5 reasons to create a website for your restaurant

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The website is a completely essential communication tool , especially for businesses . The catering sector is no exception to this rule, especially after the health crisis has passed through and led to the development of delivery or in -store collection .

In any case, nowadays, when you want to find a place to eat , it is common to go to Google for information and check online reviews . This is called web-to-store , which refers to the widespread consumer behavior of searching online before going to the point of sale.

Web-to-store therefore includes actions and devices used to send the consumer to you: web marketing, SEO, click and collect ... and of course, website ! So as a restaurateur, here are 5 good reasons to start creating a website for your business .

Gain visibility and develop your customer base
Restaurant searches are mainly done on search engines such as Google and the queries made are often local in nature . A person already familiar with your establishment will type your name directly into the search australia phone number list will come across your site in order to have the necessary information to make a reservation .

But a person looking for a place to eat will type a targeted query such as “restaurant Rodez” or “Indian restaurant Millau”. This is where the importance of local SEO comes in , linked to the geographical location of people. Good natural SEO work will allow your restaurant to appear in the search results of prospects close to your location and therefore attract new customers.

SEO is a complex process and often requires professional support. Indeed, there are several aspects to take into account, such as content , choice of keywords or technical points of the site . If you want to know more about SEO techniques, do not hesitate to consult our article “Having a website is good, having it visible is better!”

Use the site as a source of information for your customers
In addition to being visible on search engines, the showcase site is primarily used to provide information to its visitors. And thanks to the latter, it will be easy for Internet users to find the answer to the questions they frequently ask about your restaurant: opening hours , location and accessibility , type of cuisine, menu, prices , etc.

In addition to practical information, why not use the site to introduce yourself, talk about yourself and your team , your passion for cooking and humanize your establishment as much as possible? This point is linked to the one just below.

Make you want to (re)discover yourself
Since the site must reflect your restaurant, it is important to make it reflect your image and make people want to visit . The first step is to take pictures of your dishes . This way, when your potential customers visit your site, they will be able to see the mouth-watering photos of your preparations, which will make their mouths water and should make them want to come and taste your recipes . Note that culinary photography remains an exercise that requires certain skills, we advise you to call on a photographer who will be able to enhance your know-how as well as the universe and the atmosphere of your restaurant .

Work on the ergonomics of the site is also essential in order to make users want to use it. This technique brings together all the aspects of the interface that will allow smooth and pleasant navigation for Internet users. Finally, there is no need to remind you of the importance of responsive design in order to offer comfortable consultation on all screen sizes, and especially on mobile.

Master your e-reputation
Having an online presence will allow you to control what is said about you, this is called e-reputation . And in the hotel /restaurant sector , this point is extremely important, because many people leave comments, but even more people consult them to form an opinion about you ! Indeed, according to the annual report on digital trends around the world produced by Hootsuite and We Are Social, nearly 28% of people would use the Internet with the main purpose of sharing opinions and views with other users. And it is not surprising to also learn that 96% of the population would pay attention to online reviews .

Inserting a “ testimonials ” section on your website is therefore an excellent thing that will serve as social proof and will reassure worried or undecided customers in order to convince them to come to your restaurant.

In addition to the website, you can also count on the Google My Business profile to gain visibility and collect reviews. The latter allows you to create a profile for your establishment and to be better referenced in the search engine as well as on Google Maps. It encourages interaction with your customers via the “reviews” section. It is extremely important to monitor this section and take the time to respond to reviews, whether they are positive or not.

Offer new sales experiences to consumers
In recent years, online sales and reservations have grown enormously and consumers are increasingly fond of them. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, this phenomenon has been further strengthened by the health crisis. On your website , it is therefore possible to add various modules to offer these services.

For example, setting up an online reservation system will be a real plus for your restaurant. Customers can book a table whenever they want, without having to contact you. It also saves you time since you are fully available during the service without being interrupted to note a reservation .

In order to develop your turnover, the click and collect or drive system can also prove to be a lever for your establishment. Put an enticing digital menu online , equip your site with software for online orders and payments and you are sure to attract new customers. Little tip: remember to regularly communicate this information on your social networks!

And in addition to the site, how can I give my restaurant visibility on the web?

Creating an effective and intuitive website will be the first step in gaining visibility. However, there are other levers that will allow you to develop your clientele and make your establishment more attractive. First of all, social networks . You may think that having a website and a Facebook page, for example, would be useless? Think again, because it is the complementarity of this type of channel that contributes to the overall strategy of your business.

Indeed, social networks will allow you to communicate daily and more spontaneously, but also to reach a different clientele, perhaps younger and more present on a daily basis.

Other tools include paid search engine optimization (SEA) campaigns, or advertising via social networks , but also sending emails or SMS campaigns, for example. There is no need to spread yourself too thin and want to communicate on all available channels. Each of them will meet specific objectives, with distinct target audiences, so it is necessary to establish a digital strategy beforehand, so as not to spend too much time and money without real results afterwards.