No matter what business you are in, having a website is an absolute must, especially for restaurant owners. Websites are more than just pages on the internet. Your website plays several vital roles in helping your restaurant grow and be successful.
Maintaining an online presence, establishing credibility, and showcasing the customer experience are all things that your website can do for you. Also, your website is a great advertiser and information center that never takes a day off and is available at people’s convenience 24/7.
Maintaining an Online Presence
If you aren’t online, you aren’t where your customers are. Did you know that 90% of people do research online before deciding to use a service, buy a product, or eat at a restaurant? People want to make an informed choice about where they spend their time and money. If you don’t show up in their search or don’t have a website they can visit after reading your reviews, you might never see them walking through your door. The bottom line: No website=lost business.
Establishing Credibility
The great thing about a website is that you have the option to have a company blog. This allows you to establish yourself as an authority in that industry. It also helps you rank in Google, increasing traffic to your restaurant site. Being well-known in your industry makes you look polished and professional, building trust with potential customers and giving you a leg up on the competition.
Show Off Your Customer Experience
There’s no better way to give your prospects a free sample than to offer up delicious-looking pictures and tasty reviews on your website. Your website is like a billboard. When it is done right, people won’t be able to take their eyes off of it. Your site soft sells the customer before they even look at the menu or the prices. They see the beautiful photography and read the amazing reviews. They are instantly sold and then they bring their hungry self into your eatery. That sounds like a website win!
Your 24-Hour Information Center
Long gone are the days where people would have to wait until you were open to call and get information. Not only does a website act as a 24-hour information provider, but it also allows you to curate a specific prospect experience designed to convert them into a customer.
Prospects don’t want to call a noisy restaurant and talk to a half-screaming manager who keeps putting them on hold. They want to do their own research, preferably from the comfort of their own home. Your website adds convenience for your prospects and gives you the advantage of selling to them with proven methods.
There isn’t much a website can’t do for your restaurant. Whether it’s getting organic leads, serving as a second stop after reviews have been read, or acting as an industry authority, your website will undoubtedly produce new customers and boost your visibility in the restaurant community.
