First impressions count. And for many of your potential customers, especially millennials, those initial impressions of your operation will be formed via a glimpse at your website.
So, how can you build an inviting restaurant website that will drive business?
Be transparent
Consumers go to your website for information—so make sure it’s all there. Some 70% of millennials say it’s important for an operator’s website to provide menu details, and 60% want to see food photos, according to Technomic’s recent Consumer Brand Metrics Quarterly Update. And more than three-quarters (76%) of millennials expect to see food and beverage prices on a website before deciding whether to visit the establishment, the report found.
You’ll also want to make sure all of the basic information is covered: Address, phone number, hours, reservation information, if applicable.
That’s a lot of information, so you’ll want to make sure to adopt a clear, crisp site template.
Squarespace offers beautifully designed templates with menu blocks that make adding and editing your menu easy. Also, Squarespace’s integration with OpenTable allows for an easy-to navigate reservation system.
Offer online ordering
The ability to order takeout and delivery items online is a major business driver for restaurants. Some 29% of consumers aged 18-34 say they prefer online ordering over other to-go options, compared with 21% of older consumers, according to Technomic’s 2016 Takeout & Off-Premise Dining Consumer Trend Report. Additionally, 48% of consumers said they’d use online ordering for to-go orders at LSRs if it was offered. And 45% of consumers said the same about full-service establishments, the report found.
Squarespace makes online ordering easy by offering an integration with ChowNow. Adding a ChowNow block to your Squarespace website allows easy pickup and delivery options without steering customers to another site.
Optimize your site
To get the most out of your restaurant website, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind:
- Boost traffic and ensure a professional look by securing your own domain name for your site. Squarespace gives you a free domain name for a year when you sign up for an annual subscription.
- Improve your online presence by connecting your Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and other social media platform accounts to your website. That way, both new and loyal customers can learn more about your menu, LTOs, special events and more. With Squarespace, it’s easy to link all your social accounts directly to your website.
- Optimize your site’s SEO by including your restaurant’s location and other search-friendly terms.
- Consider adding an announcements bar to your site to promote specials and upcoming events. Consider a visually focused site template, such as those offered by Squarespace. And enlist the help of a professional photographer to capture your food and ambiance.
For more tips on how to build an engaging, sales-boosting restaurant website, visit Squarespace here. You can start a 14-day trial absolutely free, without handing over any credit card information. When you’re ready to subscribe be sure to use coupon code ‘RESTAURANTBIZ’ to get 10% off your first website or domains purchase.
This post is sponsored by Squarespace