Your restaurant strives to provide quality service and food that tastes amazing and looks amazing. You understand that as a restaurant atmosphere and food need to be appetizing to guests. But did you know that if your online presence doesn’t reflect the same quality and appeal you may be losing loyal customers? That’s right, your online presence can affect potential clients. So many people today decide on whether to try a restaurant or not based on that establishment’s online presence, photo quality, and appeal online. If you are not putting in the right effort with your website and social media accounts, you may be turning off viewers who could have become loyal customers.
Social Media Presence
When it comes to restaurants in 2024, social media is an incredible tool that can help you expand your reach and draw in new customers. Many people rely on social media to find new restaurants to try. When users are looking at a social media profile for a restaurant, they are looking for quality photos, reviews, quick response times, and activity on the profile. When it comes to social media, it is all about showing, not telling. Users on social media are there to see photos, watch reels, and videos, look at stories, etc., not read long posts, articles, or stories. This makes social media an incredible tool for restaurants because beautiful food will entice people to come try it out. When you can properly showcase your dishes, you are providing content that will not only engage users on social media to interact with the post but will entice them to come check out your establishment.
On strong presence on social media can bring a larger reach to your business. Proper use of social media can help you build brand awareness, widen your visibility to new customers, and advertise your food, without the expensive cost of traditional advertising. Traditional advertising, be it in a newspaper, on the radio, or in an online news publication can be a large help to your business, especially when paired with a social media presence that represents your brand well.
Website presence
Many businesses, not just restaurant owners, underestimate the power of a strong website, that ranks on search engines. Many people rely on search engines like Google to give them information on local businesses, including restaurants. The importance of a strong online presence not only impacts how people find you, but it can impact a great many facets of your establishment including:
- Visibility
- Brand Awareness
- Cost-effective Advertising
- Customer Engagement
- Showcasing Customer Experiences
- Convenience
- Collecting Customer Data
A solid online presence with your website allows you to provide your business with greater visibility, without the high dollar cost of ads in publications. People “surf” the web searching for things they want or need on a very regular basis, meaning if your website is working for you, you are getting your business in front of new customers every day.
Having a cohesive brand across your website and your social media helps with brand awareness and recognition. You can read more about brand awareness and recognition HERE. Brand awareness and recognition allow you to stay recognizable and relevant in a world where information and data are thrown at consumers constantly.
Websites are cost-effective ways to manage your digital advertising, and they allow for convenience, not just for you as a business owner, but for your customers as well. A well-designed website will work for you while costing you less in the long run than traditional advertising, and not only will you have the convenience of a virtual storefront, but your customers will have a place to get all of their questions answered while learning new things about your establishment.
Customer data, experiences, and engagement are also important aspects of a well-designed website. When properly done, your customers will be able to sign up for newsletters, coupons, or sales, leave reviews, and highlight the incredible experiences they have had at your establishment. These are all great ways to entice new customers to come check out your restaurant. When viewers see customer engagement, honest reviews, photos from diners, and other engagements by your patrons, they are more likely to give your restaurant a try. This compilation of customer feedback, interactions, and engagement are great advertising tool and should be utilized on your website.
Need help with your website?
Getting started with a website can be overwhelming, we know, especially when all you want to do is focus on your food, service, and menu. We offer a wide variety of services to help get you set up where you need to be with your online presence.
Maybe your marketing budget isn’t big enough to purchase full services. No worries, we are hard at work crafting classes that will help walk you through the process of getting your feet off the ground with your online presence and soaring above the competition. Keep checking back to see which of our classes have launched!