to sign up for a membership and be a part of your loyalty program.

Good menu design

While a good menu design does not seem directly relatable to improving customer loyalty, it has an impact on customer experience, which in turn, affects customer loyalty. 

If your customers are presented with a menu that they find difficult to understand and find it hard to order from, they are less likely to return as it contributes to a bad experience.

Having an easy to order menu will not only contribute to a good customer experience but also encourages your customer to order more. How so? For example, if your restaurant is using iMakan QR ordering, it allows you to attach appetizing images to each menu item and automatic add on suggestions to help your customers better understand your menu. Coupled with an intuitive interface, your customers’ ordering process will be fuss-free.

Get an enhanced POS system

Without a restaurant cloud based POS system, member information, member reward points management and multiple membership tiers will be difficult to implement and keep track of. Digital solutions like a QR ordering system that raises your restaurant’s productivity, provides fuss free membership sign up and improves customer experience would also be a hassle to implement.

If you are interested in getting a POS system to make membership management effortless and seamlessly integrate productivity boosting solutions, consider getting a free demo of MEGAPOS restaurant cloud POS system by clicking here! We hope to see you soon!