When a customer books through a massive third-party directory, whose customer are they? Yours? Or the app's?
The answer, unfortunately, is the app's. They hold the email address, they control the marketing, and worst of all, they can recommend your competitors to that same customer next week.
The Directory Trap
Listing your restaurant on a general booking app puts you in a sea of competition. A potential diner searches for "Italian food" and sees you—right next to five other Italian restaurants that might be offering a steeper discount.
"By relying on third parties, you are effectively paying to rent your own customers."
Direct Booking = Higher Loyalty
With popsyseat, the booking widget lives on your website. The customer experience is entirely branded to you. They don't need to download an app or create an account with us. They simply enter their name and email.
This lowers the friction significantly. We've found that guests are far more likely to complete a booking when they aren't forced to install software just to eat dinner.
Building Your Database
Every booking made through popsyseat belongs to you. You can export your customer data securely (GDPR compliant) to build your email marketing list. This allows you to:
- Send birthday offers
- Promote special events (like Valentine's or Mother's Day)
- Announce new menu launches
This is how you turn a one-time visitor into a regular regular.