Pictures of delectable eats, a beautiful table setting, or artistic surroundings inside a restaurant. These are some of the most shared pieces of content on social media. It may not be so apparent, but your diners are doing organic advertising for you. Why not offer extra motivation and an easy means to improve your business and food by implementing WiFi? Online access is just one of the ways that your business can benefit from restaurant WiFi.
Serving your patrons an excellent dining experience is a top priority. Make it better by adding guest WiFi access to your menu.
Benefits of Offering Free Internet in Restaurants
Providing free restaurant WiFi so people stay connected as they enjoy their food makes good business sense. Offering social wifi with a good signal ensures you get repeat business. Especially if your small business is in a busy metropolitan area where clients dine and work on the go. Panera Bread restaurants are a great example of where clients gather to eat and log into their online network.
Online technology innovations keep advancing, so don’t get left behind. If you are unsure about bringing the Internet to your establishment, take a poll. Send a short survey to your customer database to see if it’s a service they could benefit from. Or, set up a poll on your website. Not only will you get a feel for your customer’s wishes, but you might attract new customers as well.
Restaurant WiFi Introduces You to Your Customer Base
With the proper restaurant WiFi system, your WiFi hotspot is a means to learn more about your customers. Set up a customized captive portal for your WiFi. Then, have your guests answer a survey before logging into the network. You can request a login via Facebook or Google account or by providing their birthday and email address. Or automatically prompt them to leave a review.
Guest WiFi log-ins allow restaurants to collect valuable customer insight and keep track of daily traffic. They also track customer demographics, busiest hours, days, and months. As a result, you can use these insights to create targeted marketing campaigns.
Restaurants With WiFi Enhance Guest Experiences and Builds Loyalty
Delivering an enjoyable dining experience is a must to stay competitive in the dining industry. Free restaurant WiFi access may now be a ubiquitous and expected perk. Additionally, it’s known to increase guest satisfaction. But it further enhances your guests’ dining experience and builds customer loyalty. Here are some ideas to consider.
Offer a group discount to encourage guests to invite family, friends, or colleagues to join them. They can do it easily with your restaurant WiFi. Alternatively, run a loyalty program. Diners who log in with their email address will automatically qualify for a loyalty program. This program allows them to earn points with every visit.
Another successful tactic is running a promo tied in with your social media. When guests log into your WiFi, a captive portal requires them to like your social media page. To qualify for your promo, customers must post a photo of their order on social media. Then they can use your hashtag in their caption and tag your page and their followers.
Offer Patrons Convenience and Security
Like most relationships, people value security and convenience. This is especially true for restaurants with WiFi service. One way to offer personal convenience is by offering contactless payment. Through your WiFi access, customers can opt for contactless payments. Make sure to update your system so you can provide various payment options.
Add a personal touch to your restaurant or coffee shop WiFi password by writing it on a sign next to the register. It gives users easy access to the world wide web. Are you worried about security? Change your password often. It might be a hassle but don’t forget to change your sign too.
Free internet access and speedy service show guests you care about their needs. Especially if you have a reliable and speedy connection. Rest assured that your guests will come back and dine with you again.
Restaurant WiFi Drives Your Business in Multiple Ways
We’ve touched on the multiple ways restaurant WiFi is a valuable asset. But did you know it also increases your customer count and drives business? Here are different ways your restaurant hotspot boosts business day in and day out.
- Invest in additional technology to enable outdoor WiFi. Allow customers seated al fresco to place their orders online easily. You can limit access to legitimate dining customers with the right guest WiFi system.
- A stable and high-speed restaurant WiFi will attract large groups. Additionally, it makes your establishment an ideal place for meetings, conferences, private parties, and other events.
- Offer special meal discounts to people who work remotely and use your WiFi at certain hours of the day.
- With online access through mobile devices, diners can easily share photos on social media and post reviews online. This is classic, albeit technology-enabled, word-of-mouth advertising.
- Customers are more likely to stay longer at your restaurant with unlimited internet access.
- Unlimited online services make your establishment a popular choice among travelers. Even more so if your establishment is located in an area frequented by tourists. Staying connected while traveling is extremely important. Especially for those who may not have a secure international data plan.
Unlimited Restaurant WiFi Boosts Brand Awareness and Image Within Your Community
You want your customers to have a top-notch experience. It’s natural for customers to post positive feedback about your delicious food and great service on their social media.
But guests also post reviews about their WiFi experience. Therefore your restaurant WiFi becomes one of your establishment’s off-menu “bestsellers”. This guarantees the growth of loyal patronage within your community.
An excellent online experience is possible through a quick captive portal log-in and a reliable network connection. As a result, your establishment becomes a popular community hub for various events aside from dining. The possibilities are endless, provided you have available space. It’s the perfect hangout place for students, colleagues, and friends.
By checking in or tagging your establishment in their posts, guests will greatly boost your brand awareness. If you’re mentioned/tagged frequently on social media, the relevance and visibility of your page and posts increase. As a result, you’re discovered by more people. It’s easy for guests to do since they most likely have a mobile phone in hand.
Create an excellent online reputation by adding your restaurant to online review sites or Google Maps. These sites automatically publish positive reviews. Customer reviews help you make improvements where needed to serve your guests better.
Restaurant WiFi Marketing Helps You Gain Insights
A customizable restaurant WiFi system works as a WiFi marketing platform. Wondering how? Inform guests of your current special offers while they wait, which they can enjoy on their next visit. Promote your menu bestsellers to help them decide what to order. Or encourage them to engage with your social media so they can tag your restaurant when they post photos. There are so many possibilities.
WiFi marketing for your restaurant is a soft-touch type of marketing that works because you’re showing ads to actual guests. This means people who are already at your establishment and ready to spend money. It’s a marketing opportunity that you should definitely take full advantage of.
Free Restaurant WiFi: Advantages and Disadvantages
Although it may seem counterintuitive, people utilizing their phones while dining is a new form of social interaction. Restaurants with free WiFi that embrace this “new” dining norm reap the benefits.
Giving diners free online service has disadvantages. But there are far more ways to make it work to your advantage. Here are some tips to consider:
- Print a WiFi password for every purchase with a specific time limit. For example, the internet for free for two hours. But offer extended use with another purchase.
- Limit bandwidth use. Restrict access to sites that use a lot of bandwidth, such as video and audio streaming or downloading sites. Or limit download speeds.
- Limit your restaurant’s WiFi range by setting up a wireless perimeter or geofence. This prevents people outside your establishment from using your WiFi.
Only consider limiting free WiFi access if unrestricted use by guests is too costly for your restaurant. Otherwise, WiFi restrictions may prove more unprofitable than beneficial. For example, customers opt for other restaurants with free WiFi access that fits their needs.
Final Thoughts on Restaurant Online Service Access
Offering WiFi at your eatery is a valuable asset. However, the best restaurant WiFi is one that delivers a tailored solution. A solution that best suits your needs and those of your guests. Choose a fully customizable system that gives you end-to-end control of your WiFi experience. We highly encourage you to do so if you don’t offer free WiFi at your establishment. You’ll be the talk of the town for all the right reasons.
With Beambox, connect, capture, and keep more customers. Delight guests with WiFi service that remembers and welcomes them each time they visit. Grow your restaurant email list via a customized captive portal login and build a loyal following on your social media. Beambox is an all-in-one WiFi solution that accomplishes all of the above and more. Accelerate your business growth — start your Beambox free trial today!
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