Note: I have written a Post Full of Examples due to the popularity of this post here: Social Proof
You have heard it before: This is social media, be social. Interact with people who post on your wall, who tweet about their dinner the night before, and post reviews of your restaurant online. Doing so will encourage these positive members of you social circle to be more active with your business online, and create what is known as Social Proof.
Social Proof is magnetic, it make people want to be a part of what everyone else is talking about. You see it on a Facebook wall all the time, here is something from today:
Someone posts something about an event at a restaurant and people pile on, building credibility to the event, and a sense that one should attend to see what the deal is. Would it be good without the hype? Probably. Will it be better with the added bodies, minds, and buzz? Definitely. Does that add to the profitability of the night, and most importantly the thousands to follow? Absolutely. We build social proof for our clients all the time at GuestFeed.
Three things you can do to make this happen:
1) Post happenings, specials, pictures, and video in creative ways to spark conversations.
2) When conversations happen, make sure you do not neglect them, show enthusiasm for interacting with your guests, and always acknowledge their comments.
3) Be sure to monitor the mentions of your place online as best you can, take advantage of google alerts, twitter searches, and to a lesser degree the news stream on facebook. When they happen jump in and show that you are there, you care, and you want to make your place special to them. Seeing that someone is coming in with five friends for a birthday dinner… you could comment that you are happy they chose your place, and then when they are there do something to make it special (dessert martinis or something), and after they leave comment again saying it was a pleasure to host them.
I promise you will see a flood of comments from them, and when they do their entire social network will see that your place is obviously a good spot for birthday dinner.
THAT is Social Proof.
Lets build some right now. How about you comment or retweet this and see where it goes.
I am Spirocks on Twitter.