Are you looking to attract more customers, increase revenue, or expand your reach? From SEO to social media marketing, the options are plentiful. But how do you choose what is best for your business and how do you begin? With so many options and differing views on what works best, it’s important to know what the goal of these strategies is before attempting any type of web presence.
How does a restaurant owner go about expanding his or her reach through the internet?
The SEO Approach
First, there is the SEO approach. This process involves making a website search engine friendly so that it is easier for individuals who are looking for your product or service to find you. Search engine optimization for restaurants is an ongoing process, requiring constant attention and updating as Google and other search engines change their algorithms. Once a business has become search engine friendly, they can increase their online presence through commenting on blogs and forums that are relevant to their business. It’s also important to post reviews of other businesses on review sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor. This shows the reviewer community that your business is trustworthy, which will help your page rank higher in searches for similar restaurants.
Social Media Marketing
Second, social media marketing is a form of advertising that uses the internet to exponentially increase awareness of a company and its services. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become very popular for promoting brand awareness because they are so “organic” with their user base. That means that through these sites, people are able to easily share information about your restaurant with their friends or followers. However, social media is not without risks. Not all social networks are created equally—although that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best foot forward on any site you choose to use! Being active on social media can help gain exposure and build interest in your restaurant as well as spread the word about specials and new menu items.
Email Marketing
Third, email marketing is an effective means of advertising that also allows you to get your customers’ feedback on your product or service and has become increasingly popular with small business owners. This is a great way to build a relationship with potential customers. By signing up for web-based email services, sending an email directly to each user’s inbox when they place an order, and having it built into the software system used by your staff, you can provide your customers with not only product information but also customer service information, news about specials and promotions, and more. This can be very effective as far as getting new customers while maintaining a relationship with existing customers.
A Restaurant Website
Fourth, a website is a major part of a company’s web presence. It can be the most expensive and time-consuming way to build your web presence, but it is also the most complete and permanent source of information about your company that will be accessible to everyone with internet access.
A restaurant website has the potential to reach thousands of people interested in dining out at a restaurant like yours. But every aspect of your website should work toward one goal—getting people there! It is through this website that you can provide information on everything from menu items to specials and hours of operation. You can make reservations, offer online ordering, provide information on catering events, and more.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules for internet marketing techniques.
Let’s take care of your restaurant web design :
- Decide on your business genre and the general topic you want your website to cover.
- Choose a website type.
- Write down some basic information about your restaurant: who it’s for, address, phone number, hours of operation, and contact person(s).
- Pick a domain name that fits with the theme of your restaurant and includes keywords (only include words related to food or dining experiences).
Get started with creating a restaurant website and put together a plan for online visibility and reach. Contact us now.