Eric_Lander

msg:3264352 | 4:57 pm on Feb 26, 2007 (gmt 0) |
One idea that comes to mind if you're using an online reservation system would be to use a special reservation code or prefix based to a reservation number on the referral source. Alternately, you could offer a coupon or similar offer that is unique to the PPC campaigns.
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adamjax

msg:3264354 | 5:03 pm on Feb 26, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Pretty good ideas, thank you. There is no online reservation system yet in-place and we wouldn't like to start off with discounts right away. Rather my idea is to show how it can be profitable without going into the discounts right away! A
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seth_wilde

msg:3264409 | 5:33 pm on Feb 26, 2007 (gmt 0) |
You could get an 800 number that you only use with the ppc account (landing pages etc).. If you think a lot of your visitors are just coming in to the store rather than calling, the coupons is probably your best bet.
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adamjax

msg:3265110 | 8:40 am on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Good idea, thanks. Any different thoughts? Maybe some success stories?
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rharri

msg:3265263 | 12:43 pm on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Low-tech. Why not have the hostess/greeter ask each customer group, "Have you seen our ad on the interrnet?" If there is a website, have cards with the URL that the hostess/greeter can hand out so they can "check on our specials and special events". rharri
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Eric_Lander

msg:3265278 | 12:55 pm on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Low tech ideas are always fun... Great suggestion from rharri on that one. Rather than even processing online reservations -- you could have a contact page (or something similar) that you consider to be a point of conversion. From there, just use code relative to your PPC provider or your web stats program to determine the number of clickthroughs that actually reach the point of conversion. It'd be simple, and perhaps a bit skewed since people may review the page and never come in -- but it's another idea to consider.
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rj87uk

msg:3265314 | 1:41 pm on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Would Google Analytics not be able to track the conversions?
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adamjax

msg:3265636 | 5:42 pm on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
How?
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LifeinAsia

msg:3265665 | 6:00 pm on Feb 27, 2007 (gmt 0) |
The problem with low tech solutions is that they are often not very reliable. Oops, the new waitress wasn't properly trained to ask the question, and the party of 5 that came in because of the ad wasn't counted. Oops, the disgruntled waiter who really hates his job just made up a bunch of numbers instead of wasting his time asking the customers. Oops, customers came in had seen the site because they found it through organic listings, but they misunderstood the waitress and told her they saw the ad. Discount coupons are about the best way to track. It's the best motivation to get people to communicate to you that they saw the ad. Reservations are also good, but requires the infrastructure to support it. AN 800-number would also work, but requires the expenditure for a dedicated 800-number.
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shorebreak

msg:3272575 | 2:06 pm on Mar 6, 2007 (gmt 0) |
OpenTable.com is a San Francisco-based company marketing a)a website from which consumers can make online restaurant reservations. I've used them dozens of times in SF, NYC, Chicago, etc and it works great. b)a back-end CRM 'reservation management' system that they sell to restaurants on a per-cover basis. It's too bad they don't offer some sort of free [light] version of their backend reservation system along with an integrated tracking pixel. That way you could track everything perfectly through them. -Shorebreak
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GeoffDSEO

msg:3273396 | 1:51 am on Mar 7, 2007 (gmt 0) |
Does the restaurant deliver? I know we have done promotions when a restaurant launched delivery capabilities and were able to track by keywords what they ordered online, it's tricky tracking offline, but perhaps a dedicated reservations number only on the site, that way you know when someone calls that number, they got it from visiting the site. G.
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