Tag: Advertising

FUNDAMENTAL RESTAURANT MARKETING

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash

You want to create a loyal customer base because these people will tell all their friends about your restaurant and bring them in to eat. Customers are often the best marketers for a business because they love what you do so much that they want to share it with others.

Fundamental Restaurant Marketing
By Gary Occhiogrosso – Managing Partner,Franchise Growth Solutions.

Introduction
Restaurant marketing is a topic often in business classes and career fairs. It’s a common question: “How do you market your restaurant?” The answer to this question can be pretty straightforward, but the process can be challenging. To make sure that your restaurant can attract new customers and keep them coming back, it’s essential that you have an effective plan for promoting your business.

The most successful restaurants are the best marketers.
To be one of those restaurants, you must learn about marketing. Marketing is not a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing process that must be done on a regular and scheduled basis if you want your business to succeed.
The first step in effective marketing is understanding what it’s not: it’s not advertising alone; instead, it’s everything you do to connect with your customers and get them talking about their experiences with your brand. For example, marketing could include social media posts on Facebook or Twitter (that are funny/cute/interesting enough), sharing photos of how great everything looks on Instagram (including food shots), posting videos explaining how something works on YouTube (like how a new dish gets made), offering special promotions such as “buy one entrée at regular price and get another free.
Social media is great for getting the word out about your restaurant. You can use social media to promote your restaurant and get customers to come in, or you can also use social media to get feedback from your customers.

Make sure that every employee is a marketer for your restaurant.
They may not be able to explain the nuance of the menu, but they can tell people about themselves and their experience at your establishment.If you have a host or waitperson, they can talk about how they enjoy working there because it’s such a nice place. If someone asks them if there are any vegan options on the menu or if one of your dishes can be made gluten-free, they can tell them about it without sounding like an advertisement (although most people in this situation probably won’t care).

Make your restaurant an active community member.
As you create your restaurant, it’s important to consider how you want to be perceived in the community. Do you want to be the new hot spot for a specific type of person? Or are you aiming for a more diverse crowd? Will your restaurant have an identity as a family-friendly place or something more upscale and exclusive? The answer will help determine some of the best marketing strategies for you. For example, if you’re looking to attract families with young kids, consider sponsoring local youth sports teams or offering free food at community events like Little League games and PTA meetings. On the other hand, if your target clientele is more on the younger end (say college students), sponsoring an art gallery opening might be right up your alley!
Regardless of who makes up your ideal demographic, make sure they know where they can find good food in town—and make sure those other businesses know about yours too!

Engage with your customers through social media and online reviews.
Social media can be a great way to engage with your customers and hear what they say. In addition, you can use social media as a platform for interacting with other businesses in the community.
Here are some tips for responding to what your customers are saying online:
* Respond quickly if someone has posted an unfavorable review of your restaurant on Facebook or Yelp. Be sure to thank them for their feedback and explain how you will use it to improve the experience in future visits.
* Respond quickly if someone has posted a positive review about their visit to your restaurant – especially if there’s an opportunity for follow-up questions or inquiries about the experience (i.e., “What was your favorite dish?”). Use this opportunity to connect with customers who’ve enjoyed their visit!
*Listen to your customers’ feedback online and in person.
* Respond to customers’ comments.
* Be transparent with your customers.
* Be honest, even if it’s difficult for you or the company, because honesty is the best policy for maintaining a good reputation as a business that cares about its community and its employees.

You may not always agree with every comment made by every customer. Still, it’s vital that you engage in conversations where both parties are listening respectfully instead of arguing back and forth about what is right or wrong.

Creating a loyal customer base is a great way to grow your business.
You want to create a loyal customer base because these people will tell all their friends about your restaurant and bring them in to eat. Customers are often the best marketers for a business because they love what you do so much that they want to share it with others. The more loyal customers you have, the more people will want to come to your restaurant and spend money on food and drinks there—and that’s good news for your bottom line! If you keep giving them what they want (like delicious food at affordable prices), those same loyal customers will keep coming back again and again—and bringing friends along with them.
The key here is ensuring those loyal customers feel appreciated by rewarding them with something special now and then—like free meals or exclusive coupons only available through their email address or phone number.

Conclusion
As you can see, restaurant marketing is more than just putting up a few ads and hoping for the best. It would be best if you were willing to invest in your business, ask for customer feedback, and engage with them online. The most successful restaurants are the ones that put their heart and soul into their marketing efforts.

LEAD GENERATION IN FRANCHISE & B2B SALES

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? The answer is simple: follow some simple guidelines to ensure that every sales lead you generate will be of the highest quality. It would be best if you hired experienced and reliable third-party companies — that specialize in developing quality sales leads.

Lead Generation in Franchise and B2B Sales
By Gary Occhiogrosso – Recognized Franchise Expert and Managing Partner at Franchise Growth Solutions.

Introduction

Lead generation is an essential part of any business’s marketing efforts. If you are marketing a franchise or business opportunity, lead generation is probably a top priority. So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? There are many factors to consider when choosing where to advertise your franchise opportunity. You want to generate enough leads so that your sales reps have enough prospects to call on each day. The key is having enough quality prospects to follow up with once they’ve been contacted by the sales rep for an appointment or demonstration.

If you’re marketing a franchise or business opportunity, lead generation is probably a top priority. So how can you be sure your sales leads are the best they can be? The answer is simple: follow some simple guidelines to ensure that every sales lead you generate will be of the highest quality. It would be best if you hired experienced and reliable third-party companies that specialize in developing quality sales leads. These agencies generate high-quality B2B sales leads distributed to companies seeking buyers of franchises and business opportunities, as well as other B2B offers. They often maintain close relationships with key decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies, smaller businesses, and entrepreneurs looking for expansion.

First, evaluate where your leads are coming from and if they are producing results.
Evaluate where your leads are coming from. Are they from a reputable source? Are they producing results?
If you’re using a lead generation platform or software, look at the data and make sure it’s accurate. Are they the right type of leads? The right quantity? The right quality?

Common Lead Gen Sources
The top four ways to generate your sales leads most effectively are via online, print, broadcast and trade publications. Each of these channels has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as advantages and disadvantages that can help or hinder your business.

The first step in deciding which channel is right for you is determining how much budget you have available to invest in lead generation activities. This can be done by identifying the total number of leads needed each month, then multiplying this number by an average cost per lead (CPL). For example: if you need 100 leads per month and a CPL of $100 per lead, then it will cost $10,000 each month just to generate those prospects! The next step is figuring out what kind of ROI each channel provides on investment (ROI). For example: if one type of channel gives a 10% return on investment but another gives an 80% return on investment – which would you choose?

Finally comes the question about which specific platforms within those channels are best suited for generating potential customers who have the highest probability of converting into clients?

Do your homework. Research the media channels thoroughly before investing in any lead generation campaign.

* Understand the audience you are targeting.

* Understand the purpose of advertising and how it will help your business’ bottom line.

* Understand how much you will pay for a campaign, and whether or not you can find a better deal elsewhere.

Once you have done this research, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not advertising is worth your time.

Monitor Results

You’ll need to determine who is responsible for monitoring the ad’s results, what kind of reporting will be provided and how often you should expect it.

For example, if your sales team is responsible for monitoring an advertisement campaign, make sure they understand that they are responsible for tracking responses and providing feedback on which ads have worked best (or worst). If you’ve entered into an agreement with a third-party provider that handles all advertising, request regular reports from them so that you can track how well your various campaigns are performing.

Lead Providers – Questions and Due Diligence

* Ask about other clients who have purchased advertising through the company. Be sure to ask for references.

* Ask about other clients who have purchased advertising through the company.

* Be sure to ask for references and testimonials, as well.

* Ask for case studies of work done with clients like yours in the past, as well as feedback from those same clients on their experiences with your prospective supplier or agency partner’s services/products/programs/etc.. (Note: case studies should be written by actual customers; testimonials may be written by either customers or employees).

* Request a list of all current clients so you can check them out on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn) and see what they are saying about the organization(s) they work with most often—and perhaps even reach out directly via social media channels such as Twitter or Instagram if you feel comfortable doing so!

The Heart of the Matter

Sales leads are at the heart of any lead generation campaign so it’s important to choose them carefully. Sales leads are people who have expressed interest in your products or services but haven’t yet made a purchase. They may be considering a purchase now, or they might wait until a later date. Sales leads can come from many places: online ads and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts are two key sources, but you’ll also find them by visiting trade shows and conferences that target your ideal customer base. Lead generation experts recommend using multiple methods in tandem when developing an effective sales strategy because each one has its own strengths and weaknesses—and no one method works best for every industry!

Conclusion
We’ve covered much ground in this post. Follow these tips, create a plan and execute. Lead Gen is a critical component of your successful sales program. For more information on accelerating your franchise sales contact Franchise Growth Solutions, and let’s start the conversation.

Getting A Higher Price When Selling Your Restaurant In 2019

Posted on by Franchise Strategist

Getting A Higher Price When Selling Your Restaurant In 2019…
Chris Viscup a prominent New York Business Broker with Transworld said “One of the other most important parts of selling your restaurant is to make sure your books are in order. It will be your job to prove out how much money trickles down to you through the company and what this can look like to potential buyers.

Getting A Higher Price When Selling Your Restaurant In 2019
by Gary Occhiogrosso Contributor
Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

It’s 2019 and after years of hard work you’ve now decided to sell your restaurant, perhaps to open a different business, or retire or relocate. Whatever the reason, selling a restaurant requires a strong strategy, careful planning, and detailed preparation. In this article, we’ll explore some essential tips and steps needed to put you on a path for a quicker sale at the highest possible price along with a smooth transition.

Let’s Start With First Impressions.

The appearance of your restaurant not only matters to your customers, but it also matters to potential buyers. Bad “curb appeal” on the initial visit may be all it takes for a potential buyer to take a pass on a more in-depth look into the investment potential of your restaurant. Make sure everything inside and outside the restaurant is clean. If your establishment is a free-standing building, then the quality of care for the property will be an early indication of the level of care taken in building and growing the business over the years. Items like trimming the grass, keeping the parking lot and surrounding area clean and free of trash are crucial to curb appeal. Maintaining clean windows & glass doors, polishing handles, deep cleaning the grout in tile floors and shampooing carpeting are some simple things that will pay dividends to the buyers first impression. If the restaurant is a storefront location, then you’ll also need to make sure any cleaning and improvements that may be the responsibility of the landlord are taken care of before showing the business.

Nothing says “I don’t care” or “I’ve given up on this place” more than broken or missing equipment. If your kitchen equipment is not in 100% working order, it may set up doubt in your financial presentation regarding production capabilities. Also, nonfunctional equipment is detrimental to employee morale and productively. Ultimately that lack of productivity shows up on the Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) in the form of increased labor cost. Every part of the restaurant should present itself as credible to handle the current volume as well as to grow the business in the future. Make sure all of your equipment works. I can not emphasize enough to take the time in advance to replace or repair any broken equipment.

Remove personal items you do not intend to include as part of the sale. Doing this helps avoid any misunderstandings later between buyer and seller. For example, your personal laptop computer used for the business sitting on your desk may be mistaken as part of the assets for sale. Later in this article, we’ll cover making sure a complete equipment and asset list is written. However, the cleaner and less cluttered the visual aspect of the facility, the less chance for any misunderstanding when it comes time to negotiate.

And lastly regarding the facility, don’t be afraid to spend a little TLC money. Making a small investment, such as freshening up the paint, or replacing ceiling tiles, or reupholstering a ripped seat cover can go a long way to increase the visual appeal of your restaurant. These quick fixes will have a positive impact on your sale price and the time it takes to sell the business.

Put Your Financial House In Order Now

Presenting an honest, straightforward, financial picture of your restaurant is the most critical factor in determining accurate valuation and sale price. Professionally documented results regarding unit economics, profitability, and true owner benefit are what buyers, their accountant, and lawyer will be investigating in the due diligence phase of the process. Whether or not potential buyers purchase your restaurant depends on whether or not they think it will make money and provide a reasonable return on investment (ROI). Therefore, the financial information you provide to the buyer is the most significant factor in determining the success of the sale.

Ideally, you have practiced clear and organized bookkeeping since you started your business. If not, then arrange financial records going back at least one year before the time you list your restaurant for sale. That way potential buyers will have a trailing 12-month picture of the restaurant’s performance and trending. It is likely that buyers will ask to see a profit and loss statements and a balance sheet. If you are unable to create them yourself, have your accountant prepare them in advance so you do not feel rushed later in the sale process.

Make A To-Do List For Yourself

Financial statements aren’t the only aspect of getting organized. This step also includes creating a written list of all hard assets such as furniture, fixtures, small wares, and equipment. Also, a copy of your lease should be available for review in the due diligence phase of the transaction. Additionally, be prepared to document that all of the restaurant’s bills are up to date. Be ready to prove in writing that your sales and payroll taxes are current and paid in full. Employee payroll information needs to be in a presentable format and up to date. A to-do list will help you make sure everything gets done so that the sale goes as smoothly as possible.

The Hunt For Buyers

There are two ways to find potential buyers: find them yourself or hire a business broker. The process of valuation, listing, advertising, and vetting potential buyers is time-consuming and in my opinion, requires professional experience and know how. Although many sellers take this step on their own, a professional business broker can support the process by offering recommendations and presentations that save time and attract more potential buyers.

When you interview brokers, be sure to ask them how long they have been in the business of selling businesses, what their specialty is, how many listings they have now, and how many restaurants they have sold in the past year. Also, ask if they have prepared contracts for this type of transaction and how they plan to determine the value of your restaurant. Discuss their answers with your financial and legal advisors to determine if the broker has the right qualifications, experience, and track record.

One prominent New York Business Broker I spoke with said “One of the other most important parts of selling your restaurant is to make sure your books are in order. It will be your job to prove out how much money trickles down to you through the company and what this can look like to potential buyers. Without this component, you will either fall prey to lower offers than you would otherwise be getting, no offers, or end up with buyers wasting your time and never getting to the finish line. Not having good books leads ultimately to the two biggest deal killers – lack of trust and too much time for the transaction to close. With a good broker and good books, most of the heavy lifting is completed in the beginning, before putting the business on the market. Once you sign with a broker, there should be significant time dedicated to proving out the numbers – what they are, and what they could be. Every minute you spend in the beginning will save 5-7 minutes later.”

On the other hand, if you decide to go it alone and forgo hiring a business broker, then you’ll need to get some additional advice from your attorney and account. They can assist you with the proper valuation and selling price. Setting an unrealistic or emotional price on the business will slow the sales process or cause it to fail altogether. Actions to take also includes advertising and listing the restaurant on websites that post restaurants for sale. Keep in mind professional business brokers also use these websites, so competition exists. However, if you study these websites carefully, you should be able to get a good idea on how to word your ad for better results.

Always Be Ready

Whether you list your restaurant on your own or with a broker be prepared to show your restaurant to potential buyers at all times. Since you may have a buyer visit you unannounced, it means keeping the restaurant clean, fully staffed and well-managed no matter the day and time. You never know when a buyer might drop by to take a look. I also remind my clients that any customer in the restaurant may actually be a buyer doing some research before they contact you.

Once The Buyer Is found

At this point, if you’ve found a buyer and negotiations have been successful, then the final step is the paperwork necessary to complete the transaction. The paperwork usually starts with an “Asset Purchase Agreement.” Your attorney should prepare this document for you. The Asset Purchase Agreement details all the components of the sale. Items such as the sale price, the terms (if you are holding a note), a full and complete equipment list, the amount and value of the inventory you will have at the time of closing, the length of time (if any) that you are willing to train the new owner as well as any contingencies regarding the lease assignment from your landlord and of course a deadline date to close the transaction. Regardless of whether you’re working with a business broker or selling on your own, in all cases, I recommend you have your attorney involved to ensure the Asset Purchase Agreement covers all the various aspects of the transaction.

In addition, once you have a buyer engaged but before the final closing date, you should continue to operate your restaurant as if you are not selling it. Acquisitions sometimes fall through at the last minute, and you don’t want to create extra work for yourself in getting everything back up to par again if that happens.

Plan And Proceed

Smart and detailed planning will minimize glitches and deal-killing problems, throughout the transaction. Business Brokers warn: “The biggest disasters all come with one thing in common – wasted time. Without proper planning, not only may you decide to accept an offer lower than what you desire, but you will lose a good portion of your time getting there. As the saying goes – An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Make sure you front-load your business and get all the materials you need in order before you sell it.”

I recommend you spend the time upfront, planning the sale, organizing paperwork, investigating brokers and deciding the best time to execute your plan. Selling a restaurant can be a smooth, simple transaction if these tips along with the advice of your accountant and attorney are put into practice.