So, after much deliberation, we decided to give the reins to our patrons; after all, they are the end users. They would populate the site by suggesting their favorite restaurants; the only stipulation being, that the restaurants had to be independently owned. We have nothing against chain restaurants, but unlike most independent restaurant owners, they often have their own IT departments and thicker wallets for marketing.

Diningverse Patrons quickly began inviting their buddies and suggesting restaurants. They invited family and friends from outside the initial beta area. Basic restaurant profiles began popping up across the US. Patrons even created lists and linked them to other social media.

But, then we noticed something interesting. We began to see Patrons putting up professional profiles and contact information. When they recommended their favorite local restaurants, it became a “B to B”…….local business/professionals and organizations supporting local restaurants through social networking. Who would have thought Diningverse would be the virtual conduit for that? They recognized the symbiotic relationship; that the pulse of our cities beats within the hearts of our local independent restaurant owners.

But, here is the wake up call. We noticed that the restaurants with full profiles on Diningverse became some of the most recommended restaurants. It became pretty clear that patrons wanted to see up to date menus, prices and specials in an organized, easy to view manner. Restaurants that took the time to keep their profile updated, seemed to benefit the most. And with Diningverse, that task is super easy!

A bigger wake up call is that typical restaurant websites are often frustrating to folks just looking for basic information. The search is further complicated every time you have to switch gears to see the same information for a different restaurant; or to wait minutes (delete) to load the home page. If you have diet restrictions or food allergies, you just want to see the menu.  And, obviously, this doesn’t work for today’s mobile crowd. There is huge value in just keeping it simple.

With social media, you cannot always predict where it will lead or how people will use it. We never anticipated some of the creative ways our patrons would use Diningverse, but, we shouldn’t be surprised, it is their dining universe.

The general consensus of the attendees was literally, shock. Most of them didn’t think of Facebook as a marketing tool, much less a management tool. And I can tell you, there was a crowd of folks asking him questions after his short commentary.

We are experiencing a pretty ugly economy and many small businesses are scrambling to be noticed on a very limited advertising budget. This has really set the economic climate for the explosive growth in social networking….creating a virtual stage where the tickets are free and a business can perform 24/7 to a packed house.

Many Independent Restaurant Owners are seeing social networking as their stage to effectively compete against chain restaurants; and Diningverse is a great example. Most cannot afford the price of a billboard, or commercials that air during the Super Bowl or Olympics. But for $79/month, they can level the playing field with a content rich web profile on Diningverse.

At first glance, Facebook appears to be a good place to start for independent restaurant owners. But upon deeper inspection, it lacks the tools Diningverse provides that are industry specific.  Let’s face it, when you are hungry, you have little interest in reading what is on a restaurant’s Wall. You want to know what is in the area and how to get there. If you have a particular cuisine in mind, well….you get it.

….so, say hello to Diningverse, “your entree to local restaurants”.

When was the last time a restaurant owner/manager asked you if you were referred by someone; or more specifically, how you found them? Doesn’t this seem like valuable information?

Diningverse was built on the premise that providing great food and service will not only capture a return audience, it will often inspire patrons to tell their Buddies, Fans and Followers.  And now, keeping tabs on local restaurants couldn’t be easier with the Diningverse Scoop.  Restaurant managers can quickly and easily post daily messages about discounts, specials and events.

Many of us do not wish to carry multiple swipe cards, coupons or be overloaded with unsolicited advertising. And rarely is there a discount coupon big enough to attract someone to a restaurant where the food and service do not meet their expectations. Satisfied customers are by far the best referral service.

The beauty of social networking, is that it allows the user to choose the arenas in which they wish to interact; constructing their personal network to suit their goals and lifestyle. Those networks are built by invitations, referrals, suggestions and recommendations.

As social networking continues to make a greater impact on advertising, we see patron referrals becoming more valuable;  in fact, we see Diningverse restaurant recommendations as being priceless.

Like most folks, I am no expert on specific dietary issues and how it relates to disease.  I do, however, see people taking charge of their own health and supporting restaurant owners that are sensitive to their specific needs.

If you have any doubt about the growing numbers in this group, just google: gluten free…..that should get your attention.   According to the American Celiac Disease Alliance, “In the United States it affects 1 in 133 Americans or roughly 3 million people.”

So, what is gluten? Does it occur naturally or is it an additive? Why does it affect some folks and not others?   Help me out here, like I said, I’m no expert.

I found the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) to be a good place to start. It described gluten as a type of protein commonly found in some grains; so it is often in most bread and cereals. It is also used as a stabilizing agent in some processed foods (ketchup, ice cream). There are some grains that do not contain gluten. NDDIC offers a basic list of food you can eat, what to avoid and a list of sites for more information.

During the initial stages of Diningverse, the team recognized the need for restaurant owner/managers to be able to easily edit the menu including the ability to list ingredients. We expect this option will be more widely used in the future; perhaps to list what is not in some menu items: Gluten Free

Some restaurant owners are using the Diningverse Scoop to let patrons know they can accommodate their dietary needs…..check out Summer House Cafe.

It is no secret that the cost of health care has spiked an increased awareness of the impact of diet on specific health issues. One Diningverse patron has even started her own list of restaurants that offer Gluten Free menu items. Will this inspire groups to become Patrons and create customized lists of restaurants that accommodate their needs?

Our goal is to connect Independent Restaurant Owners with existing and potential patrons. We are always inspired by the way this relatively new online community is creating their own dining universe.

Natalie Cynthia Reyes, Latino’s Restaurant

Thanks to the Diningverse Team and this innovative website I have been able to spend less time, less money and know our web presence is always keeping pace with ever changing social media. Responses to inquiries are always rapid and reliable. The periodic updates and improvements are an indication that this team pays close attention to the feedback it receives. New functionality, like D’Scoop and Multiple Menus, show up without additional cost. I love that I can quickly and easily make periodic changes to our site at a time convenient for me. I can’t think of a better, more cost efficient web marketing tool for independent restaurant owners.

Diningverse is truly one of the most innovative ways to market a restaurant on the Internet. I am the Diningverse manager for two restaurants, The Plymouth Tavern and Brewerie at Union Station. In addition to managing these restaurant profiles, I pull together any printing and marketing materials they desire to maintain their branding. Diningverse enables me to assure my restaurant customers that their restaurant information is always current and that it is seamlessly connected to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, so vital to marketing today. I highly recommend Diningverse to restaurants as well as restaurant marketing agencies looking for an efficient, inexpensive way to promote an independent restaurant on the Internet.

Thank you Diningverse team. I have had a wonderful experience working with our full profile. It was a snap to setup all the details for our restaurant and I look forward to future advancements on Diningverse. I really like how the Multiple Menus work and how easy it is to adjust our menu items.

It’s not the “flashiness” or the “beauty of the site design” that make restaurant website good. It’s the freshness of the content and richness of the information the site visitors get when they visit the site.

Just like the food restaurants serve … if the dish looks great but the ingredients are not fresh, the meal still sucks!