When building a restaurant website, most people can easily get wrapped up in the idea of a “cool” website. They think it’s all about the colors, styles, and overall design. Others are focused on the information posted on the website. They’re not wrong. All these are important elements to communicate to your site visitors, but they are not enough.
A good restaurant digital marketing strategy starts with building a website; but making it great involves using important website features. In this blog, we’ll share the most technical website features that you should have to maximize your site’s ability to generate leads and satisfy your customers’ needs.
Mobile-Friendly Interface
People are now using smartphones to search for restaurants most of the time. Since customers are constantly on the go, thousands of orders are made online. Thus, having a mobile-friendly interface is the first and most important feature your site should have.
A mobile-friendly restaurant website should be responsive. It should adjust automatically to fit viewports, has easy-to-tap elements (especially those call-to-action buttons), and must have fast-loading content and images.
Easily Updatable Elements
Daily specials, holiday events, and other menu changes are typical in the restaurant business. These frequent changes excite customers and keep them interested. It will help bring in more first-time visitors and return customers as long as they’re regularly updated.
Since these additions happen daily, it would benefit you or your website team to have an easily customizable website. With a Content Management System in place (CMS), you’ll be able to update information on your website, projecting a sense of immediacy on your part which is great for your public image and credibility.
People would refer to whatever is posted on your website when they dine in, especially when it comes to promos or events. It would be a major turn-off if you’d say such information wasn’t updated. So, a CMS is a must-have website feature.
Social Media Integration
Social media platforms have become incredibly useful marketing tools nowadays. It has been easier to reach and engage with a wider market through likes, comments, and shares. This is why it’s important to integrate your social media pages into your restaurant website.
Social Media Integration creates a virtual bridge between your website and the people following your page. Social links on your website will allow people to easily share your news and updates and talk about them on social media. A website link on your social media page, on the other hand, will drive more people to your site, increasing opportunities for sales and bookings.
Accepts Online Bookings
To maximize the full potential of your website, it’s best to have an online ordering tool to drive more sales to your restaurant. This tool is growing 300% faster than any other business tool in the restaurant industry.
Many people now prefer making reservations and paying online, right at the comfort of their homes. If you have delivery services, then this website feature is even more attractive to consumers.
It is also more convenient on your part. Instead of having another paid employee taking orders online, let this tool do the job without the threat of human error.
Automated Marketing
Ever heard of the old maxim that says it’s easier to retain current clients than to get new ones? Still rings true to most businesses, especially restaurants. One of the ways to encourage repeat visits of regular customers is by reminding them through email or mobile marketing.
Before getting to that part, you should have a customer database that you can build if you have a website feature that lets customers enter their contact details when inquiring, ordering online, or booking reservations. After which, you can send them automated responses to confirm their bookings or orders, and eventually send them emails informing them of menu changes, discounts, special events, or any business-related changes.
Imagine how your life would get easier if automated marketing is enabled on your website. You won’t have to go through each booking and send a confirmation. It would also be more convenient to set up an email message ahead of time and schedule it at a later time.
Having a restaurant website is great but it’s only the beginning of a good restaurant digital marketing. These website features are a must-have if you want to turn online users into loyal customers.
Not sure what to do or how to begin? Get in touch with us so we can help you stay ahead of the competition by setting up these features on your website.
