It’s no secret that relying solely on dine-in customers limits your restaurant’s reach. Expanding your online presence and enhancing your restaurant’s reputation doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. With the right tools and strategies, you can easily increase your online sales. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to boost your restaurant’s online sales using effective ordering strategies to attract customers!
10 Tips to Boost Your Online Restaurant Sales
1. Build a Single-Page Website for Your Restaurant
Just like your physical location, your website is crucial for online customers. It should allow them to easily browse your menu, order food, and learn about your restaurant.
The key to a sales-driven website is to consolidate all vital information on a single page, including:
- Clearly visible “See Menu & Order” and “Table Reservation” buttons
- High-quality images of your food and restaurant ambiance
- Operating hours
- Special offers
- Location and delivery zones
- Links to your social media pages
This way, customers can quickly find what they need, leading to higher website conversions.
Building a website doesn’t require coding expertise. Platforms like the best website builder for restaurants offer user-friendly drag-and-drop interfaces to guide you through the process.
2. Implement Online Ordering to Drive Sales
Once you have a website, the next logical step is to enable online ordering. This allows customers to place orders for pickup or delivery directly through your website, eliminating the need for third-party apps.
Setting up online ordering for your restaurant streamlines the ordering process for both customers and staff. Customers enjoy the ease of placing orders online, while your team can manage them efficiently with just a few clicks.
This eliminates miscommunication errors that can lead to wrong orders and negative reviews. Online ordering ensures a smoother experience, resulting in happier customers. Continue reading for more tips on boosting your online restaurant sales!
3. Offer Online Table Reservations
Your website can also handle table bookings. An easily accessible “Table Reservation” button encourages customers to secure their spot, especially during peak hours.
Knowing they have a guaranteed table increases the likelihood of choosing your restaurant over competitors with uncertain wait times.
Elevate the customer experience by allowing them to pre-order their food when making a reservation. This saves time and enhances convenience, further solidifying your restaurant as a top choice.
4. Introduce Scheduled Ordering
Don’t limit your online ordering to your business hours. Generate revenue even when your restaurant is closed by offering scheduled ordering.
Customers can place their orders any time of the day and choose a delivery or pickup time within your operating hours.
This flexibility ensures you don’t miss out on sales from customers who prefer to order outside of business hours or plan ahead for events.
5. Launch Exclusive Online Promotions
Reward your online customers with exclusive deals and promotions, encouraging them to choose your restaurant over competitors. Use promotions to:
- Motivate first-time online orders
- Encourage repeat business
- Increase average order value
Consider offering free delivery on first orders, discounts on subsequent orders, or special bundle deals for families and groups. Regular promotions on your online restaurant menu entice customers to check your menu frequently.
6. Provide Diverse Order Fulfillment and Payment Methods
Cater to a wider audience by offering flexible options for receiving and paying for orders.
Contactless delivery and curbside pickup, popularized during the pandemic, are here to stay, offering customers convenient choices.
Similarly, contactless payment is increasingly popular are essential. Don’t limit payment options to online card transactions. Include digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for greater customer convenience.
7. Leverage Social Media
While not immediately obvious, social media plays a vital role in increasing online restaurant sales.
Utilize features like Facebook’s “Start Order” button and add menu links to your Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok bios, enabling customers to easily place orders.
Beyond direct ordering, use social media to engage your audience: run contests, encourage user-generated content, and offer incentives for referrals.
8. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
A comprehensive and updated Google Business Profile is crucial for online visibility. Ensure your business information is accurate and complete, including your address, cuisine type, hours of operation, online ordering link, website, enticing photos, and a list of your services.
This improves your ranking in local search results, helping potential customers discover your restaurant. This can lead to increased online orders, dine-in visits, or both.
Remember to keep your profile up-to-date, especially for changes in operating hours or location, to avoid customer disappointment.
9. Empower Customers with Order Customization
Offering customizable options is a win-win. Customers appreciate the ability to tailor their meals, adding toppings, choosing different bases, and selecting sides or extras.
Use this opportunity to upsell and cross-sell your menu items. When a customer adds a burger to their cart, suggest fries or a drink. For pizza orders, recommend additional toppings, and tempt dessert lovers with popular choices after they’ve added a main course.
10. Add a Personal Touch to Every Order
While not a direct sales driver, building positive relationships with customers fosters loyalty and encourages positive reviews and recommendations.
A simple gesture like writing the customer’s name and a “Thank you” message on their order goes a long way in creating a memorable experience.
Conclusion
Growing your online restaurant sales doesn’t require complicated strategies or expensive tools. By implementing the tips outlined above, you can easily attract more online customers, boost your profits, and set your restaurant up for success.