The restaurateur's guide to Zagat
Earn rave reviews in the #1 restaurant guide
It’s official: Sacramento has arrived. For the first time ever, Zagat will publish a guide to Sacramento restaurants. Commonly recognized as the most trusted and up-to-date leisure and restaurant guide for major cities worldwide, this is an opportunity that every local restaurateur will want to take advantage of. You have to act quickly, though; Zagat must receive all reviews by Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Following is a list of quick and simple tips that will help ensure your restaurant receives rave reviews in Zagat’s inaugural Sacramento edition.
- Educate your staff. If your staff doesn’t know about the Zagat review period, chances are your customers won’t either. Make sure that all of your staff knows not only that your restaurant is up for Zagat review, but also exactly where customers should go to rate your restaurant.
- Signage. Should a customer miss hearing about the Zagat review period from a server or manager, place signage with details (including the Zagat Web address) in a high-traffic area of your restaurant (the hostess stand, for example). Click here for downloadable signage.
- Take-out promotion. Even customers with the best of intentions may forget to log on to the Zagat Web site in the time it takes them to get from your dessert to their desktop. Jog their memories by providing take-away material whether it be as simple as a flier with their check, in take-out bags or something more intricate like an after-dinner mint with a short and sweet Zagat review reminder.
- On-site voting. The most sure-fire way to guarantee voting doesn’t slip your customers’ minds is by providing a way for them to vote immediately. If possible, have a laptop ready to go with the Zagat voting site bookmarked for your staff to pull up on a moment’s notice should a customer express interest in reviewing.
- Let your customers know what’s in it for them. Spread the word: according to Zagat, reviewers who respond by June 15, 2008 will receive a complimentary copy of Zagat’s 2009 America’s Top Restaurants guide upon publication.
- Electronic marketing. Make sure that a link directly to the Zagat voting page is prominently displayed on your restaurant’s Web site. If you have an electronic newsletter, this is also the time to make a special send to your distribution list.
- Don’t overlook the obvious. Your regular customers are your biggest asset. Next time you see a regular walk in the door, be sure to let them know that your restaurant is up for Zagat review. Your best reviews will always come from those who have an emotional attachment to your restaurant and can specifically describe what makes it unique.
For more information on Zagat’s Sacramento edition, click here. Stay tuned for more information on how to maximize your Zagat exposure and be sure to keep the California Restaurant Association in the loop about your progress by e-mailing us at feedback@calrest.org.
Post a Comment