This idea can be implemented in one of two ways. Either way can be very easy to do and inexpensive. One way is to do this with a digital camera to take pictures, or the other (and more effective way) would be with a video camera.
Now before I even get started here, let me just point out I am not talking about having a camera crew following your customers around. A video Flip Camera is perfect for this. It's very small (fits in your pocket), and very easy to use.
You can decide which you feel you would be more comfortable with, but as I said video would be much more effective and your customer's would really have fun with it.
I am going to focus this idea mainly on using video, which is implemented a little differently than taking photos, so contact me if you would like to know more details on how to do this with digital pictures instead.
There are several ways this concept can be initiated. Here are just three quick ones off the top of my head:
1. Have the server wear a badge on their shirt saying something like; "Ask me how to get 50% off your next meal" (or whatever promotion you want to use).
2. Print it or attach a note with the message above on their bill.
3. Have the Manager (or whomever) go to tables as they are finishing and present them with the offer.
Make the offer fit whatever makes business sense to you but you need to make it very appealing to get people to inquire about it.
What you do when they are near the end of their meal is offer to take a free short video of them and ask them to comment on the food and service.
Keep the video short, under a minute, and have them comment on how they liked the food and service.
You tell the diners you'll post the video on your website (or Blog) and email them a link to the video. To do this, of course they will need to fill out a feedback form and include their name and email address.
On the feedback form your diner fills out you also have on the bottom a check box giving you permission to send them discount offers for more gift meal vouchers, or maybe enter the prize drawing for meals given out each week, free desserts, whatever works via email.
This will be a compelling reason for your client to open and read any emails you send.
Regardless if you are doing video or photos you leave a space for your diner to add feedback, and you ask for specific feedback. Maybe something along these lines: "What meal did you eat and what did you love about it?
How did you find the service and how would you rate it out of five stars?"
Assuming your food and service is excellent, most of your diners will write fantastic feedback.
Using this method gives you a great chance to identify who your most loyal diners are and who you might target for high quality referrals.
This works for you on so many levels. First it helps build your email list. Which if you got my free report or read my article on list building here you know how important that is.
Then when you post the video, you host it on some of the more popular video sites like You Tube or My Space, and keyword load the title and description with your restaurant name and the dishes they were having.
"Mario's Restaurant Best Seafood Dishes in San Diego".
Google loves searching these video sites for fresh content and it is very easy to get your video ranked on page one whenever anyone types in something to the effect of "San Diego Sea Food Restaurant" they will see your video.
With just two people a day (which would be an extremely low number and I believe a worst case scenerio) to agree to this, that would be 14 testimonial videos a week you could post on the video sites along with your own site. With just that you could easily dominate the search engines in a very short period of time for any keyword that anyone could possibly type in when looking for a restaurant in your area.
This strategy could very easily be adapted to just about any service oriented business, or even if you sell products.
If this idea appeals to you and you would like to know how I could adapt this idea or many others I have to your business, then please feel free to call me.
Jim Orr
888-738-6806