Mobile Reviews Changing Restaurant Industry Forever?

Feared restaurant critics like the late New York Times’ Craig Claiborne seem to be going the way of Walter Cronkite.

As Niall Harbison of Mobile points out (http://bit.ly/oKfYwV), mobile phones and people’s interest in hearing others’ reviews are emerging as a primary customer driver in the restaurant business, positively and negatively.  Smartphone photos of food and diners’ comments go out in almost real time, unfiltered, uncensored and, sometime, poorly considered.

So what is a restauranteur to do?  First, the basics: great food, great service.  Second, make sure you’re both collecting and posting good personal reviews and comments, and you’re taking steps to pre-empt negatives with prompt follow-up after the customer leaves.  Check out the basic steps to take at http://bit.ly/piXE2m.

And what if you’re in the widget business, not restaurants?  Watch out and prepare — it’s coming your way too.