Curious about the real benefits of offering free WiFi in your restaurant?
Let’s face it: we are a society obsessed with technology. In fact, according to a recent study, we touch our phones 2,617 times a day on average. When it comes to vacations, OnePoll, a market research company, found that 47% of people wouldn’t go on vacation without their phones. Americans would prefer to forego some of the most – ahem – pleasurable human activities than give up WiFi for a month. Ten percent of Americans actually even admitted they would rather give up a friend than lose WiFi connectivity.
That’s bad news for friends and potentially the propagation of our species, but it’s good news if you own a restaurant offering free WiFi. (There’s always a silver lining). If your establishment DOESN’T offer free WiFi yet, it’s time to explore the top 4 benefits of doing so:
1. Keep Customers Around, Get More Sales
According to Business Insider, “62% of businesses report that customers spend more time in their facility when WiFi is offered”. With free WiFi on the menu, national restaurants chains have reported as much as a 15% increase in revenue. If you’re an establishment that relies on beverage sales, offering free WiFi is great way to keep customers ordering more coffee, tea, or cocktails.
2. Make ‘Grammable Moments (and Promotions) Easier
What would a blog about free WiFi be without mentioning marketing’s favorite buzzword/demographic darlings: millennials? According to, well everyone, Millennials spend the most money eating out than any other demographic. With their penchant for social media, especially food pics, younger diners can become your best brand ambassadors. Giving these patrons free WiFi is good for them, because they don’t have to use their own cell phone data. It’s good for you because it parlays easily into promotional opportunities (think #hashtags). Encourage your social-savvy customers to share their food pics for a chance to win free stuff and they’ll keep coming back for more!
3. Satisfy Your Already-Loyal Customers
Your loyal customers love you because your bánh mì is bangin’. Reward them with a spot where they can browse on their smartphones or log onto the web with their computers for free. This ties into Reason #1, too. Free WiFi gives your loyal patrons even more reason to stick around and buy more from you. Maybe they’ll even branch out and try new menu items.
4. Stay Competitive
If you offer it, they will come; increase foot traffic and attract new customers. Customers have come to expect free WiFi and it can be a disappointment if you don’t offer it. Don’t let your competitors get the upper hand in attracting new patrons – especially lone diners, 53% of whom report that they are happy to sit alone in a cafe, bar, or restaurant if WiFI is available to them.
Offering free WiFi is an easy way to attract new customers, to retain new and old customers, and to step up your promotional strategy. Chances are, you’re already paying for WiFi for your business; offering it for free to your customers will take little effort on your part, but the benefits will be big!
Interested in even more ways to make your restaurant business more profitable? Contact Leebro POS to explore technology solutions to help your business grow!
