10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

New to marketing analyzing. Need help and guidance

by Khoi
8 replies
Hi guys!

My family are currently owning a restaurant/take away serving asian food.

Our town, there is plenty of asian kitchen everywhere, but many of them went bankrupt due to what I called "parasite" business popping up everywhere, and it seems the asian food value isn't that super great anymore.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is I want my business to be successful, but to be successful, what should a restaurant industry focus on to connect people? I can come of 100 ideas, but quantity doesn't necessary means quality. The question is how can I marketing with right kinda through right strategy to be a successful?

I can come up with facebook, twitter, ads, but not necessary it means it can be successful, because I have seen people using social media, but still went bankrupt.

We have mcdonald, and burger king, and honestly I think they kinda taste... well not that any super differently, but they are still two competitors, but still managing pretty well.

Any (e)books, videos conference whatever where to start and learn step by step before going into the action?
#analyzing #guidance #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Shadowflux
    I love Asian food and I love small businesses. Here are a few suggestions which may or may not seem obvious.

    Online Menus

    Make sure the restaurant can be found on websites that host local menus. Sites like GrubHub let people check out the menus of restaurants before they go. I always do this.

    Yelp

    Make sure your restaurant has a presence on popular sites like Yelp. It's a slippery slope because people will post reviews, whether they're good or bad. It can be tricky getting rid of the bad reviews. All in all, however, A LOT of people check these sites before going to a restaurant. I know I do

    Online Ordering

    There are a lot of take out Chinese food places by me but do you know why I always order from the same one? I can order online. It's the easiest way to do it and they always get the order right when I do. Payment is also handled online so there's no worries. Look into accepting orders online if your restaurant does delivery.

    (There are services that will set this up for you)

    Delivery

    If you don't already deliver, consider doing so.

    Promotions

    Promotions are great. Send out coupons, have online promotions, look into Groupon. If you need to get people walking in the door, a great promotion or coupon can do that.

    Website

    Make sure your restaurant has a basic website. It can have pictures, directions, info, and a copy of the menu. Like I said, people will generally check for a website before going to a new restaurant.

    I hope those help. Once you get these set up, you can go into more advanced marketing techniques. I wouldn't worry about them until you've tried all of the above.

    Good luck on the restaurant, the thought of it is making me hungry.
    Signature
    Native Advertising Specialist
    Dangerously Effective
    Always Discreet
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8944033].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Food is an interesting market. As much as it is, it REALLY is not about the the food. Food is the gateway to an experience in culture. Start with the simple things that can separate you from your competitors.

      Greet your customers "Ni Hao, welcome to the Golden Dragon" or "Ni Hao, thank you for calling the Golden Dragon". When they are leaving say "Xiexie, please come again"

      When people are waiting to be seated count them aloud "ich, ni, son, young, go (sorry only know how to count in Japanese! ) there are 5 of your dining this evening?" "Gen wo lei - follow me please"

      Before they are even seated, you have developed a transformation from the world outside your building, and what is to be expected now that they are inside. Your customers are NOW in an Asian restaurant, and not a restaurant that serves Asian food.

      All of that aside if you do not have a website, you should think of getting one. You will want to have your menu posted there, as well as a printable version. Once there is a website in place you want to look into getting Google places, bing maps for business and Yahoo maps listed. There are steps in this process that include getting "Citations" or listings on other sites such as YP.com and yelp. ( the more the merrier here )

      The reason for this... it is to help those that are looking online at dining options close to them. Either the people that live in your community or people traveling through. The map listings are based on Geography, so online it will cut down your competition. ( Again this depends on the size of town you live in )

      Play up the National holidays - I am going to assume you are running a Chinese Restaurant. So Chinese New Years - Spring Festival - Lantern Festival - March Equinox - Youth Day - Dragon Boat Festival - June Solstice - Double Seven Festival - Spirit Festival - September Equinox - Double 9 day

      Sharing your culture with your community creates a bond and an experience outside of just food. Make a day of it ( or a week depending ha ha, Spring festivals can be fun! ) The Lantern Festival is in 4 days
      , even if you make a small display in the front of your restaurant that people can stop and look at and get the idea behind the holiday, you are sharing culture people LOVE that.

      If you do decide to start using these holidays as promotional ideas your Pepsi or Coke Distributor will be able to help you out with banners and the like.. that's what they are there for. And if you sell beer them too!

      Offer half of to youth on youth day, offer a discount to teachers on teacher day. I think there is a Journalism day offer a discount to them Offer half off on American holidays such as memorial day.

      I could probably go on all day about this, but that is enough to get you headed in the right direction for sure!

      Hope that Helps!
      Signature
      Success is an ACT not an idea
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8944264].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Khoi
    Hi guys!

    Firstly, I want to say thank you for replying me back, and I really appreciate ideas and feedback!

    secondly, regarding what Shadowflux said, I have been thinking a lot regarding points what you said on everything, but the problem like I said there is to many competitors in the market who is popping everywhere. They are like "parasite". Popping out here, and there. I need to study and understand the marketing how can I be "differently" from them.

    I am pretty new to marketing analysing. There are to many overwhelming information out here, and there, which would be "this is the right way, this is wrong". I need to understand some sort of 101 instruction. Budget is of course one thing, but the most challenging is how to please the consumers.

    Savidge4:

    I have been thinking the ideas of "ni hao" concept, but our place is self service, so it's kinda limitied how much "ni hao" we can do on everything.

    We are running asian crossover restaurant, which means we serve thai, chinese, vietnamese, japanese, or basically generally east asian food.

    I totally love the idea how sharing the bond idea you said. I will consider it very much!

    Do you have any books, or somewhere I can read to gather more awesome ideas how to promote my restaurant to be better? I really think you have good ideas something I think I could learn more!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8945696].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Originally Posted by Khoi View Post

      Hi guys!

      Firstly, I want to say thank you for replying me back, and I really appreciate ideas and feedback!

      secondly, regarding what Shadowflux said, I have been thinking a lot regarding points what you said on everything, but the problem like I said there is to many competitors in the market who is popping everywhere. They are like "parasite". Popping out here, and there. I need to study and understand the marketing how can I be "differently" from them.

      I am pretty new to marketing analysing. There are to many overwhelming information out here, and there, which would be "this is the right way, this is wrong". I need to understand some sort of 101 instruction. Budget is of course one thing, but the most challenging is how to please the consumers.

      Savidge4:

      I have been thinking the ideas of "ni hao" concept, but our place is self service, so it's kinda limitied how much "ni hao" we can do on everything.

      We are running asian crossover restaurant, which means we serve thai, chinese, vietnamese, japanese, or basically generally east asian food.

      I totally love the idea how sharing the bond idea you said. I will consider it very much!

      Do you have any books, or somewhere I can read to gather more awesome ideas how to promote my restaurant to be better? I really think you have good ideas something I think I could learn more!
      Sorry, I don't know of a book that I could say, yes read this. To be honest I am not sure there is one. I can suggest watching HGTV's 'Restaurant Impossible' This show in particular because they break down what is failing and how to correct it. You can go to hgtv's website and watch a bunch of them at once. Another one to watch is 'Bar Rescue' on SpikeTV Obviously this one is about bars, but the general knowledge is the same. They talk a lot about the competition in the area and not how to compete but stand out. 1 thing to warn you about. Both hosts of these shows are a bit obnoxious. you learn to like them if you watch enough! ha ha.

      For you in particular. You have to do the little things that stand out. When a new Restaurant opens, you have to have customers comparing their service to yours. Again, its the little things that do this. Here is another example of how to make yourself standout. "Tea Service" You go to an Asian restaurant, and for what ever reason you want hot tea... what do you get? a lipton teabag. Well I can make that at home.

      Buy bulk Loose Green Tea, a Orange flavored tea, and a regular type tea. Give them Names "Chinese Green tea" And "Asian Orange Tea" and "Pacific Rim tea" for the regular. Or something like that. DO NOT serve them in tea bags. Get "Tea Balls" like this one Winco STB-5 2" Tea Ball | TigerChef

      When YOUR customers go eat at your competitors and get tea bags... which looks better? Which one over time is cheaper? Again its these little things that POP into YOUR customers head when they are eating elsewhere. If you do enough of the little things, You can worry less about Competition, and more about making your product better!
      Signature
      Success is an ACT not an idea
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8947595].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Khoi
    I get the idea now! Offer customers something valuable, but not necessary expensive. That would attract them, also I have been considering using the lunar year event and so on in the future to make something great out of it!

    How does marketing using ads work? Does anyone know how to market analyze regarding restaurant competitor?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8951503].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author 4DayWeekend
      Sounds like your town is reasonably big so...

      - Why not offer a platter for businesses? Send out a flyer to advertise and with their first order, they get their 2nd platter free. So two for the price of one.

      - Get a deal on Groupon, it's great for getting new people through the door.

      - Offer a reward scheme. So every time someone buys, they get a stamp, and after 5 and 10 stamps, they get something free.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8951560].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gknugurlu
    Firstly your food have to be good as a taste for customers. Second, your service have to be good to satisfy customers.

    Then make promotions, like if you buy over 5$, you get a discount coupon, if you buy something over 5$ you get a free drink, if you buy 2 third is from us etc... You constantly have to make promotions. In the mornings if you want to attract more people advertise that till 12 o'oclock you have 20% discount or similar things or you have 50% discount for some kind of foods.

    If you can and have the ability, make customer cards where they will collect points. When they shop after the fifth as example, give them the 6th free or when you get that much point you get that much discount. You can have levels for cards as for constant clients that have over some point or have spent already more than an amount that much discount will be available for their every next pruchase. You have to arrange your promotions and discounts. You always have to find solutions and refresh to keep your customers and to get new ones where they will continue to be your customers.

    Then your next step is to advertise. You have to constantly advertise. Distribute at least once a week flyers. People will know you when they consequently see your ads. You can understand this from big companies where they always advertise. If you stop advertising you will be forgotten.

    Build a website. Add your location at Google and other places on the internet to get found by people. Build your home delivery service. If you are able also you can make online ordering. If there is already a site that advertises food places or locations, advertise there. Even pay to be in more front at the first page. Advertise with google adwords where people will find you on the map and also if you have an online ordering system they will just order online or call for home or office delivery service.

    This is generally to much work if you don't know the steps. I don't know what is your budget. If you know a good advertising company just ask them for an offer and let them do it for you in more professional way. There is always available offer for any budget. Because any mistake that you will make, your money will go and your advertising will be bad advertising which will return you in very low quality even it has chance to affect you in the opposite way.

    People learn from their mistakes but the important is, can you resist to the effects of these mistakes? That's why I adviced you to give it to an advertising company.
    Signature
    3 simple steps for Online Business | Breeding for fun&profit
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8951604].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author guitarizma
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Khoi View Post

    Hi guys!

    My family are currently owning a restaurant/take away serving asian food.

    Our town, there is plenty of asian kitchen everywhere, but many of them went bankrupt due to what I called "parasite" business popping up everywhere, and it seems the asian food value isn't that super great anymore.

    Anyway, what I am trying to say is I want my business to be successful, but to be successful, what should a restaurant industry focus on to connect people? I can come of 100 ideas, but quantity doesn't necessary means quality. The question is how can I marketing with right kinda through right strategy to be a successful?

    I can come up with facebook, twitter, ads, but not necessary it means it can be successful, because I have seen people using social media, but still went bankrupt.

    We have mcdonald, and burger king, and honestly I think they kinda taste... well not that any super differently, but they are still two competitors, but still managing pretty well.

    Any (e)books, videos conference whatever where to start and learn step by step before going into the action?
    Do you have online presence? Make it felt! Android apps, mobile sites, coupons, free parking ticket contests...the idea is to interact with people. If they feel your presence they are going to flock to your door.

    BTW - I love Asian food
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8951905].message }}

Trending Topics