A restaurant’s internet presence significantly affects the revenue it will generate. The vast majority of individuals today utilise the internet to gather information due to better connections and advancements in smartphone technology.
Having your business ready to fulfil these web searches is essential for increasing customer traffic to your restaurant. Nowadays, it’s rare for a company not to have an online presence.
So, do restaurants need a website? In short, yes, they do.
In terms of generating more income, having a good online presence, especially a website, can make all the difference. Although your website’s standard affects performance, this article’s goal is to emphasise how crucial it is to have one.
Why Is It Important for a Restaurant to Have a Website?
Managing a restaurant is a lot of work and there’s always something to do. Adding another task is certainly unappealing to most owners; your company has to be steps ahead of its rivals to dominate your area. One crucial strategy that can help achieve that is a website; here are some free restaurant website builders to use.
In the restaurant industry, having a website gives you an edge over your rivals who either don’t use one or utilise it inefficiently for company development and promotion. Websites provide your restaurant’s internet presence and allow owners a chance to market their business even before a customer visits your restaurant. Reports indicate that 77% of diners look up a restaurant’s website before making an order.
That means not having a good website could miss you out on 77% of potential customers!
Here are a handful of the significant reasons why restaurants need a website:
Brand Strategy
Every restaurant needs a brand strategy and reputation to impress its customers. One of the most necessary things you must do to sustain your restaurant is to promote it to potential customers.
This strategy is possible without having to spend money on additional promotions. All you need is a website that enables you to represent who you are to potential and current clients.
This way, customers are more likely to buy from you when you’re clear about what you represent, who you are, and what you offer. Your online presence has the power to increase brand loyalty and reach your target demographic.
Additionally, this tactic distinguishes you from your rivals. It may be quite challenging to accomplish this without a website since customers will find it difficult to get trustworthy and high-quality information about your restaurant.
Credence
Increasing your company’s reputation is among the critical benefits of owning a website. Several businesses likely exist with similar services as yours. One way to stand out is by establishing an online presence that’s both appealing and conveys key information to your customers in an effective manner.
Testimonials on your website are the ideal way to increase brand credibility — 90% of diners look up a restaurant’s website before visiting, and 92% will read a review before attending. You may also easily integrate the reviews from your Google Business page into your website. This strategy gives your ratings more credibility than just copying and pasting testimonies, and boosts your local business rankings.
Customers will likely doubt your restaurant’s validity if you lack a website. A website lets you make a great first impression while reassuring customers that your business is legitimate.
Customers
A heightened chance of increased customer acquisition is among the key reasons why restaurants need a website. Notably, 81% of customers have used a restaurant’s website to place an order.
It might cost a lot to market your business through ads, SEO and social media marketing. Fortunately, building and maintaining a website is inexpensive and may increase your consumer base.
Individuals who locate your restaurant business online are likely looking to book a reservation or make an order, so including your contact details on your website can’t be overstated. Furthermore, they want to learn more and, via your website, can contact you, thus boosting sales.
Convenience
Many restaurants receive calls from potential or current customers with basic inquiries regarding address and operating hours. Moreover, calls might prevent your employees from concentrating on the most crucial aspects of your business. Thankfully, a restaurant website helps minimise the number of calls, boosting internal productivity.
The beauty of today’s websites is that they may seamlessly connect with systems for making reservations and online orders. A surprising 46% of customers demand that a restaurant has an online ordering system, while digital food ordering has experienced a growth of 135% since June 2020. Additionally, it enables users to access pertinent information without having to contact, enhancing their overall user experience.
Customers may easily reserve a table or buy takeout through your website rather than by phone. This convenience frees your staff to focus on other essential aspects of their job.
Organic Traffic
Websites are practical marketing tools that may help you dominate online searches.
A key purpose of a restaurant’s website is that your business can show up in Google search results as long as you’re online and have a website optimised for SEO. This becomes more crucial when you consider that 60% of customers look up local cafes or restaurants on Google before heading towards one.
However, it’s easy to get drowned in the crowd as many restaurants have an online presence. The chance that your restaurant’s site will appear higher in relevant searches increases if you follow SEO best practices.
Furthermore, producing content pertinent to your company and clients gives you an advantage over rivals. As a result, you have the chance to grow your consumer base significantly.
Updates and Notifications
A website lets you upload updates and notifications to your consumers as it’s available around the clock.
- Do you want to open another branch?
- Are you having a discount sale soon?
- Or maybe you’re also well-recognised for your catering?
Your customers may not know some of the other services you offer, but your website helps you sort that out.
Keeping people informed of your activities is possible via a website. Moreover, your website may help you cross-promote unique events and seasonal menu items and bring in additional customers.
Now that you understand the reason you need a website, what should be on a restaurant’s website?
What Should Be on a Restaurant’s Website?
The foundation of your restaurant’s internet presence is its website. In other words, a website represents your restaurant’s identity in the digital world. If you own a restaurant, it’s crucial to have a site that conveys the essence of your operation through appealing design and informative content.
Certain elements are crucial, such as:
Reservations
An online reservation tool is crucial because your website’s main goal should always be getting consumers to your restaurant. Notably, in UK restaurants alone, telephone booking for table reservations dipped from 58% in 2015 to 20% in 2019, while online booking was the most widespread means of making reservations in 2019 (as agreed by 45% of respondents).
This booking tool may take visitors to a different page that lists your restaurant’s hours of operation and phone number in case they wish to make reservations over the phone. Similarly, it may simply be a page that consumers fill out with essential data.
Location
Include a Google Map on your restaurant’s website and register your business on the map via Google My Business. Customers will be able to locate your restaurant with only a few clicks. This detail is even more crucial given that more consumers are utilising their phones to explore the internet.
Visitors may use your site’s map as their GPS to find and patronise your business.
Customised and Professional Picture
It’s imperative that your restaurant’s website shows that it’s well-operated, valued, accounted for, and updated frequently. High-quality photos and a logo are key to what should be on a restaurant’s website. About 45% of users search for food pictures when they visit a restaurant’s website, with 36% refusing to visit a food joint due to poor or a lack of food photography.
A banner with various images that describe the look and character of your restaurant should also be included.
Digital Menu
Setting up a digital menu is an essential aspect of every restaurant. They’ve been shown to increase restaurant sales by up to 3–5%.
Moreover, you can continually update digital menus and let customers download them in a pdf format. The pricing must always be stated since they’re a crucial piece of data that determines whether or not a consumer will book a table at your restaurant.
You can use a digital menu creator like Menuzen to create your restaurant’s digital menu for your website.
About Us
This area is where you may introduce yourself to visitors and provide information about who you are, what drives you, your company’s history and philosophy, the individuals who work with you and their accomplishments to date, your goals and upcoming initiatives, etc.
To give your message a friendly tone, you should preferably utilise plain, ordinary language that is just a little conversational.
Social Media Networks
Add access to your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Zomato, and Tripadvisor, at the top or bottom of the page. Additionally, you may add a Facebook “like” button, Instagram feeds, and Twitter feeds to entice your clients to follow your restaurant on these social media platforms.
Brand Video
If you can create a quick video for your website, it’ll be a powerful tool for enhancing and promoting the reputation of your business. According to reports, 88% of respondents claim a brand video positively influences their decision to purchase a product or service. Any video you produce should be of a good standard, including your restaurant’s brand, be eye-catching, and encourage viewers to stop by.
Promotions
The restaurant’s website is a great area to show off what goes on behind the scenes and interact with internet customers. Add a page with current specials, invites to your events, contests, offers, and other information. Additionally, you may highlight the most significant promos on your home page.
FAQ
Is it necessary for a restaurant to have a website?
Yes, it is.
Among the most crucial things you can do is present your brand to potential buyers. A website lets you make a fantastic first impression and reassure potential customers that you’re a registered business. Without a website, customers could challenge your company’s validity.
What’s the purpose of a website for a restaurant?
The primary purpose of a restaurant’s website is to get consumers to your restaurant. This reason necessitates the inclusion of an online booking tool. This tool may take visitors to a different page that lists your restaurant’s hours of operation and contact details in case they wish to make reservations over the phone.
Can I run a restaurant business without a website?
Well, yes; without developing a website, your company can, nonetheless, start operating.
However, maintaining your restaurant without a website would be quite challenging. If you don’t act quickly, it can be too late to preserve what you’ve created by the time you know you’re in trouble.
What should a food/restaurant’s website have?
The seven must-haves for your restaurant’s website include:
- Quality design
- Updated menu
- Reservation options
- Online ordering
- Contact information
- Social media links
- Analytics
Is a blog or website better for a restaurant?
Nowadays, there isn’t much distinction between a website and a blog. Most content management systems for blogs and websites let you create more static pages and blog articles listed in reverse chronological order.
Summary
Ultimately, do restaurants need a website? Yes, they do.
In fact, almost every business/brand today needs a website, and restaurants are no exception. A website serves as an approach to develop your brand and inform people about your restaurant. Having an online presence and people knowing what you do has a more significant benefit than not having one.
What if we told you you could design a restaurant website without having to break the bank or acquire technical skills? Sounds exciting, right?
This is where our brainchild, Menuzen.site, comes in. This tool allows you to offer your customers a modifiable digital store outlet featuring your restaurant’s opening hours, location, booking options, social media account links, digital menu links, and contact details.
Sign up on Menuzen today to create a free website and make the best use of our free digital menu design tools.
