MenuSearch.Net offers restaurants free advertising in tough economy

Tampa, FL– As restaurants struggle in today’s economy, restaurant website MenuSearch.Net is offering help in the form of free advertising.

MenuSearch.Net is offering independent restaurant owners their most basic listing, to post their menus on the website, at no charge. This is a limited time offer and is designed to keep the independent restaurant in business through the current recession. The offer does not apply to chain or franchised restaurants.

MenuSearch.Net is an easy-to-use free service to visitors and locals that allows them to visit menus of restaurants in many cities and states but will have representation in all 50 states by the end of 2009. Visitors can simply choose by cuisine or location to decide upon restaurants in their area from which to order. The website also offers quick links to popular searches like “Las Vegas Chinese Restaurants” or “Tampa Thai Restaurants”.

This is one website that users have already declared a great tool and a long overdue idea to make dining out a breeze. Many restaurants have their own websites but you have to know the name of the restaurant or website to find it but MenuSearch.Net give you a one-stop shop. Over the next several months, MenuSearch.Net continue adding many more restaurants to its database. MenuSearch.net can be visited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the following

http://www.menusearch.net.

Menusearch.Net is a restaurant database company based in Hudson, FL which specializes in advertising and marketing it’s useful website to local restaurants. Please contact: Erik Foubert at info at menusearch.net or call 702-289-7968.

Menus Online - Survey

Quick note:

A recent survey was done on YumSugar.com asking the question of restaurant customers: Does it annoy you when a restaurant's menu in not online?

At the time of this post, 553 people had answered the question and 517 said YES - that's 93% of the total. Check out the survey: http://www.yumsugar.com/3015523

This is just some of the valuable data we have to share with you.

Now's the time

As I travel the U.S. and speak with restaurant owners and general manager, they've been telling me they're waiting for the economy to turn around. I've let it stew for a few weeks and I'd like to share a thought.

When you think about challenges in your personal life, the only one that can make the improvements is you. I believe the same goes for business.

The economy will turn around when you get involved with improving it. People aren't eating out as often. This is true BUT what is their incentive to do so. Are you offering a special menu that will be less expensive or equal to a meal prepared at home?

If you aren't, come up with one. If you are, have you told the world? If you haven't, start. Print off 1000's of fliers and bring them to church groups, schools, colleges, office buildings, etc. PS. I know of a few printers that will do 1k fliers for under $100. That type of investment is worth the increase in traffic.

Invest in the restaurant economy. People WANT to eat out! Give them a reason to support your business.

Focus Group Results

MenuSearch recently conducted a focus group. Let's review who we spoke with

6 males: ages 18, 24, 32, 40, 47, 59 and 6 females: ages 19, 22, 28, 35, 47, 59. Salaries ranged from $18k - $150k. They were representative of the following states: MA, CT, NY, CA, NV, FL, SC, TX, WA, OH, ID and GA.
Our focus groups have told us the following:

• Users want as much information in one location.
• Users want a website to load fast.
• Users will wait up to 30 seconds for a menu to open.
• Users search for things like Tampa Restaurant Menus rather than a restaurant name.
• Users like to see photos, hours, prices and what’s on the menu
• Users like a directory that has the menus – not just name, address and phone.
• Users like options for dine in, take-out and delivery
• Users are warming to the idea of online ordering but it will take some time before they’re 100% comfortable with it.
• Many don’t know the name of every restaurant in a city. Many Users have difficulty with spelling or just don’t remember a restaurant name.
• Users don’t like to bounce from website to website
• Users don’t like pop-ups
• Users don’t like ads
• Users don’t like to “get lost” from the original website from which they started.
• Users believe good reviews or ratings are put up by the owners or managers
• Users believe bad reviews and ratings are valid. (Many are put up by competitors)

Much of this information continues to match our original focus group from October 2005 - when we were determining our database development. We're also developing a survey about more specific wants/desires and likes/dislikes of users. We'll be happy to share the specifics soon.

Please feel free to let us know if you find this information useful.

Quality vs. Price

Many of the restaurant-goers that we've spoken with have made a very strong statement that we feel we must share with you.

The want quality food OVER low price. It sounds odd with today's economy but the fact remains they will choose quality over price. Considering that today's consumer hasn't stopped going out to eat or ordering takeout (they're just being more selective and reduce the frequency of visits), it's now time to focus on a quality product. This doesn't mean offer smoked provolone at $100 an ounce. It means offer a quality product at a fair price.

For example, we've got a customer that does a huge business selling pizza. His average price for a two topping pizza is $16. We all know that chain pizza delivery companies and some of the local pizza stands can beat this price but his customers are willing to pay the extra for the quality. We asked him about his pricing...originally it started at about $13 per pie but due to cost increases, he said he'd rather raise the price then sacrifice quality. We agree. His customers agree. And the consumers agree too.

As last snippet of wisdom: Always work to improve on quality and let your customers sample the item(s) and provide feedback. They'll let you know all you need to know if you ask!

Restaurant Reviews

A potential client reminded us recently of why we don't do restaurant reviews. A local newspaper reviewed the restaurant, had some "criticisms" and published their article. About a week later, an advertising representative for the same newspaper tried to solicit them. It became a large issue in the local community.

This brings me to reiterate why we do NOT do reviews:

1. My taste is different from yours, my family's, etc.
2. Reviews are opinion and other than eating a lot, what makes them an expert.
3. We don't want one unhappy customer (or competitor) to defame your business. This is the trend on the Internet.
4. If we're paid to promote your business, we want to let the customers decide if they like your cuisine.

If you get a good review, we're happy to include it and, of course, assign credit to the reviewer. Showcase your menu, your specials or your signature dish. Help customers decide that you're worth a try.

Coming Soon!!

We'll be in the following cities before the end of the year:

Denver, CO
Boston, MA
Philadelphia, PA
Austin, TX

And many more.....