Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling

Soliciting feedback from customers often seems like a daunting task. However, Zack Oates and his team at Ovation have cracked the code with a proven strategy that not only encourages guest feedback, but also establishes a personal connection for exceptional results.

Watch this interview with @zackoates from @ovationup to learn how to get feedback from restaurant guests in real time, creating loyalty through relationships, and digital storytelling that truly connects.

@calibbqmedia @entrepreneur

WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of the Restaurant Influencers podcast, presented by the @Toast point of sale and restaurant management technology company? Let us know by leaving a YouTube comment below.

Sponsored by:

• ToastAllIn1 Restaurant POS

Chapters:

[00:56] - Why Host a Podcast?

[02:48] - Zack Oates 2-Minute Drill

[05:59] - How to Create and Publish Digital Content

[07:42] - Building a Culture of Online Storytellers

[18:47] - Biggest Lesson Learned from Raising Capital

Zack Oates is a Restaurant Influencer -

Zack Oates and the guest feedback platform Ovation have taken a radically different approach to hearing from customers, which stems from their recognition of a critical flaw in the conventional methods: It’s too hard to share feedback.

As the CEO/founder puts it to host Shawn P. Walchef of Cali BBQ Media () when meeting up at the National Restaurant Association Show"Because the solutions are so bad, guests don't give feedback. You miss out on over 99% of your guests' feedback because you make it too hard to give that feedback."

The Ovation solution? A two-question survey, delivered via text message, that practically engages customers immediately. Think of it like a digital “table touch”

Ovation not only makes it much easier for restaurant guests to give helpful feedback and reviews, but also establishes a personal connection that yields exceptional results.

The simplicity, along with incentives like a chance to win a $100 gift card, encourages participation.

This accessible and innovative approach, coupled with Ovation's integration with various platforms like the Toast POS, has opened up valuable channels for direct engagement. Oates emphasizes that their strategy not only garners feedback but also nurtures customer relationships, which is vital to Ovation's success.

A human touch working in harmony with technology remains the key to unlocking true customer loyalty, Oates says.

"At the end of the day, regardless of how much technology is in between you and I, it's about that human connection." says Zack Oates.

#ovationup #entrepreneur #techcompany

Episode Links:

Ovation Online

Zack Oates Instagram

Zack Oates Twitter

Give an Ovation Podcast

Dating Never Works . . . Until It Does100 Lessons from 1,000 Dates (Book)

Book Zack Oates to Speak

ABOUT ZACK OATES:

Zack Oates grew up in the restaurant industry. His time in the service industry coupled with the 1,000 dates he went on prior to marrying his wife has provided Oates a unique perspective on building relationships. He started Ovation as an effort to continue to improve the guest experience, and receive honest, immediate feedback. Ovation is now the #1 guest feedback solution for restaurants, and Oates has used his relationship-building experience to become a best-selling author with the book, Dating Never Works . . . Until It Does: 100 Lessons from 1,000 Dates. He is also a podcaster and sought after public speaker.

Zack Oates Linkedin

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Rob Dyrdek, Elizabeth Chambers, Stratis Morfogen, Chris Comparato, Meredith Sandland, Jon Taffer, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media

Produced by Cali BBQ Media

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RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants

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