Many restaurants have succeeded by moving their efforts from the physical space to the digital world. Customers can order food and make reservations with a couple of clicks of a mouse. It’s easy for restaurant websites to become elaborate marketing tools highlighting an establishment’s authenticity and quality without additional investment in brick-and-mortar labor.
But building an effective website can be tricky, especially when so many restaurant websites have taken advantage of high-profile marketing firms. There’s no denying the potential for these ventures, but it’s crucial to find a way to stand out from the crowd and retain customers.
What Makes A Good Website for a Restaurant: 6 Factors
1. Optimize User Interface for Online Ordering
The most important thing for restaurants nowadays is to optimize their site for payment and delivery. Moreover, with the increase in online food ordering, an excellent user interface is critical because it will allow the site visitor to quickly choose what they want, see the price for their order and then add it to their cart.
You can use the home page to showcase specials, but you should make it easy for customers to find out how much everything costs by breaking down the price of each item.
2. Spotlighting the Menu on the Website
Another huge factor in turning a website into a successful business is a well-written menu. All online orders require the guest to have their menu selections ready when they place their order. This component of the site must be accurate and running perfectly. You don’t want your customers to have a bad user experience and go elsewhere as a result.
The menu should be placed on the main page of the restaurant’s site so that all potential guests will see it before they even get to your details page.
3. Link the Website Directly to Social Media
Social media is a powerful option for interacting with customers and isn’t slowing down any time soon. This year, the amount spent on social media ads in the U.S. is projected to reach over 220 billion dollars.
In addition, all major social media sites have sign-up buttons so new visitors can quickly follow your brand on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. One of the best ways to take advantage of social media is to link directly to your social media pages from your Website’s home page.
4. Use High-Quality Photos
You want your pictures to pop so they can attract the attention of potential website visitors.
It’s highly recommended that you look for a professional photographer to help you with your Website. They will ensure that the lighting is good, the food looks appetizing, and the presentation of everything looks well on your Website. The visual component cannot be overlooked and often is. It is one of the most direct ways to stand out from competitors.
5. SEO Optimization
Optimizing your site for SEO will allow you to be found on search engines when potential customers need a restaurant near them. You will want to ensure that your website has keyword-rich content that is easy for those search engines to find.
Also, ensure you do keyword research for anything you think your audience would search for in a search engine, such as “best fish in town,” “most popular local dishes,” and so on.
6. Include the Basics: Address, Phone Number, & Working Hours
You want to be able to find your restaurant location quickly and without any hassle. When people are looking for a restaurant, they typically do not plan out a time specifically when they will be ready to order food. Your address and phone number prominently displayed on your site should make it easy for people who are on the go to look up a restaurant nearby.
An effective website is as important as a quality menu, a well-written promo, a picturesque ambiance, and fantastic service. Keeping your Website simple and easy to navigate for your customers will prevent them from bouncing off the page and heading elsewhere.
Contact us today, and we can chew the fat about all of your website design needs!