Visiting a new restaurant with the hopes of finding that hidden gem is one of my highlights of going out for a night. Getting away from the ordinary and experiencing something that is unique and mouthwatering is something that we can all enjoy. Many times I have walked away from having an amazingly delicious meal but felt robbed of the dining experience as a whole. Even though my meal was cooked to perfection, something else hindered my experience and ultimately altered the dining venue’s reputation. In many cases, it was the little things that may have seemed insignificant to some that played into my overall experience: the water spots on the glass; the dead plant hanging from the ceiling; the dried hardened ketchup residue still left on the bottle; or the dirty restrooms I used to wash my hands before eating my meal. Each one of these will seem more or less significant to different individuals. However, they all play a key role in the overall experience your customers may have. In life, it’s not always the little things you remember but how those little things contribute to the overall experience that makes it memorable.
The customer will walk away from your establishment with one of three experiences: a bad experience, an okay experience, or an amazing experience. The only one you want to be known for is “an amazing experience”. These experiences are not just found in the restaurant industry but they are found in everything we do: the people we meet, the places we go, the websites we visit, and the products we use. Our lives are based around experiences.
When thinking about your online digital presence (websites, social media, newsletters and more) put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Many businesses fall short by stopping at the face value. Not understanding that the online presence plays into the overall experience of business both online and offline.
The experience they have online will also affect their view of you offline. Here are a few tips that can help you establish that great atmosphere.
Ultimately, keeping your online presence updated is the best choice. This does not mean you have to update your entire website all the time. Simply posting a new blog entry or updating your page content can be enough to keep your website fresh and avoid customers thinking you are no longer in business.
You may not be the biggest social butterfly, but many of your customers are. Hire someone who can help you stay social and build your online reputation. Social media takes time to build and become effective, so plan for the long haul. It’s well worth the investment.
The easiest way to build a great first impression is with high quality imagery. Hiring a professional photographer or purchasing stock photography can take your online image to a whole new level. Imagine vacation travel website with terrible photos. The chances of you booking are very low.
Just because template sites are cheap does not mean they will do the trick. First ask yourself “what type of image do you want to convey when the customer compares you to your competition?” If every other real estate agent has the same website as you do, are you really convincing your clients that you are unique and will do a better job than the rest?
Even though you are in the health industry and there are limits on how you market yourself, that does not mean that you can’t be creative. Get away from the sterile industry standard and brand yourself as modern, caring, professional organization. The limits can work in your favour since most of your competition has decided to stay sterile.
If you are looking to increase your online presences please feel free to give us a call and see how we can help you create that perfect experience.