Of note on social media: Panda Express 'joy spotting' campaign

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

An eight-hour social media campaign yielded a 389-percent increase in mentions of the brand on Twitter and a 24-percent increase in followers.

7 tips for getting Millennials to stay in love with your brand

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

How do brands keep once-smitten customers from getting bored and breaking up?

How a hotel became a hot fast casual concept

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Marriott transformed its Courtyard food and beverage offerings away from the traditional buffet into a new fast casual format, resulting in a 27-percent jump…

Technology, desire to connect with customer drives Buffalo Wild Wings' success

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Based on customer research and feedback, Buffalo Wild Wings invested significantly in defining, delivering and enhancing its brand experience using technology.

Four ways the game has changed for restaurant brands

Nimbleness, dynamic customer relationships, customization and millennial insights are all key to brand success, says FOCUS Brands CEO Steve DeSutter.

5 tips to promote upcoming events at your restaurant

Work with local businesses and non-profits to promote your restaurant’s event, tie them to your event theme and encourage a co-sponsorship.

Four reasons digital screens are more than menu boards

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Engaging digital signage can be a key differentiator in the customer experience by educating guests about menu items, driving craving, reducing perceived wait…

Restaurants beefing up offerings despite rising protein costs

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Operators are so undeterred by rising protein costs that menu mentions of protein across the board have risen 67 percent in the last five years.

Will the shift from credit cards to mobile payments be good, bad, or neutral?

Will the shift from credit cards to mobile payments be good, bad, or neutral for the restaurant industry?

Prognostication: 2015 menu trends

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Beverages, micro-local, crowdsourcing and increased competition from nontraditional foodservice outlets are all expected to shape the restaurant landscape in…

Want to influence customers? Listen up, say marketing experts

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Listening to customers can yield key insights into what customers like, what they don't like, what's working and what's not. Those insights yield actionable…

Big brands capture big social media share, but smaller brands get the love

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

It's no surprise that Chipotle grabs the lions' share of social media attention among top fast casual brands, but smaller, regional eateries inspire the most…

Nine keys for driving speed of service

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Restaurants can become victims of their own success when high volume slows down service. Check out these tips for satisfying the need for speed.

Fast casual execs weigh successes and failures of QSR segment

by Alicia Kelso — senior editor, QSRweb.com

Despite a few notable bright spots -- Wendy's, Domino's -- most observers agree that the QSR segment is in trouble. What are the lessons and opportunities for…

If you build it, they won't come

by Alicia Kelso — senior editor, QSRweb.com

Having a website, an app and/or social media accounts isn't enough. Brands must plan to engage customers if they want to build loyalty and convert sales.

How your mobile payment app can cost you customers and ding your reputation

Without a thoughtful approach to user experience, staff training and enticing loyalty incentives, brand apps are doomed to failure.

Apple Pay's impact on restaurant loyalty marketing

Focusing on the creation of an experience that’s easy for the customer, instead of optimal for the brand, makes customers feel like VIPs.

Experts share insights on millennial dining-out decisions

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Shaped by user-centric devices and the Great Recession, value-conscious millennials are looking for great experiences that are friction-free.

Doing well by doing good

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

When brands connect themselves and their customers to causes they love, everyone can benefit.

'Failure is not an option' in CEO's cancer battle

by Brenda Rick Smith — Editor, Networld Media Group

Just as things started taking off for Chicken Salad Chick, President and CEO Kevin Brown was diagnosed with stage IV liver cancer. He's fighting back, and…