5 benefits of a restaurant website

Written by Joe on Thursday, December 15, 2011

A restaurant website can be your best marketing tool

"Why do I need a website for my restaurant?". I hear this all the time. Restaurant owners rely heavily on their location and referrals to get business and don't realize the benefits they could be getting from a website. So I decided to write an article about 5 benefits of a restaurant website.

1. People use search engines to find restaurants

When looking for a restaurant where do you go? I'm positive it isn't the yellow pages. I love trying new food and going to new restaurants and when I'm looking for a new place to go, I go to the search engines (Google). I search for restaurants in the area I will be in and the type of food I want. I may find a few restaurants, so to narrow them down I then search for reviews and see what others have to say about the restaurant. If I like the menu and the restaurant has good reviews from customers, I will most likely give it a try.

2. Get and us a mailing list

A mailing list is essential for any business today and offers restaurants a huge edge if used correctly. Let's say your restaurant has a lunch special every Tuesday. Every Tuesday around 10am while everyone is planning what to do for lunch, you send an email with your special lunch deal and they get it on their phone or see the email in their inbox. They had a problem, what to do for lunch, and you just solved it. This same email marketing tactic can be used anytime your restaurant is having a special. Having a special for a football game? Baseball game? Holiday specials? Market special deals to your mailing list and you will be rewarded with return customers.

3. Post events and pictures

People like active restaurants. Just having a PDF menu and a few pictures of food is not going to cut it. Post regular updates about events, post pictures and information your customers will want to see. Show them your restaurant is alive. And make sure you use your social networks so that everyone can share their experience with their friends. Using a custom content management system is great for managing your restaurant website.

4. Put your specials and sales online

Unless someone comes to your restaurant, they won't know about the great deal you are offering. Posting your specials online allows potential customers to find them 24/7. If someone from out of state is visiting and trying to plan meals for the next day, they may find your special and go to your restaurant. If your specials aren't on your website, you just lost a potential customer.

5. Post feedback from customers

I rarely go to a restaurant if I can't find reviews about the food. Encourage visitors to give you feedback. Offer special coupons for anyone who posts a review of your food online or tags your restaurant on Facebook. This is a great way to spread the word about your restaurant and get feedback about what customers like and dislike.

Of course there are way more than 5 benefits to having a restaurant website. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Fill out my contact form or give me a call at 732-925-4044 if you have questions about your restaurant website or want a new restaurant website.