The best websites for cafés and restaurants are a little different to online stores. Online visitors are likely to be in search of information. Respond to this with a clear, concise content that makes it easy for patrons to dine with you.
1. Clearly display your menu
In the modern era of food allergens and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, diners often look ahead at a café or restaurant menu to see if the food is suitable for their diet and budget. Failure to display a current menu clearly could be losing you customers on uncertainty alone.
Jimmy The Saint’s website – our local in South Melbourne – clearly displays its food menu, prices and coffee blends, making it clear what’s on offer.
2. Make sure your opening hours and location are up to date
Is there anything more irritating as a consumer as heading down to a top brunch spot on a public holiday after spotting they were open on their website, only to find out they’ve shut up shop for the holidays? Make sure your opening hours are up to date and accurate, to avoid being put in the ‘unreliable’ category in consumers’ minds. The same goes for your location. Verifying your Google+ page and using maps on your website to show exactly where you’re located – and how to get there – builds trust with your audience.
3. Optimise your copy for search engines
To boost your ranking on Google and other search engines – and therefore increase the number of customers that visit your restaurant or café – focus on using keyword rich, locally searchable content that will make your business more visible. Things like ‘café in Brunswick’ can be a key driver of business to your café or restaurant.
4. Include reviews
In a crowded marketplace, diners often look to reviews to help them make purchase decisions. Offer the opportunity to leave reviews, or link a feed from your Facebook or other third party directory page like Yelp or Zomato, to show that your customers love your food and service.
5. Tell your story
Consumers often make purchase decisions based on how they feel about a brand. Connect with your audience and build a relationship by telling your story. Do you make your souvas with your Yia Yia’s secret sauce? Had you been dreaming of running your coffee shop since you were nine years old? Get your story out there and let people believe in your brand.
Treehouse Lounge in Balaclava tells its story on its about page.
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