10 Reasons Why Your Restaurant Should Have a Website
Nowadays it is now very unusual for a business not to have some sort of presence online. With improved connectivity and the advances in smartphone technologies most people now use the internet to source information, and having your business available to fulfil these information searches is key to driving more footfall through your door.
A website gives you a controlled way to portray an image of your business as you would like it, giving your customers an idea of the atmosphere and offering before even stepping a foot inside.
Why Should Your Restaurant Have a Website?
While there are general advantages for every business in creating a website, there are a number of specific advantages that can benefit a restaurant. Here are eight reasons your restaurant should have a website:
1. Low Advertising Costs
Print ads and commercials are expensive. With a website you can display an endless amount of print information at a fraction of the cost. Information is available 24/7 to anyone with internet access and you can easily update out-dated information on your website whereas the cost of re-printing flyers is far greater.
2. You Can Give Key Information On Your Location, Menu, Opening Times and Special Offers
A website gives you a platform to provide the basic information your customers may need to know about your restaurant including hours of operation, directions, payment methods and more. By answering these basic questions, you can decrease the amount of time your managers and staff need to spend answering phone calls. You can also keep customers aware of any promotions, such as pre-theatre menus, lunch deals or Christmas offers.
3. You Can Include Customer Testimonials
You can include customer testimonials on your website or if your restaurant has been lucky enough to be featured in a publication such as a review by a restaurant critic in a newspaper you can link to this from your site. This will help to build your restaurant’s credibility.
A website may also help your chances of being reviewed by bloggers as they have a resource to gain information about your history to add to their article.
4. Increases Awareness of Your Business
When people are looking for information the first place they will look is on the web. It is important that if someone is looking for your business they can find the information that they need quickly so they are less likely to become disgruntled and consider your competitor(s).
5. You Can Improve Search Rankings
By investing time into search engine optimisation (SEO) you can help your business show for related search terms. For example if your website shows for someone searching ‘late night café’, ‘Italian restaurant’ or ‘family friendly pub’ you will gain more exposure and hopefully more customers.
6. You Can Build a Solid Brand Image
A website will help your business to build a professional image. Particularly if you are just starting out, a website is a great method for helping customers become acquainted with your brand. With the correct marketing it may even convince customers to seek you out and try for themselves. High quality images will help entice customers to visit.
7. Differentiate Your Business from the Competition
If all of your competitors have an online presence it only makes sense that you should too. Many competing restaurants may already use a website to promote themselves; stealing your business. A well-presented easy to use website will help you highlight what you do well and may persuade customers to pick you over alternatives. Lack of a website may also suggest that you are no willing to invest into your business
8. Book Online Features
You can easily add an online booking link or app to your website giving your customers a quick way to make reservations on the go.
9. A Way to Promote Other Services
A website gives you a channel to promote your other services. Offer catering or private events? Creating pages for these and using SEO (see point 5!) can generate more business.
10. Sell Gift Cards
With a website which enables online selling you could even sell gift vouchers online. This can help drive more business, particularly around Christmas or other events where people are looking for gifts.
Interested in Setting Up a Website for your Restaurant?
If you don't yet have a website for your restaurant you are missing out on potential customers. Kommand help small businesses build easy-to-use, reliable websites that perform well and have all the features needed to build an excellent online presence. Our websites are designed to rank - and with our bistro theme the building blocks are already in place to set up a user-friendly, beautiful website in just a matter of hours in four easy steps.
For more information about getting your restaurant online why not drop us a call? We specialize in helping small businesses make their stamp online and will be happy to talk you through the options and monthly price packages available.
You can reach us: support@kommand.me
Glasgow - Tel: 0141 345 2130
Middlesbrough - Tel: 01642 989 069
London - Tel: 0203 026 0730
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