Reviews have always been important to restaurants, but perhaps none more than reviews online. Consider that 77 percent of Americans go online every day, and many are checking out restaurant reviews. The number of stars, mentions or likes on social media, and write-ups on peer review sites go a long way toward making or breaking sales for a franchise restaurant, and even the entire chain.
Millennials, the generation about to surpass baby boomers as the largest with tremendous spending power, often base purchasing decisions on online reviews. Generation Z, the cohort coming up behind millennials, also utilize online reviews frequently. Even Generation X, the next age demographic older than millennials, is influenced by information found on the Internet – 72 percent research businesses online. Online reviews hold a lot of sway over a lot of people.
The data on how influential online reviews are is staggering. Here’s just a smattering from Modern Restaurant Management:
- 68 percent of millennials trust online reviews
- In general, reviews yield an average 18 percent increase in sales
- A business will experience a 5 to 9 percent revenue increase for every star it receives
- Consumers are likely to spend 31 percent more at businesses with excellent reviews
- Restaurants whose star rating improves by half a star (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars) are more likely to be full at peak dining times
- 53 percent of 18-34 year old consumers say that online reviews influence their dining decisions
- 34 percent of diners select restaurants based on assessments made on peer review sites, such as Yelp
It stands to reason then that the more positive online reviews you receive, and the more people see them, then the higher the likelihood your sales will increase.
Provide a Memorable Experience
Generating positive online reviews is simple. Provide each guest with a positive experience and turn them into brand ambassadors.
Angry Crab Shack was created with a fun, unique and friendly dining experience for guests in mind.
We serve tasty and affordable Asian Cajun flavored seafood boiled in a bag that our guests love to dump onto the butcher paper covering their table. It’s a fun way to share with friends. While our specialty is seafood, we also have a range of other dishes that will please even non-seafood fans. Although dining at our restaurants can be a messy experience, with sauces, juices, butter and crab and lobster shells littering the tables, we take maintaining clean operations seriously. Our guests notice and feel comfortable returning.
Read Patty H.‘s review of Angry Crab Shack on Yelp
Along with the food, our guests appreciate the festive atmosphere at each of our locations. It’s like a backyard seafood boil amid Mardi Gras-inspired décor. While the Angry Crab Shack dining experience can be lively with so many people tearing into their seafood, our restaurants are also family-friendly. Our welcoming and knowledgeable staff also contributes to the Angry Crab Shack experience.
That all said, we have an abundance of positive reviews to show for it, including on two of the most influential peer review sites, Yelp and Trip Advisor.
There, you will find comments such as:
“Every time we come here, there is a wait, but it is so worth it”
“What do you get when you cross great seafood flavored the way you want with no plates or silverware? You get an incredible meal with sauce up to your elbows. If you enjoy seafood you have to give this place a try.”
“Amazing food and such great crab! This is my fav place in AZ to get crab for sure!!”
Words with Weight
As you can see, some of these guests are regular customers who serve as ideal ambassadors for our brand. They share their positive experiences with the multitudes of other consumers online, which will likely increase sales at our locations.
