Getting the Best Results from Your Restaurant Website
If you run a restaurant, you probably already have your own website. However, have you ever considered whether you are you taking advantage of it to its full potential? Consider some of these ideas, if you don’t already have them in place.
Make certain that your advertising works together: The Internet is rather inexpensive once you have your website designed and published. Consequently, it is a good idea to use your other, more expensive, forms of business promotion in a way that complements your restaurant’s online presence. Feature your web address in all of your radio, television and print ads. Make sure that the website address is also added prominently to your business cards. Think how much your website can say in great detail about your dining establishment when you compare it to a thirty second TV ad, a quarter page in the newspaper or even a massive billboard.
Menu display: Be sure to include your full menu, and update it online whenever it changes in the restaurant. Make sure the design makes it easy to update with your daily specials. The design should also reflect the style of the dining experience. If you operate a diner, don’t use a formal looking background on your menu page. On the other hand, if your restaurant is known for an elegant setting, the appearance of your web menu should reflect that.
Consider a reservation form: You might want to add a form for requesting reservations rather than simply referring them to a phone number. The Internet is something of an impulsive medium, so allow them to act instantly to their impulse to contact you. Collect their contact number, and and call them to remind them of their reservation the day before they are supposed to dine.
Build an email list: Gather the email addresses of people visiting your web pages and allow the diners in your restaurant to add their primary email contact information as they pay. Have a member of your staff enter these new email addresses on a frequent basis. Use regular email marketing to announce new menu items, offer special coupons or other enticements. You might email a secret word of the week. If they whisper that word to their waitress they receive a free dessert with their dinner or a courtesy visit from the chef.
Definitely include testimonials: While a great restaurant review from the local newspaper{ or local magazine} is wonderful, most people like to see what non-journalists have to say. You might want to put these on a separate page, but also intersperse some of the more literate comments throughout your site.
All service businesses need repeat customers. To encourage them to return, you want them to feel a bond with you. Understanding how to use your service business online presence can take you a long way in building that relationship with your diners.
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Tags: restaurant Internet, restaurant online, restaurant website, service business Internet, service business online, service business website