by restaurantspider | Oct 25, 2017 | Website Tips
Now let’s face it. A lot, and I mean a lot of business is done online nowadays. I heard somewhere that 72% of millennials research and shop online before they visit a location. So think about that for a minute. If the future is researching online, shouldn’t every business including yours be represented there, especially restaurants who are by nature part of the social world? The answer is yes you should.
Your website. Your home
So with that said, as a business, you need to have a home online. A central online place where visitors can go when they visit you, without distractions. You need a place to convince customers to come to you instead of going to Joe Schmo down the street. A website is your online home and its role is to be an extension of your restaurant’s physical location or you as a sole entrepreneur. It should be a place where a customer can order from you right there or provide information on how they can get to you when they want to visit. Not having an online space is literally like leaving money on the table.
A website should be a place where customers feel like they are welcomed. It should be a place that greets them with open arms and provides them with the information they might be looking for or entice them to want to visit you. A website should not just occupy space. It should not have just an image that leads to nowhere or content that has not been updated in years. As my previous creative director used to say, “put some love into it”. Pay attention to the details as you would for your physical restaurant. Ask yourself, if you would be ok with having your physical restaurant set up halfway before your customers come in? Definitely not. This is how you should think about your website’s content i.e. text, images, menu items, blog posts etc.
Getting the best out of a website
In order to get the best out of your restaurant’s online space, don’t just have anyone create your website for you. Don’t let one of those advertising companies that use the same template for every type of business create one for you and definitely do not think of creating it yourself unless you are also skilled in the world of web design. The website should have the necessary features help the online and mobile viewer have a sense of ease when viewing it. Your designer should know the design style and fonts that work the best, the necessary features for a responsive (mobile-friendly) website, understand hierarchy and content placement to lead your customers to the place you intend them to go and above all understand what makes a good restaurant website.
Once you get a website up, you should not stop there. Stay committed to the online extension of your restaurant and make sure to continuously give it what it needs to allow your website to do the work for you while you sleep.
So what do you do after your website goes live to keep it from getting stale? Look out for my next post on the subject where I will be providing you with a list of strategies that can help you keep up your website and get it continuously bringing in customers and revenue.
by restaurantspider | Oct 18, 2017 | Mini Website Tips, Website Tips
Is your website mobile-friendly?
Geez, I hope it is. Statistics show that 83% of consumers use their mobile device to search for a place to eat. It really becomes a problem when your customers have to pinch and zoom on their devices to view your menu, find where you’re located and view your story on your website. Mobile-friendly websites are designed to promote legibility no matter the device screen size. Don’t fall into the category of restaurants that do not reach their customers or risk losing customers due to a website that cannot easily provide them with the necessary and most basic information.
If you are not sure you have a mobile-friendly website, seek help from your designer or ask us. We are always happy to educate and provide you with information that will help your business grow.
Comments are also welcome below!
by restaurantspider | Oct 11, 2017 | Mini Website Tips, Website Tips
Check for Accuracy
Check for accuracy on your website at least once a month to make sure that everything on there is correct. As a restaurant, whether having a physical location or not, make it a point to review your contact info, your menu, your images etc. For example, if you don’t offer your delicious Monday special anymore, take it off your website. I know that sometimes, it’s easier said than done when you can’t do it yourself but there are options. You can have someone you know that’s more website savvy than you are to make the updates for you but the best option would be to purchase a maintenance plan from your design studio. Here at ASBA and your design studio are in the business of doing what’s best for you and your website, they know how your website functions and the best way to make updates that suitable for the web. Having a maintenance plan to make sure your website is up to date will save you in the long run.
Don’t make room for your customers to have incorrect expectations about the services your restaurant offers.
How often do you check your website?
by restaurantspider | Oct 11, 2017 | Website Tips
Have you been going back and forth about getting a new website for your business? Have you been talking yourself in and out of getting your website redesigned? How long has this ping-pong match been going on for? I have a friend who is in the same predicament right now. She is a “creativepreneur” like myself, she knows she really needs a new website and she knows how much having a website would add value and trust to her business but the act of getting it done has been so slow. For her, she has been fighting with the fact that she does not have everything ready but the question is, is this a legitimate excuse?
For some reason in our businesses, we tend to push back a lot of things we are not comfortable with. It’s sad because when you think about it, is it really possible to be able to do anything and everything? We need to push away the negative thoughts and bring in the positive ones that can help us and our businesses move forward. I have listed below a few thoughts you should be aware of when you are ready to get your new website as they hinder progress, bring in fear and stunt the growth of your restaurant business.
1. “I don’t have content”
You can create content for your new website if you put aside some time to work on it but there is also the saying, “when in doubt, hire out”. There are copywriters out there that can create content for your website after a conversation with you or with a few bullet points that describe your restaurant. I highly suggest you check with your design studio on this one because you most likely are panicking for no reason at all.
2.“I don’t have photos”
It is very understandable that you do not have great looking photos for your new website. It is actually expected. Seriously, how many people have amazing photos of their current food and restaurant just lying around? Don’t let this thought hinder your progress. Again, check with your design studio or seek out a photographer to help. Keep in mind that it is super easy these days to change out a photo if you are not in love with the best ones you have. Don’t fret.
3.“I’m busy”
Oh man! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard this one. Just like every owner of a small or large restaurant, you are busy, no questions asked. Having a website is a necessity for your business that you need to make time for. Web design studios, especially those that focus on restaurants, totally understand this and therefore make the process much easier for you so you don’t need to put a lot of personal time into the project. Don’t push the need for a website aside.
4. I don’t know what I want my new website to look like. I have no ideas.
Hello, sunshine, that’s what hiring a web designer is for 🙂 Let us do the creative thinking for you.
5. Websites are expensive
This is another one I’ve heard of a lot. People! Websites are not as expensive as you might think. Generally, to start a custom restaurant website can range from $600 – 5000+. Talk to your website design studio, like us here at ASBA about your budget, what your goals and must-haves are and they will be able to come up with ideas on a website you can afford. If you have a lower budget still ask, there is no harm in that. For example, we have a website product coming out for this very reason for restaurants that are just starting out and do not have a large budget but are interested in a subscription type service. Check https://blog.restaurantspider.com to be notified when we launch.
6. I’m a small restaurant
It does not matter whether you are a small or large restaurant. You still need a website.
7. I have a facebook account
Ooh, for this one, see my post on “Is Facebook really a replacement for a website?” I lay it all out.
8. I don’t know where to start
Well, hello! Of course, you don’t know where to start. You are not trained in the field of website and brand identity design. You are in luck though, because I have created a free PDF download on what you need to know before you start a website project. Check it out or ask your design studio about what you need to know get started and they will gladly help.
9. I wouldn’t be able to maintain a website because I’m not website savvy
Yes, you don’t know how to maintain a website and that’s ok. It’s normal that you do not know your way around editing a website. You’re a talented food person :). Ask about a website maintenance package that can save you time and worry. Most design studios offer this as we do.
10. I already have a website
I am super stoked that you already have a website but you need to ask yourself if the website for your restaurant is up to date with the most current strategies and tools that can provide success to your online presence. Is it responsive? Does it match your physical restaurant’s branding? Does it provide the correct information to your customers? If it does, props to you but if it doesn’t you might be due for a new website. Check out a free download on must-haves for your restaurant website and judge for yourself.
Hopefully, this post provides you with the means to get you out of the website design decision ping-pong happening within you. Do you have any questions on any of these? Let us know. No harm in asking right?
by restaurantspider | Oct 4, 2017 | Mini Website Tips, Website Tips
Flaunt your uniqueness.
What do you do that’s unique to your restaurant? Don’t forget to flaunt it on your website. Whether it be fresh bread, organic ingredients, whatever. Let your customers know about it to add more value to your brand and get people talking.
