When was the last time you actually used flyers and catalogues to find restaurants? Gone are the days of trial and error, walking block to block to locate a restaurant only to find that you would’ve been better off fasting that night.
In our lives, the internet plays a critical role in determining our daily diets. It has revolutionized the restaurant industry in that now, every restaurant invariably has an online presence. From restaurant lists, to menus, reviews and even reservations, the internet provides numerous outlets for restaurants to engage with their customers. And the advent of social media platforms has only taken this a step further – you can receive automatic updates with reviews and menu recommendations from friends every time you ‘check-in’ to a restaurant. As much as this is a boon for restaurant owners, it is also a bane.
Think about the (sometimes unfair) power that lies in the hand of the media. It can make or break a restaurant (and many other businesses) with a couple of damaging words fed to a hungry and burgeoning online community. The slightest slip-up could be exaggerated, which could blacklist the restaurant forever. The competition was always stiff, but now it’s gotten stiffer.
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