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.
by restaurantspider | Sep 27, 2017 | Website Tips
Facebook as you all know is the biggest social media platform out there. This year, it was recorded that it has roughly 2 billion monthly active users, which says that a whole lot of people use facebook. I have encountered a few restaurant owners who have mentioned that the reason they do not have a website is that they have Facebook and that’s all they need. Hmm, is this really true and is this a good idea? Well, provide knowledge and information to my readers, I have put together a few pros and cons regarding the topic. You can judge for yourself by checking out the pros and cons below.
R
When you have a Facebook page, you are able to directly engage with your customers through comments, videos, and images. The people who like your page are usually interested in your restaurant, which makes them a great audience to target.
R
Facebook has no costs involved unless you plan on running ads with their platform.
R
Facebook has become the norm so most of you out there know how to use the basic function of Facebook on multiple devices. This makes it a tool that is handy for restaurant owners to use get information out there to their customers immediately.
R
Hey, almost everyone is on Facebook so people are sure to find you if you get in front of them.
Q
Since Facebook is its own entity, you are unable to control the look and feel of your Facebook page. Facebook owns the right to make any updates that work for their brand and not yours. You are limited to uploading your logo (profile image) and a cover photo to make an effort to keep it consistent with your brand.
Q
You have no control over where you would like your content to be placed to support the needs of your restaurant. You are therefore unable to make use of lead strategies to get your customers to certain areas of your page that can help promote your restaurant and grow your email list.
Q
On Facebook, you are limited to posting daily and the use of a small “about” section to describe of your restaurant to your audience. You do not have the freedom to add different sections of information that tell more about how you got started, your food menu and other important details. It’s not a good thing when these details get buried in post after post or when your menu is hard to read because it’s been uploaded to a gallery that resizes it without any consideration of legibility.
Q
You have no control over search engine tools that could possibly control where you appear in online search results.
Q
I know Facebook is a behemoth when it comes to companies out there but who is to say that they won’t have downtime. Who is also to say that they will not decide to change their algorithms again or even restructure how comments are posted. Would all these changes be for the betterment of your business or for theirs? You as a business owner have no control over these things.
In summary, Facebook is a social media platform and it’s great at what it is meant for.
So, what do you think? Is Facebook really a replacement for a website?
by restaurantspider | Sep 21, 2017 | Mini Website Tips, Website Tips
Provide a welcoming atmosphere.
How is the dining experience in your restaurant? How is the customer experience with your take out service?⠀
Give your customers a great dining experience by providing a welcoming atmosphere.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity for your customers to voice out their concerns because it’s a chance to win them back. Reviews that show that your customers were taken care of at a time of need is definitely better than a bad review.⠀
⠀
What are the measures you take when a customer voices out a concern? Comment below.
