Menus in PDF Format
Uploading your menu is one of the best moves you can make on your restaurant website. If you’re uploading them in PDF format, though, all of this effort could be wasted. To start, some consumers don’t want to download a file, and on many phones, this is exactly what’s required to view a PDF menu.
Additionally, PDF files are notoriously difficult to edit, so if your menu or prices change, you’ll likely have to upload an entirely new file. Finally, search engines are less likely to pick up PDF files than normal text. Go easy on yourself and just upload a text file. In addition to making your job easier, it’ll make consumers’ jobs easier, and this equates to fuller restaurant furniture booths.
Don’t Hide Information
As a culinary entrepreneur, you’d obviously never intentionally make information on your website hard to find. Unfortunately, many make this mistake without ever realizing it. Keep in mind that, if consumers are coming to your website, they’re typically looking for the menu, address, hours of operation, specials or reservations if you offer them.
You need to ensure that each of these are incredibly easy to locate. Your address and contact phone number should be featured on every page of the site, and there should be navigation links on every page as well. If someone is looking to occupy a bar table on Friday night, they’ve got plenty of places to choose from.
Don’t make it difficult for them to choose you.
No Email Opt-In Form
If your website doesn’t have an email opt-in form, there could be a few issues at hand. One problem may be that you don’t send out information on upcoming specials or other restaurant news. Another could be that you only deal with patrons through your social media platforms. Either of these are issues that need to be fixed.
As it turns out, email marketing is still a powerful tool. In fact, many consumers trust it over other forms of marketing. If you’re not utilizing email marketing, you’re hurting your eatery. Take the time to put an opt-in form on your site, and if you feel you have nothing to say in your emails, come up with something. If you’re simply drawing a blank, it never hurts to hire a third party to help in this area.
Just two decades ago, restaurants didn’t need websites to be successful. In the modern digital age, however, this has completely changed. If you already have a website, you’re certainly on the right track. If you want your restaurant furniture booths to stay packed, though, try your best to avoid as many website mistakes as possible.