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Restaurant Owners, Your Customers Will Love You!

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Dear Restaurant Owner,

Here’s what your customers has to say…

Like most people I work hard to provide for my family.  Some nights I don’t want to cook and in today’s technologically advanced age, the convenience of online ordering is a wonderful thing.  Yes while I do have a cell phone, I don’t want to call a restaurant, ask what they have on the menu, ask what’s in specific dishes, all the while trying to remember the names and prices of those that sound interesting. This is the main appeal to a restaurant having its own website. I can see it for myself, get the input of my family and all in less than half the time it would take for me to call them and ask.  To make it even easier on me, the customer, to be able to place an order at the same time, now that is a wonderful thing!

Let’s say the restaurant has a website with the menu listed but no way to order. Well now its extra work on my part! I’ve gone out of my way to pull up the company, review the dishes, and now I have to call them just to place my order. What if they get my order wrong? What if my daughter changes her mind at the last minute? As the consumer I want the guarantee that it is right the first time without hoping that whoever took the call didn’t mess it up.

As a restaurant owner you want to get the word out there about the quality of your food, your selections, and your customer service. What better way to do this than letting 247Waiter handles your site and online ordering system? Read the testimonials for yourself and see what others have to say about the service we can provide and how it has improved business for them.

Allowing Restaurant Customers to Order Online Increases Sales

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Hungry customers are now provided the option from many innovative and sales-conscious restaurants of placing their meal orders online through their computers or cell phones. Marketing studies have determined that this usually results in larger sales. Restaurant owners and managers have long known that making it easy for customers to order is one of the keys to optimizing food sales, and it doesn’t get much easier than pointing and clicking on an item on a restaurant’s website.

Those who take advantage of convenient online ordering are often busy, time-pressed professionals. Others might be active families with several mouths to feed, couples looking for takeout for a picnic in the park or single people wanting a meal on their way home from work. Whether they’re ordering for dine-in or food to be consumed in-house, those with time constraints especially value the convenience of being able to order easily in advance. This eliminates frustrated wait times at tables in crowded restaurants or standing in long lines at takeout counters.

All of these types of consumers have one thing in common — they’re hungry. Just like how hungry people fill grocery carts fuller, they also purchase more restaurant items. Providing them with an online venue where they can click on pictures of desired entrees and ala-carte offerings creates a situation where they’re ordering more than they actually need. Human beings are visually hard-wired when it comes to primary needs such as food, so looking at tempting photographs will create more desire to eat than reading the descriptive text of even well-written menus.

Restaurant owners can even cut costs on staff by providing customers with an online ordering option. Because the customer is essentially putting in his or her order directly to the kitchen, serving staff can be reduced in establishments where online ordering is a substantial part of how they do business. It also significantly reduces chances of server error in ordering, therefore decreasing costs accrued by food waste and ordering mistakes.

There are three major factors that make online ordering systems beneficial for restaurants, delis and takeout facilities. Convenience is the first; most people like being able to click on a desired item and have it ready for them by the time they arrive at the establishment. Because most people are closely connected to their online electronic devices throughout the course of the day, offering online ordering options simply makes sense for restaurants that want to successfully compete in today’s tough marketplace.

The second factor is hunger. When people are hungry, they want the quickest available option. Hungry people are often also tired or winding down after a busy day. Hungry and tired people love the convenience of clicking on a tempting culinary photograph and having it quickly available for consumption.

The visual element is the third factor involved concerning why this strategy increases food sales. As mentioned before, the senses of most human beings are stimulated by pleasing images, and people are likely to order more food when they’ve got a visual reference.

Many busy restaurants have already increased sales by giving their customers an online ordering option. If you own or manage an eating establishment, you’ll find that implementing such a system will be well worth your time.

How Does Our Online Ordering System Work?

Online Ordering System / By

The following process is the same for both the web version and mobile version. Screen shots below is for the web version.

1. Restaurant Menu Items

Our restaurant ordering system is simple, yet sophisticated. You can have an unlimited number of food items all divided into their appropriate categories & sub-categories. These will be professionally displayed on your website & online ordering system for your customers to browse and choose from.

See image below:

categoriesitems

2. Choosing What to Order

Your customers browse through your menu and choose as many items as they want to order. Our online ordering software is sophisticated, allowing customers to customize their orders and choose exactly what they want. Regardless of what kind of food/menu you have, our software can handle the options and choices your menu requires. For group orders, customers can also specify which menu items are for which members of the group. In addition, there’s a box to type in any special instructions the customer requires.

See image below:

addtocart

2. Ordering Food

As your customers add restaurant items into the shopping cart (ordering system), a list with all their selections is maintained on the right side of the ordering website. They have the option to edit/delete/update/change options of any specific items directly in the shopping cart. In addition, they will be required to choose whether they would like place an order for “Pick-Up”, “Dine-In” or “Delivery” (Based on your restaurant’s specific settings). After selecting the order for option, they will be required to choose whether they want to place the order for right now (“ASAP”) or schedule it for a later time or date (Great for picking up your food on the way home from work, or placing an order early to pick up during lunch).

See image below:

shoppingcart

3. Checking out – Step 1

There are 2 steps in the checkout process. Step 1 is to either login or register on your restaurant ordering system and Step 2 is to actually pay & submit the order. Your customers will have to register once on your website/online ordering system and they can place future orders just by logging in. Customers see a login screen with 2 options – login or join the site.

See login screen below:

login

3. Checking out – Step 2

Customers who have not ordered before through your restaurant’s online ordering system have to register and provide the following information (See screenshot below).  All this information is stored securely and you as the restaurant owner have access to them. You will build a database of your customers and can market to them regularly for additional business.

Registration Screen below:

register

4. Submitting the Order

This is the last and final screen customers see in order to complete and place their order with your restaurant. They can either choose to “pay online” or “pay in person” (you can limit payment options to either or allow both options). In addition, customers can fully change their order. They can increase/decrease the quantity amounts, special instructions, whether the order is for pick-up, dine-in or delivery. Customers can also add tip amounts to orders.

checkout

5. Order Confirmation – Sending to Restaurant

Once order is confirmed (paid for), it is submitted to the restaurant to be filled. Restaurant is first alerted with a text message or an auto phone call letting the restaurant know someone has placed an order online, followed by submitting the order details to the restaurant through email, fax, kitchen printer or any regular printer.

 

Restaurant Websites – More Valuable Than You Think

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You’ve invested a lot in your restaurant. Everything from the chefs and ingredients to the decor and music got your complete attention. It doesn’t matter a bit if you don’t get the customers in! Far too many restaurants, especially independent ones, don’t have restaurant websites. In this day and age, that’s a cardinal sin for restaurateurs. With such a competitive landscape in the industry, customers have so many places to choose from, so it’s up to you to make it easier for them to find you and come to you.

Why restaurant websites are valuable?

A recent study by the industry’s information and analytics provider, Restaurant Science, showed that more than half of all independent restaurants surveyed didn’t have a website at all. In addition, less than 40% have their menus online. There are people who hardly ever eat at a restaurant without checking out its menu on the internet first. Or, if they’re browsing through several online restaurant menus to decide where they want to eat, they wouldn’t consider your restaurant because your menu simply wasn’t there. That’s just part of the problem. Lots of people prefer to order their food online rather than find a number and call the restaurant. If they’re already online looking for a restaurant, it’s just easier and faster to order something through a website. That means you’re losing customers who can’t be bothered to pick up the phone. As you can see, you could be really hurting your business if you don’t have a restaurant website that displays your menu and maybe even allows your customers to order online.

You want to have a website, so now what?

You don’t have to worry about how to go about creating and maintaining a website for your restaurant. There is a very simple and cost-effective way that takes it out of your hands. 247Waiter.com can help your business succeed by building and setting up a website for you and creating a streamlined online ordering system for just a low monthly fee. All you have to do sign up with information about your restaurant, a copy of your menu and any graphics or color specifics that you’d like. A website will be set up free of cost with an online ordering system where your customers can browse through your menu and order items easily. The system can provide for both online and in person payments through a completely secure platform. It will also be available 24/7 to all customers, so that they can see the menu and schedule a delivery ahead of time. Once the order comes in, it can be faxed or emailed to you and you can get a text alert as well. Anytime you want to make a change to your website or menu, you can do so yourself via an easy click of a button. This streamlined and secure package is available to you for a 30 day trial free of cost, so if you don’t like it, you don’t lose anything. There’s no contract or upfront fees, just a low monthly payment.

Why not take every advantage you can get for your business? A restaurant website can guarantee more customers and you’ll see what you’ve been missing all this time without one.

High-Tech Restaurant Marketing

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If any business wants to remain relevant and profitable there is a need to understand that the customer is the most important part of the whole equation. Without customers, there is no business! Therefore it is vital keep your customers happy.

A restaurant or any other business cannot continue with the most basic of operations without customers. In order to bring customers into a restaurant, marketing is vital and not just any kind of marketing but targeted marketing. Most restaurants fail with their marketing because of the way they go about doing it.

Restaurants are known to mail out their menus blindly to zip codes or go around dropping them off in neighborhoods and businesses. They don’t know how effective this is or whether those people are even interested in their type of food. The result of this is lots of energy & money wasted on marketing that doesn’t help the restaurant at all.

For a restaurant that has been in business for a while there are a signification amount of their business from repeat customers. Some of these restaurants fail to take advantage of targeting these existing customers in their marketing and instead spend all their resources in finding new ones. In any business, it is cheaper to market to your existing customers compared with finding new ones.

An advantage of marketing to existing restaurant customers is that they already approve of your food, so when marketing you just have to give them an enticing offer to bring them back for more. Customers become loyal when they see how they are valued and appreciated; on top of that, a satisfied customer will spread the word about the restaurant and soon enough, new customers will come as well.

Marketing to existing customers becomes a lot easier by embracing technology. Restaurant managers need to understand that if they use an online ordering system and over time build a list of their customers then they can start marketing directly to those customers through mail and email. 247Waiter’s online ordering software gives restaurants access to all their customers’ data which means you can market to them directly. For more information, click on the links above to see other features of our restaurant online ordering platform.

Benefits of an Online Ordering System

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Online Ordering is one of the newest phenomenons to sweep the restaurant industry and is quickly taking over take-out. With all the benefits associated with this process, it’s a wonder that more restaurants have not already implemented online ordering in their restaurant business. This process has revolutionized the way customers can get food to go, and has made ordering hassles a thing of the past. While traditional takeout methods have stood the test of time, everything changes and restaurants that want to keep up with demand, convenience and customer satisfaction need to consider an online ordering system to keep their business up to the standards of competition.

Online ordering eliminates many problems faced by traditional call-in orders. Many times customers are hard to understand, have an accent, or just simply a bad connection. Special instructions can be left out or unclear. Mix-ups and misunderstandings can lead to orders completed incorrectly that leave customers dissatisfied with their take out experience. Since customer satisfaction is the key to repeat business, repeated mistakes can cripple a business’ profits. Online ordering is a clearer, easier way for customers to place their orders to their own specifications, which are then transmitted directly to your restaurant as they are ordered.

See below an order submitted to the restaurant with special instructions:

special-instructions

An online ordering system not only eliminates misunderstandings, but it makes the ordering process much simpler for the customer as well. By having the ability to look at the menu and make their selections, they no longer need to ask what’s available, what side choices are options, or whether or not your restaurant carries a certain product. Customers are free to peruse the menu for as long as necessary before placing their order without tying up valuable time on the phone with one of your employees. Customers can order quickly and efficiently, which means they have to wait less time for their food to be ready. No one likes waiting, although it is a fact of life. Online ordering gives customers the convenience of ordering their meal from home, then driving to the restaurant to pick it up at the scheduled time, with as little waiting as possible.

An example of categories & specials, customers make decision on their own:

categories-and-specials

In addition to customer simplicity, the process of ordering food to go is much more efficient for the business as well. Without needing to spend a large amount of time on the phone answering questions, waiting for answers to options and delays while customers decide, employees can focus on other tasks, like preparing food, seating dine-in customers and ensuring that the service is up to previously determined standards. Having a menu online also makes up-selling an easy and efficient process that no longer relies on one of your employee’s time and effort. By laying everything out in an online menu, customers are easily able to see all the products and options available, and are more likely to purchase.

Options and up-selling:

upselling

There is definitely a reason that more and more restaurants are turning Online ordering to better serve their customers. Many customers would rather order online at their convenience than have to place an order on the phone, and many will gravitate towards businesses that provide this extra convenience in order to ensure their order is correct, quick and delicious. While many chains have already jumped on the online ordering bandwagon, it is predicted that many more will join them in the coming years. The word is out, and customers enjoy the convenience and ease of ordering that was previously missing in the take-out process.

 

Facebook and Restaurant Marketing

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Social media, specifically Facebook, is a common way to get your business’ name out to the public. There are many benefits for a restaurant having its own Facebook page. All restaurants should have a Facebook page. A Facebook page allows customers and potential customers to get updates on special promotions and events at the restaurant. In addition, it’s also a great way to share menu updates and job opportunities. Making a Facebook page for your restaurant is free and does not need much time to get it up and running. The benefits & rewards gained from having a Facebook page you’re your restaurant is well worth the few minutes invested in getting one up and running.

When creating your Facebook page, make sure to add your restaurants essentials such as business hours, phone numbers, address (any specific directions) and menu information along with specials and customer favorites or special dishes. You shouldn’t add any personal information such as your home address/personal phone numbers or any other personal info that might be misused. It’s also a great idea to add pictures of your menu items and restaurant on your Facebook page. Let customers see & feel the environment and “taste” the food before they come. This will not only encourage them to visit, but visit more often.

People spend a great deal of time on Facebook. Hours are spent searching for people, updates, events and potential deals. People stumbling onto your restaurant page could mean potentially more business for your restaurant. Having a Facebook page for your restaurant is also great for people who use the “check-in” option. Customers visiting your restaurant can “check-in” and add reviews and along with other people with them. The reviews and “check-ins” will show up on both your Facebook and theirs which allows their connections & friends becoming aware of your restaurant.

Special events or promotions, new menu introductions can be displayed on your page’s wall. Your wall is a place to communicate to your customers and also get their feedback.  When you first make your Facebook page, it’s a good idea to promote it. Add it to your business cards; put a sign on the wall at your restaurant to let customers know you are now on Facebook.

FREE Website for Your Restaurant

Online Ordering System, Restaurant Websites / By

Our solution kills 2 birds with 1 stone. You DON’T need to get both a website and an online ordering solution. With us, you get both in 1 because the site we give you is as a website and an online ordering system. We can add your own domain (“.com”) to it as well.

If your restaurant currently does not have a website, signing up for our restaurant online ordering system will give your restaurant a FREE professionally built restaurant website. We will put together the website for you and match it to your restaurant’s theme and colors.  After signing up, just send us your menu and any pictures you’d like on your website. Keep in mind, this website will have an online ordering system built into it, so there’s no need to pay extra fees to set up the restaurant’s online ordering solution.

Both the website and the online ordering system is mobile friendly (web app) and your customers can easily see your menu/place their order either from their computer (PC) or their mobile/tablet devices.

What your restaurant website can look like:
(click image to view the sample restaurant website)

1) Demo Mediterranean Site

demo-medi

2) Demo Pizza / Italian Restaurant Site

demo-pizza

3) Asian Restaurant Site

demo-asian

4) Burger / Fast Food Restaurant Site

demo-burgers

5) Cupcakes / Bakery Site

demo-bakery

Your Restaurant Website Shouldn’t Suck!

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People like to have dinner in a calm, comfortable, and friendly place, without any disturbance from loud groups and music. People will not want to visit restaurants where the waiters ask for tip before service has been delivered. The above issues do not commonly occur in the real world, indeed; however, in the virtual world, most restaurant websites bring about bad experiences to customers worst than the above!

Most restaurant websites are poorly designed; filled with too much clutter on the pages making them too heavy to load. Customers need basic information on a restaurant website such as address, phone numbers and menu, most restaurant websites load unnecessary loud music and flash animations on the main page. Even worse, the intended information is not there! Another main issue is the restaurant menu itself. Most restaurant websites upload PDF files of their menu! Customers have to download the menu in order to see it. In most cases, PDF files take relatively long to download, especially when the file is accessed from handheld devices. This is a big NO NO for your business!

Simply put, your restaurant customers mainly need to see your address, phone numbers, menu and pricing. This simple information should be listed on the main page, without playing loud music, large heavy photos, or any other non-needed clutter. Most restaurant websites fail to deliver these basics; they tend to use large pages & unnecessary graphics that don’t contain any useful information for the customer. Restaurant owners need to realize that customers visit their websites with a specific purpose! Nowadays, people like to see where they might be going and look at the menu ahead of time to see what they’ll be eating. Most of this is even done using their phones. In fact, a good deal of research and ordering food is done online through people’s phones.

People compare different products, even the services from restaurants; furthermore, they make decision based on their research  online (Hint hint: Yelp Reviews!). Restaurants need to know that there’s competition between restaurants in the Internet world as well. The bad news for restaurant owners, people quickly leave poorly-designed websites where they can’t find anything and will try to find another place to eat. It is actually very simple; people see the main pages of the restaurant website and make a judgement about the restaurant itself. The necessary information such as address, menu, prices, and operating hours must be easily visible. Perhaps, some pictures of the building and interior furniture