Making Your Website Good Enough To Eat

If you don’t already have a website for your eatery then it’s definitely time to get one! Your website will form a fundamental and integral part of your business and once you’ve created your website, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one.

Customers are increasingly looking on the internet for the location of their next meal, scouring various restaurants and all they have to offer.

Whether they’re browsing on their lunch break or on their phone on the way to work, they’ll be looking for a tasty site that is going to tantalise their taste buds.

Follow our tips to ensure your website looks good enough to eat…

Homepage

The homepage will either make it or break it for your restaurant. Think about what you look for when deciding on somewhere to eat. You want to work up an appetite while looking at the site and be able to contact the restaurant easily. Many websites will use flash but this is not a good idea. At BaseKit, we use HTML which makes loading pages quick and easy. It also means that if your visitor wants to print out any page then they can do so without any fuss.

Make your contact details clear and available on every page. Customers may want to get in touch to make an enquiry or book a table. If you’re not easily contactable then you’ll lose business straight away.

Opening hours should be highlighted as different restaurants have various sittings and shifts. This information is vital for customers as they will need to plan a suitable time to eat and also know what time the restaurant is open to take phone calls about bookings and enquiries.

It’s a good idea to include a menu on your website to advertise exactly what you have to offer. Rather than uploading a menu in PDF format which can prove tricky for visitors to view (and it means they have to leave your website to access it), you can upload your menus straight onto your website and update it whenever you want. This is handy if you have seasonal menus which are subject to change. You can either scan an image of your menu onto your page or input it as text. Make sure you include the prices as this is one of the things your visitor will be looking for. How does your price range compare to your

competitors? Chances are, customers will choose the restaurant with the most informed site showing a full price list.

Emphasise your specialities and highlight what it is that you do best. If you’re a steak house then mention all the different types that you do. If you’re a cake shop then list all the varieties that you have to offer. You need to set yourself apart from the rest and show what it is that your business is passionate about. It’ll also help when people are searching for specific cuisines on the internet.

Google Places

Getting your business listed on Google Places is a great way to create awareness for your company as well as directing customers to your website.

It’s free to list your business and means that when somebody is looking for a restaurant or place to eat, they can enter a postcode or specific location and get a list of all the eateries in the area. Your business will then appear in the search results with its location, contact details and website address.

Customer comments/reviews

Posting quotations and good reviews from your customers onto your site

is a great way for people to see great things that have been said about your business. This will serve as a personal recommendation and encourage customers to visit your restaurant. If you’ve had any reviews from critics,

make sure you add them onto your site and really publicise the positive

things they had to say.

Booking form

A handy feature to add is a form to your page, which will allow customers to request bookings online. You’ll be able to receive these requests through the form and get back to your customer to confirm the reservation. This means you won’t have to deal with the phone ringing off the hook in your lunch time rush. However, ensure you get back to your customers as quickly as possible.

Mailing List

Create a mailing list for your establishment, giving your visitors the option to sign up for news and offers. This will help you to build up a network of loyal customers. Encourage current subscribers to refer a friend so that they too can receive news and updates. This is a great way to spread the word.

Create a mouth-watering restaurant website at BaseKit today!

Making your website good enough to eat