hellosmarty.com

I know all you service staff want to know the secrets of how to make bigger tips. Well, I will share with you 14 techniques that work. These techniques have been researched and practiced with great success.

1. Wear Something Different

Add a unique and memorable accessory, piece of jewelry, or adornment to your uniform. This will show the customer some of your personality and you will seem more interesting and personable resulting in a bigger tip. Try a nice pin, or a flower in your hair. This technique has shown to increase tips by as much as 17%. One or two items should do but you can express yourself with as many pieces of flair as you like ;-)

2. Introduce Yourself By Name

When you introduce yourself by name to the customer it will show you are polite and friendly. The customer will appreciate this and this technique has shown to result in 53% bigger tips.

3. Squat Next To The Table

Squatting next to the customer does 3 things. First it allows you be at eye level with them and make better eye contact, second it allows you to get closer face to face with a customer, and third it allows you to align your posture more closely with theirs. How does this increase tips? All three of these activities have been shown to increase rapport and comfort. This can increase your tips by 20% to 25%.

4. Repeat The Customer's Order

Subtly mimicking or copying someone increases how much they like you and how close they feel to you. But don't overdo it or it becomes annoying. Repeating the customer's order as you take it has shown to increase tips.

5. Smile At Customers

People like people that smile. People who smile are percieved to be better looking, smarter, honest, and capable. Your customer will like you more and feel more comfortable if you smile and you will be rewarded by getting a bigger tip. This one technique can result in a significant increase in you tips.

6. Upsell

In the US where it is normal to tip between 15% and 20% of the bill size the number one thing you can do to increase your tips is to increase the bill size. By suggesting drinks, appetizers, more drinks, expensive menu items, more drinks, dessert, and some Irish coffees you can increase the bill size and therefore increase your tip by 30%.

7. Touch Customers

By touching a customer you can increase their affection for you. Try briefly laying a hand or arm on the customer's shoulder as you are greeting or speaking with them, or while handing them the bill. This is easier for waitresses to do than waiters but can be pulled off by both. It works better when waitresses touch the female members of mixed gender parties than the other way around. Girls probably don't like their men being touched.

8. Be Entertaining

Tell a cute joke, ask a wholesome trivia question. People like being entertained and they will like you more if you do it. Tasteful and quick jokes work well.

9. Predict Sunny Weather

If you live in a climate that has highly variable weather or a lot of rain such as Seattle, people will feel really good about the prospects of sunny weather. Mention that you heard tomorrow was going to be sunny and wish your customer a good day. They will feel good about the sun and feel good about giving you a larger tip. However, you might get strange looks if there is absolutely no chance of sun the next day!

10. Write "Thank You" on Checks

Write "Thank You" and sign your name on the check. The customer will appreciate this gratitude and think you are friendly. As mentioned earlier friendliness increases tips. The customer may also feel inclined to return this gratitude and leave a bigger tip. Any expressions of gratitude are likely to increase tip size by as much as 15%.

11. Draw A Picture On Checks

Draw a smiley face on the back of checks to have three effects. First, this personalizes you and creates empathy. Second, the smile indicates friendliness and a show of gratitude (see tips 5 and 10). Third, this might also make the customer smile and put them in more of a tipping mood. Another option is to draw a sun (see tip 9). This can increase tips by 20%

12. Use Tip Trays That Have A Credit Card Logo

There's something about the image of a credit card that makes people want to spend. Online copywriters have found this trick works to, they often put a credit card logo near their order buttons. I don't know why but this actually works, even if the customer pays with cash.

13. Give Customers Candy

If you give someone something they will appreciate it and will like you more. An even stronger urge is the person now feel's they should give you something, they want to reciprocrate the gift. This little gesture will definately earn you a bigger tip.

14. Call Customers By Name

When you call a customer by name it makes them feel important. Most people are flattered by this. Next time you return with Mr. Smith's credit card simply say "Thank you, Mr. Smith" and watch as the average tips increase in size.

 There you have it, 14 easy techniques to earn bigger tips. Not only is this good for you and all those that work for gratuities but it's good customer service. People are happy to give you larger tips because they have really enjoyed the service you provided them.

This article was derived from the research of Dr. Michael Lynn of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.