Often times I hear customers confused at the difference between mobile apps and mobile websites so I thought you all would find this article I found on Forbes website helpful:

“I assume you have already read numerous articles about the never ending debate between mobile and native web applications. Moreover, this debate will undoubtedly grow along with Android’s market share. If you’d like a broad, comprehensive look at the pros and cons, I recommend this must-read article: The fight gets technical: mobile apps vs. mobile sites.

(source: Worklight)

Unfortunately, the debate is more complicated than it looks. First, because the figures usually provided behind the arguments are based on new subscribers, not owners, and don’t take into account all types of mobile phones. Rather, they focus only on high-end smartphones like the July 2011 comScore U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share Report.  This data gives you the false impression that the market is divided between Google and Apple, a biased vision of reality (The proliferation of mobile platforms).

The second complication: You have more than two options (web vs. native). To be more precise, we can envision four different technical configurations:

• Native apps, which are coded with a specific programming language (ObjectiveC for iOS, Java for Android). These mobile applications are fast, reliable, and powerful but are tied to a mobile platform. That means you must duplicate them using the appropriate programming language in order to target another mobile platform. Nearly all games are native apps.
• Hybrid apps, which rely on development frameworks like Sencha, PhoneGap,Titanium, Rhomobile, ParticleCode, Corona, Mosync, Worklight, BkRender… These mobile apps offer a very interesting compromise because they ensure cross-platform compatibility and can access the phone’s hardware (camera, GPS, user’s contacts). IGN’s mobile social network Dominate is just such a hybrid app.
• Dedicated web app, which is a mobile web site tailored to a specific platform or form factor, like the LinkedIn web app which was designed for Android and iOS, but not for other smartphones or feature phones.
• Generic mobile app, which are mobile web sites designed to match every web-enabled phone, like the Wikipedia mobile page.

As you can see, you have definitely more than two options. It’s all about context, and that context is evolving at a very fast pace. At the very least, you can count on this: If your mobile application is mainly used to display and interact with online content or services, go with the native choice. And, if your application is mainly used offline, a native app will offer a better user experience. So the clear choice for all needs is mobile.

eMarketer recently published a very informative chart of mobile vs. native apps’ market share depending on usage: (Studies are showing these numbers rapidly shifting towards mobile)

In any case, what you should remember is that mobile is not only about choosing between web and native apps. It requires a more sophisticated approach. Here’s my advice to help you define an effective mobile strategy:

• Build an API infrastructure to allow easy and reliable access to your content and services (APIs Drive the New Touch.Salesforce.com Platform)
• If you decide to use native apps, hire or train an internal team on major mobile platforms’ technologies (iOS, Android) and use sub-contractors for minor mobile platforms (RIM)
• Don’t try to replicate your entire web site. Rethink your offer on a local level and focus on what brings most value in a mobile context

And last but not least, bear in mind that this is a very unstable market. Everything can change within months. So don’t think about delivering the most advanced mobile app. Instead, focus on acquiring understanding of your users’ expectations and behavior.”

In today’s information age it’s so easy for your customers to go online and write about your business and sometimes not all of that can be good. Yelp is one site that has gained a lot of popularity among consumers. As a business owner I know the importance of keeping customers happy so here are some suggestions on managing your reputation on Yelp.

“Avoid negative reviews. Of course this is much easier said than done but in terms of business it is ultimately essential. Yelp has the ability to be best friend or the dreadful worst enemy to your business. It’s solely up to you. Doubtful? Try it. Start a Google Search and type in the name of your establishment. You probably notice that near the top of the search there is your business with few (and if you’re lucky, many) stars. These stars are there due to response from customers who have taken the time to review. Look past the stars, notice the comments and take into account what’s being said. Do your customers seem satisfied? Are there any negative comments? If there are, you’re encouraged to do something about it.

Negative reviews are the single most detrimental response toward a business as it is trusted and most often adhered to. If there is a customer who has never visited your business but has an interest they likely will seek out the opinions of others before finalizing a decision. The last thing you want is for the final decision to not be in your favor. If you’re wondering how you could possibly avoid this, here’s what you can do:

Review notifications: This is of great importance. Be sure that you are keeping an active (if possible, daily) account of what is being said about your establishment, who is saying it, and get to the root of why.

Address Reviews: Do not just notice the reviews, collect the data and do nothing about it. This is counterproductive. Whenever there is a negative review, be sure to address it. Do your part at locating the reviewer to get to the root of the problem. Question the reviewer’s experience. Ask what could have been done differently. Assure the reviewer that necessary steps have been taken to rectify the problem. It is your responsibility to change the reviewer’s opinion about your business. Each reviewer counts. Imagine that 1 negative review equals the loss of 100 potential customers.

Offer Incentives: This can work both in ways to generate more positive reviews and to convert the negatives. If you have received a negative review, offer a way to make it right. Maybe the customer could be offered additional accommodations that could ignite a return and essentially a do-over. You also may want to consider offering customers incentive to leave positive reviews on popular forums. Suggest that proof of good review could in turn produce reward for the customer.

Manage Your Reputation: As a business, your reputation is all you have. Do your part at micro-managing it. Track trends, gather data, assess incentives, strategize conversions and do what is necessary to gain positive feedback.

You could possibly be overwhelmed wondering how you would find the time to pay close attention to your business reputation while maintaining smooth day to day operations. It is of great importance that maintenance of your business reputation becomes high priority in your business model.”

Written by Melissa Gonzalez

We build a lot of apps for restaurants and I like to arm myself with the knowledge of features restaurants can use. And using QR Codes can be a tremendous benefit to restaurants if they use them correctly. Here’s 15 ideas that I found from Chris Edwards that I think you’ll find very helpful in understanding better how they apply to the restaurant industry whether you are an owner of a restaurant or you are selling an app to the owner..

“From what I have seen, the adoption of QR codes in the Restaurant Industry has been very slow. In this article, I will explain to you how easy it is to implement this hot new marketing technology into your restaurant business. I will tell you how it is currently being used as well as throw out some cool and unique ideas on how to use QR codes in your restaurant.

15 Ideas for QR Codes in Restaurants

Please note that I am not a restaurant owner, therefor these ideas may need to be tweaked to work in your restaurant.

1. Photos/Videos of Your Different Entrees

Many times, posting a photo of your entrees in your menu can be hard to do or may not fit with the style of your restaurant menu. Using QR codes, you can place a small QR code inside your restaurant menu that when scanned will lead someone toa mobile friendly website showing off different photos or even videos of the different entrees or menu items. This could help that picky eater make a decision on what they would like to purchase.

2. Menu Nutrition Information

With so many that are trying to watch their figure, menu nutrition information has almost become necessary. I know that I often check out the nutrition facts of most of the places I eat so I know what entrees I can have on my good days and what dishes I can have when I want to splurge a little. An issue arises when I visit a restaurant and see a menu without any information on it. Yes, normally you can ask for a nutrition fact sheet, however most are kinda shy about letting others know they are watching their weight. Simply setup a QR code on the menu that will take them to a nutrition mobile friendly site showing all the nutrition information they crave.

3. Daily Specials

Save on paper cost by having a QR code for your daily specials. Simply create a mobile friendly website displaying your specials for the day. This will helpyour paper costs as you will not have to print new specials each day and also can take a load off your staff from having to re-explain the specials menu each visit back to the table. You can also display photos of each item on this page.

Another great idea is to also display upcoming daily specials, if you already know what they will be. This will help bring your customers back the next day for their favorite item.

4. Special Recipes

For restaurants that are willing to share, put recipes on a mobile friendly site allowing customers to view some of your recipes. Just be careful not to give away the secret recipe that keeps them coming back!

5. Your Restaurant History

While waiting for their food, customers may be interested in how your restaurant came about. Rather than taking up precious space in your menu, a simple QR code can lead them to the complete history of your restaurant, with photos and all.

Kick it up a notch by having the qr code open a video of the restaurant’s history!

6. A Message From The Chef/Owner

Create a qr code that opens either a video or mobile friendly site with a message from the Chef or even from the owner. Here you can showcase your education, history, bio and your favorite dishes.

7. Meet the Family/Staff

Similar to the idea above, this idea has a QR code that leads to a mobile friendly page or video introducing your family and/or staff. This will help customers connect on a more personal level with your restaurant.

8. Take-Out and Contact Information

Using the same method you would use to create a QR code business card, create contact information that will allow your customers to quickly and easily add your restaurant contact information into their phone. This is a great idea for restaurants that have a take-out service.

Be sure if you create a contact card for the purpose of a take-out service, you place the url of your take-out menu, on a mobile friendly page, in place of the website address. This will allow customers to pull up your restaurant on their mobile phone and instantly pull up your take-out menu.

9. Customer Survey Receipts & Placards

This is the biggest pet peeve of mine. When I visit a restaurant, they always list a website or phone number to contact to take a survey. The problem with method is that once I walk out that door, my receipt ends up in all kinda of crazy places never to be seen again. By placing a QR code on the receipt, customers will be encouraged to scan the QR code and take your survey on their phone, maybe even before they leave.

Take this to the next level by working with your software vendor to see if they can create custom QR codes for each receipt that will contain a website link with the transaction or receipt number in the variables. This would allow a customer to scan the code and be taken right to the survey without having to enter any information. If this were in place, I can say I would be taking a lot more surveys.

10. Coupons and Print Advertising

Create QR codes in your print advertising and use QR codes on your coupons to make things easier on your customers. Have a QR code on all your materials you print that lead your customers to coupons. You can even place a QR code on the coupon itself which could have a page or even video showcasing your menu. Since more and more people are becoming aware of QR codes, however there are not as many restaurants and businesses taking advantage of it, your QR code will likely cause your ad or coupon to stand out and scream “scan me”.

11. Text Message Sign-Up

I have found many restaurants participating in a text message sign-up or loyalty program. Many of these restaurants have a sign telling me to text “tacos” to some 5 digit number to be added to the list. That is great and all, however it still requires me to pull out my phone, open my text message program, type in the number, double check the number is right, type the text and hit send. It may not seem hard however when you are trying to watch the kids, figure out what you want to order, hassling with the line and other stresses, this task can turn into to much trouble to deal with.

Here is a simple way to do it. With most QR code generators, you can create a pre-filled text message QR code. This will allow that same stressed person to pull out their mobile phone, scan the advertisement or sign and hit send. Now they are a new member of your text message loyalty program.

12. Events, Live Bands and Celebrations

I see most restaurants posting up flyers, banners and placards advertising upcoming events in their restaurant. Too many times, I look at the date and tell myself that I will try and attend. I do not take the time to add this to my calendar so often I forget. By adding a QR code to the event flyer, I can scan the flyer and have it automatically added to my phone calendar. Come the date of the event, my phone will remind me to go.

Some Unconventional QR Code Usage Ideas for Restaurants

So the use of QR codes in restaurants is still pretty unconventional today, however as more and more restaurants learn how easy it is, the 12 ideas above will start to become the norm. Here are some crazy out-of-the-box uses for QR codes in restaurants:

“Clean Your Plate” Reward or Coupon

Reward your customer with a coupon when they clean their plate. How you do this have entree plates made with QR codes printed in the center of them. You can pick the right colors to make this into a nice design. Once your customer finishes their dinner, they scan that QR code on their plate for a coupon or reward, say a discount on desert. This will help your restaurant with up sales as well as give your customers an enjoyable experience.

You can also have the QR code play a funny video, tell a joke or show a cartoon similar to how Popsicle sticks do, basically, make them feel like they are a kid again!

Unlock The Code

Place signs, posters and placards around your restaurant and have QR codes on them that provide a “piece of the puzzle”. Each code could be used to unlock a secret pass phrase. This works great for destination restaurants that want to have fun with their customers and encourage their customers to travel around their restaurant. Encourage them to visit your bar area, maybe a certain dining room or even scenic locations in your indoor or outdoor waiting area. The sky is the limit with this one, however it is best to try and leave the bathroom out of it. People scanning or snapping photos in the bathroom often looks odd to anyone else in there.

Trivia and Riddles

Place trivia questions or riddles up on the wall around your dining room. Make them difficult to answer yet still fun for the whole family to try and figure out. Place a QR code under the trivia question or riddle that says “scan for an answer” and have it display the answer.

Kick this up a notch by working with a programer to create a mobile friendly page that ask them to answer the question on their mobile phone. If they get it right, they get a discount code or coupon for their meal.

Current Usage of QR Codes in Restaurants

WalkIN Mobile App

This is a new startup that has created an app for restaurants to use QR codes for the reservation of tables. WalkIN allows you to scan a code hanging on the door and add your name and party size to waiting list. Once you have your name on the list, the phone will alert you when you are the next table to be called and then will alert you again when your table is ready. This is a great use of QR code technology for restaurants. For more information on this app, please read my article, WalkIN Mobile QR code App for Restaurants.

Other Current Usage

Due to the slow adoption of this simple technology, there has not been a lot of usage, at least not in my area (Central Florida). Please post a comment below letting us know about other QR code usage in restaurants in your neck of the woods.

Let’s Hear From You…

Do you have an idea or have you seen something being used that you would like to share? Please post below in the comments section.

If you are a restaurant using QR codes in your establishment, please tell us how you are using them. Let me know if you have tried some of the methods listed above and what worked and what didn’t. As stated before, I am a business man but have never ran a restaurant, so my idea may need some fine tuning to actually work. With your help, we can make this list better.”