Running your own restaurant is a labor of love. Restaurateurs put a lot of money and effort into their enterprises, and an overwhelming majority of them fail in the first five years. However, that doesn’t have to be the story for your establishment.
These days, it’s essential for restaurants to be present in their local area and online. One of the keys to success in the restaurant in this day and age is to create a balance between your brick-and-mortar and online business operations. In this article, we’ll give you some tips to help you create that balance and increase your business’s chances of success.
Adopt a comprehensive online ordering system.
In recent years, companies like Grubhub and DoorDash have made it more convenient than ever for customers to order their food online. The more platforms on which your restaurant is present, the more opportunities you have to attract customers. However, you need an online ordering platform that can process online orders from the various food delivery mobile apps.
Cuboh is one of the best platforms for online ordering for restaurants. With their online tool, you can create a custom ordering experience for your patrons and even learn customer preferences and use them to create targeted marketing campaigns, enhancing your digital presence.
Market in your local area.
Marketing is one of the most important things in business. These days, you need a marketing approach for both your restaurant dining and online orders. The proper signage is one of the best ways to catch the attention of passersby. With monument signs, pole signs, and other custom signs, you can ensure that people see your business approaching before they arrive.
SWBP is a sign company in Dallas with years of experience creating custom signs for restaurants and other businesses. With signs that match your company’s brand identity, you can become more recognizable in your area. Indeed, your eatery could become a local landmark with the right signage.
Digital marketing is also central to increasing your volume of online orders and dine-in customers. One of the most effective ways to encourage people to place orders online is to give discounts for online pickup and delivery orders. Offering special promotions online will increase your online presence, help grow your customer base, and encourage customer loyalty.
Integrate your brick-and-mortar and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
One of the biggest challenges restaurants face is integrating their online and on-premises POS systems. However, with POS integration, you can even use your POS system for inventory management. That means when you run out of a menu item in your restaurant, it will reflect on your restaurant’s website and third-party delivery platforms like Grubhub and DoorDash. One of the most frustrating things is placing an online order for pickup and getting to the restaurant to find out they didn’t have a menu item you ordered. With POS integration, you don’t have to worry about selling out-of-stock menu items online ever again.
These days, a small restaurant needs a strong online presence and a local presence to thrive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants that didn’t already offer food delivery or curbside pickup had to get with the times, and you can expect those trends to be the new normal. Creating a balance between your brick-and-mortar and online ops can help your restaurant become preeminent in its market.
One of the main things you need is a comprehensive online ordering platform. Furthermore, you must integrate your online and on-location POS systems. It’s also a good idea to use special promotions to encourage online pickup and delivery orders. Finally, it’s critical that you market online and in your local area to establish your brand. These tips can help your small business attract new customers, encourage customer loyalty, and create an ideal customer experience.
