Giving customers a sense of place is a great way to add value to your restaurant’s brand. Making your restaurant a place where people enjoy gathering is the strategy McDonald’s has pursued, and it seems to be paying big dividends. McDonald’s corporate offices announced recently they will be offering free Wi-Fi internet access in 11,500 U.S. locations. Clearly this move is another part of their strategy to create “stickiness,” or ways to get customers to come in and stay for awhile, which drives more sales and reinforces that sense of place in customers’ minds.
More than likely your restaurant has different priorities and customers than McDonald’s. That doesn’t change the fact that their restaurant marketing model is working, and there’s a lesson in their success for everyone.
With that in mind, I’d like to point out an article I wrote last year for The Back Burner called Become A Hotspot! which gives you the how and the why on setting up a Wi-Fi network in your restaurant.
Hey, if it’s working for McDonald’s it will probably work for you.