Category: Restaurant

How Restaurants Can Use Cause Marketing to Enhance Branding

Post author By admin
Post date February 4, 2022

Restaurant owners and marketers know more than anyone how important it is to form a strong relationship with customers. Creating shared values promotes brand loyalty and increases word of mouth. Cause marketing is one way restaurants can connect with their customers.

As a branding strategy, cause marketing is on the rise and is becoming significantly more important as millennials expect more from the places they do business with. They don’t just want a nice restaurant experience with a good atmosphere, they want to know that their hardearned dollars are doing something for the greater good. In fact, it’s been reported that 91 percent of millennials are willing to change their buying habits to support brands that rally behind a social cause.

So how can you implement cause marketing into your business? Here are five tips to take your strategy to the next level:

1. Align with a cause that actually makes sense for your brand.

Finding a cause that is the right fit for your restaurant is crucial to any successful cause marketing program. With hundreds of social causes to choose from, there should be one that speaks to the heart of your brand and even the hearts of your guests.

2. Commit to your cause.

Whether you’re giving a portion of your proceeds to a non-profit or committing to eliminating food waste by the way you dispose of unused food, you want your team to have total buy-in. Showcasing your whole team’s commitment to the cause and publicizing these efforts can help to build a connection between your restaurant and customers.

3. Leverage your cause in your marketing efforts.

No good deed should go unnoticed. If your brand is supporting a social cause, you may win some earned media through press coverage. Being a socially responsible brand can earn you an advantage over competitors. Your restaurants’ involvement with a charity may be your guests’ deciding factor when looking at their dining options. The content of this document/layout will be officially proofread prior to the final approval of the art or copy document.

4. Authenticity is a must.

If the cause chosen is one your brand is truly passionate about, it should sell itself. Let the message organically show through your marketing choices. Here are a few cause marketing examples that were well received because of their authenticity. Consumers know an inauthentic message when they see one, which could potentially result in catastrophe for your restaurant’s image.

5. Learn how Push can help with your restaurant cause marketing.

We’re always here to help you strategize and execute a strong cause marketing campaign or platform. Just take a look at the work we did for Sonny’s BBQ. Restaurant store design, marketing strategy and brand positioning are a few other ways we can help your restaurant build a strong, relevant foundation for its future. Check out more of our work here.

Not sure if an agency is right for your restaurant? Our recent article about bringing a branding agency on board might help you decide!

Restaurant Branding Digital Media Advice Trends

When is the Best Time For Restaurants to Bring on a Branding Agency?

Post author By admin
Post date December 23, 2021

Have you ever sat back and wondered, “Why are guests choosing my restaurant?” When it comes down to it, there are a multitude of options for eating out, and guests are looking for great taste and an even better experience. Details like restaurant design style, staff attitude, menu marketing and brand image work together to deliver a unique story and selling point for your consumers.

Maintaining your restaurant’s brand is as important as laying the foundation that solidifies and stimulates the growth of your customer base. Keeping a close watch on quickly evolving trends and aesthetics will help you identify when your brand is due for an update. Timing is everything. Hiring a restaurants branding agency could be a game changer for your business strategy. But what most leaders don’t know is the time to hire is now. Here’s why:

Bringing on a restaurants branding agency earlier in the game will win you more in the long run.

Designing a brand from scratch when you don’t know where to start is a tall order. Especially if you don’t know what questions to ask or how to put your mission on display for the world. That’s why it’s important to understand the value of investing in a restaurants branding agency. Hiring outside help may seem intimidating, but in actuality, the uneasiness is temporary and the pay off is epic. Some of the most eminent leaders in the restaurant industry knew having a well-defined, and relevant brand, would give them the space to run their business more efficiently and effectively. And they wouldn’t have to worry about rebranding down the line because they already have an established partnership with professionals who know how to monitor, maintain and refresh their restaurant brand.

Laying a solid foundation builds up your brand’s future

Restaurant guests want to invest in brands they know align with their own values. In fact, 64% of consumers say that this allows them to trust and build relationships with businesses. Giving your brand a personality also gives it a place to live in the market. That’s one of the benefits of partnering with Push, we have restaurants rebranding down to a science and can help you create an identity your customers can connect with.

Establishing a brand that is flexible enough to stay relevant and consistent allows it to evolve

Remaining stagnant does not foster growth or development in any aspect of the industry. We live in an ever-evolving era that dips, twists and turns at the share of one social media post. It’s important to stay aware of the changes happening around you so you can shift quickly. If you witness new trends appearing among your audience, you should trust your customers’ judgment and follow their lead.

The content of this document/layout will be officially proofread prior to the final approval of the art or copy document.

Bringing on a restaurants branding agency to update and maintain your brand allows you to increase your bottom line by attracting like-minded franchise partners, employees dedicated to and passionate about your mission and values and developing trusted relationships with your guests.

Interested in seeing how Push put restaurant brands on the map? Restaurant store design, marketing strategy and brand positioning are just a few ways we help restaurants build off of a relevant, strong foundation for their future. Check out our work here.

Restaurant Branding

How to Craft an Identity for Your Restaurant

Post author By admin
Post date September 16, 2021

With more than 1 million restaurant locations in the United States in 2021, restaurant branding is now more critical than ever. Not only does having a strong brand identity help restaurants stand out in an extremely crowded market, but it also helps current and potential customers make deeper emotional connections with restaurants. This can translate into more frequent visits, more positive reviews and more word-of-mouth referrals. But developing your restaurant’s brand identity is much more than simply creating a logo and choosing brand colors. Here we briefly discuss some basic steps on how to brand a restaurant.

Define your mission and values.

Clearly defining who you are and what you believe in is the foundation for establishing a strong brand identity. And it all starts with knowing your why. Why is it you do what you do? Why are you in the restaurant business? Why do you want to serve whatever food you specialize into guests? Once you know your why, you can develop your mission and values and have a deeper impact. Your unique mission and values will not only differentiate you from your competition and create unity among employees, but it will also establish a basis for everyone in the company to make better decisions. But it’s not just employees who want to know what you stand for. Customers are more interested than ever in supporting companies whose beliefs align with their beliefs. In fact, 64% of consumers say that shared values help them create a trusted relationship with brands.

Understand your target audience.

Having a clearly identified and defined target audience is crucial for developing your restaurant’s brand identity. You need to research who your existing customers are—their age, income level, marital status, family type and daily routine. Try to go beyond basic demographics and uncover some psychographic factors, like their likes and interests, what other brands they have an affinity for, what is their motivation to spend, and even identify some emotional characteristics. This will help you visualized the exact type of people you are targeting and evaluate your brand through your target audience’s eyes.

Have a consistent voice.

Knowing what you want to say and who you want to say it to are major factors in developing your brand identity. But how you say things is equally important. You must communicate to your target audience in the voice that will resonate with them the best and that they will respond to the most strongly. For example, if you are a casual restaurant with a fun and exciting menu offerings that appeal to Gen Z, then your brand voice should reflect this. A fun, irreverent voice that utilizes current internet slang/trends may be perfect for your communications. But if you’re a fine dining establishment catering to boomers and older millennials, then a more refined, sophisticated voice may be a better fit. That isn’t to say fine dining can’t have a playful voice, as that may be what works for your brand and resonates with your specific audience. Just be consistent. Maintain the same voice across all communications and platforms. Not only will this solidify your brand’s authenticity in the eyes and ears of fans, but it can boost your bottom line as well—brand consistency across all platforms can increase revenue by up to 23%.

There is much more to crafting a strong restaurant identity than these initial steps, but this gives some basic understanding of the process. Whether you decide to hire us, another branding firm, or try to take on the task yourself, we’re here to help. Restaurant branding, including multi-location restaurants, is one of our specialties, so feel free to reach out to discuss this topic further.

Restaurant Marketing Communications

How Restaurant Menus Evolved During COVID

Post author By admin
Post date August 26, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic forced restaurants to make major changes, especially when it comes to their menus. And while some changes are temporary, some are most likely here to stay. At least for the foreseeable future. What will restaurant menus after COVID-19 look like? No one knows for certain. But the changes that have already happened may be a good indicator of what’s ahead. Let’s take a look.

Fewer Menu Items. Greater Kitchen Efficiency.

Labor challenges, supply chain interruptions, and safety concerns caused restaurants to rethink their menu offerings. As a result, many restaurants have reduced ancillary items, eliminated single-dish ingredients, and limited customizable options to help save time, increase efficiency and focus on their core revenue-driving menu items. They’ve also reduced or ditched sharable items all together for safety reasons. But the good news is, most diners don’t mind. In fact, 76% of people have no problem with restaurants offering a reduced menu upon reopening.

Have Food. Must Travel.

Due to lockdowns, capacity restrictions, and consumer safety concerns, off-premise preference has skyrocketed. So much so, that 92% of restaurant traffic is now off-premise. Since more people are using delivery services and grabbing to-go than ever before, this has caused an increase in challenges for operators, including more incomplete or incorrect orders, deliveries arriving late, and food being cold and unappetizing upon arrival. To combat this, restaurants are prioritizing menu items that will travel well for delivery and takeout. To-go packaging is also getting reimagined, with innovations in venting, insulation, dividers, and production materials to help food travel better.

Paperless & Disposable Menus

One of the biggest changes diners may notice in restaurants after COVID-19 is a lack of physical menus. Reducing or eliminating physical menus was prompted by safety concerns for staff and guests but has benefits for operators, including cost savings and increased efficiencies. As experts in menu design who work with numerous restaurant clients, Push developed Paperless Menu to give restaurants the ability to quickly and easily convert their physical menu into a robust interactive digital menu. Not only do digital menu solutions like Paperless Menu eliminate the production costs and waste associated with traditional physical menus, but they can also be instantly updated to accommodate today’s changing needs and unexpected challenges. Better for diners, operators, and the environment, digital menus in some form or another are here to stay.

More Innovative Value Options

With so many people experiencing economic hardship during the pandemic, people are looking to get more for their money now more than ever. The fact that 66% of diners say “value” is a top factor when deciding where to eat has prompted many restaurants to make value offerings an even bigger deal. From new combo meals and food bundles to create your own at-home meal kits, restaurants are finding creative ways to provide larger portions at a greater price.

These menu changes came fast and furious due to the pandemic and some have been difficult to implement and adjust to for both guests and operators alike. But they aren’t all bad. In fact, many of these temporary solutions to unprecedented challenges have brought positive outcomes already and will continue to do so in the days, months, and years ahead. Welcome to the future. Can we take your order?

Restaurant Marketing Communications

4 Tips For a Successful Restaurant Reopening

Post author By admin
Post date August 6, 2021

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According to Datassential, more than 10% of restaurants in the United States have closed permanently since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. But suppose you’re one of the fortunate restaurants who were able to pause or adapt and are now ready to reopen. In that case, it’s important to prepare with updated safety standards, unified messaging, incentives to drive traffic and to keep in touch with your guests about their experience.

SAFETY FIRST

The health and safety of your team and guests should always come first. So if you haven’t updated your policies, now is the time to consider adopting new hygiene practices, stocking up on sanitizer, investing in PPE for your team, implementing social distancing procedures and creating clear signage to help guide your team and guests.

To avoid overcrowding, be sure your restaurant layout for indoor and outdoor spaces is in compliance with local guidelines. You should also consider maintaining experiences that customers are accustomed to since the pandemic, such as contactless payment experiences and sealed to-go packaging for off-premise orders.

GET UP TO DATE

Your customers have spent the last year or longer being reliant on the internet for almost everything. It’s still the go to place for research and entertainment. So having a unified message is essential for reaching your customers and potential guests:

Update your website with reopening plans and hours.
If one doesn’t already exist, develop an FAQ to for customer support or reopening details.
Update your store on Google My Business and make sure your updated hours, dine-in and delivery options are clearly shown and up to date.
Develop a series of posts leading up to the reopening date that gives a behind-the-curtain look to emphasize the safety of your team and future guests.
Reach out to existing customers with any email, CRM or SMS you already have in place.

CREATE INCENTIVES

Getting creative with your reopening date can help bring guests back in. For example, celebrate the occasion as a grand re-opening with dine-in exclusive giveaways. Introduce a limited-time menu. Or, bring back a beloved recipe to your menu.

You could even reach out to nearby businesses and leverage partnerships to create experiences for your guests such as dinner and discounts at a nearby movie theater or a discounted shopping experience. Any combination of incentives can help drive traffic to your reopening.

KEEP IN TOUCH

To minimize any uncertainty about the state of your restaurant, be sure to keep in touch with your guests, answer questions and evolve your original reopening plan as your unique circumstances change. This may include retraining and preparing your staff with answers to questions customers may ask about safety, seating or menu items. Or, incentivizing your guests to leave feedback or take a survey about their experience. The more you and your team know about your guests’ experiences, the better you can create opportunities to keep them coming back.

Whatever the extent of your reopening plans, communications experts agree that it’s important to be timely, relevant, empathetic and considerate of your customers’ current needs. In addition, communication between your team and your guests will be essential to ensuring your reopening goes as smoothly as possible.

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Restaurant Advice

Bringing Diners Back To Your Tables

Post author By admin
Post date June 28, 2021

As diner confidence continues to grow across the country, it is imperative that restaurants turn their focus to recreating the wonderful benefits only an authentic dine-in experience can offer. Diners are hungry for restaurants with safe, approachable, and efficient operations. So here are a few ways you can get their attention and gain their trust in a post-pandemic world.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Since the beginning of the pandemic, diners have become increasingly aware of cleanliness. In fact, according to a Medallia study, 79% of consumers say that going forward, they will seek out the health and safety standards that businesses have in place before visiting. With this in mind, it’s important to communicate and clearly show your sanitation measures so that customers trust in the care you are taking to keep them safe—especially the protocols that have already become routine, from wiping down seating areas between guests to spacing out your waiting areas, and making masks and gloves part of your team’s attire. As we’ve covered in the past, keeping visual cues around for your guests can help put them at ease to better enjoy the in-restaurant experience.

CONVENIENCE IS KEY

man paying at restaurant with mobile phone

Making diners feel welcome by making their experience as seamless as possible can help your restaurant stand out. According to a Vixxo survey on what diners value most about their favorite restaurants prior to the pandemic, 38% said that it’s the overall experience of an establishment—including atmosphere, employees and convenience. Consider conveniences like an online waitlist, an option to pre-order, and contactless payment options that can help increase the chances of even the most cautious customers choosing you.

KEEP THE FAVORITES & KEEP THEM FRESH

The pandemic may have forced you to re-evaluate your menu. And it appears that those adjustments may be a good idea to maintain as your restaurant returns to 100% dine-in capacity. In fact, according to Mintel’s research on US restaurant marketing strategies, removing foods that are not takeout-friendly or those that are low margin will continue to serve restaurants well even after the pandemic. But still, history shows that diners enjoy and appreciate menu innovation, so don’t be afraid to keep menu items on that continue to perform while trying seasonal, monthly, or limited-time menu recipes.

SPEEDY DOES IT

two people eating mussels at a restaurant

Just as restaurants were quick to turn into pop-up grocery stores and set up curbside pickup operations seemingly overnight, staying flexible and in touch with the needs of your diners will be critical for your restaurant’s long-term success. As Medallia put it, since the pandemic, “customers expect more from brands today and they expect it faster.” Sending your diners short, quick feedback via SMS or asking for open-ended feedback tied to a bounce-back offer may help you better navigate what makes or breaks a memorable dine-in experience and what your diners expect at the moment.

Ultimately, diners will return to the restaurants that they believe provide them with the best value and experience. While the capacities and seating arrangements may change, food quality, consistency, conveniences, and cleanliness will continue to be the defining factors for welcoming your diners back for more.

Restaurant Marketing Communications Advice

The Diner Spending Surge

Post author By admin
Post date June 14, 2021

With half of all US adults fully vaccinated as of June 2021, the restaurant industry is seeing encouraging signs that customers are ready to spend their money on the meaningful culinary experiences they’ve missed over the last year. In fact, according to a MasterCard press release, spending at US restaurants is even up from pre-pandemic levels, increasing 6 percent over 2019. And as restaurants begin to transition back to full capacity, here are four ways you can make the most of the diner spending surge.

CREATE EXCLUSIVE DINE-IN EXPERIENCES

A May 2020 Rewards Network Survey found that 60% of diners are eager to dine out once they feel safe doing so. And welcoming them back with experiences that can’t be replicated at home may bring even more to dine in. This could include exclusive menu items that don’t travel well, to-go being prioritized on the menu, table-side menu item experiences that bring the cooks to the table, live entertainment or even rewarding your most loyal guests who supported your restaurant during the pandemic with a free app or dessert for dining in.

REVISIT YOUR DINE-IN MENU

As we’ve covered in the past about streamlining menus for to-go orders, now is a great time to re-evaluate your menu for in-restaurant dining. This doesn’t necessarily mean investing in new hardcopy menus either, as customers have grown accustom to viewing menus on their phone with apps like The Paperless Menu. But it does mean focusing on menu items that are best enjoyed fresh from the kitchen, such as old favorites removed during the pandemic, re-evaluating or introducing high-margin menu items that didn’t travel well as to-go orders, or even introducing new comfort food recipes that have been trending since the pandemic.

GET THE TABLES READY

According to restaurant.org, restaurants in almost all US states will be returning to full capacity by mid-June (if they haven’t already). Which means it’s also a great time to reevaluate your seating arrangement. This could mean introducing larger tables for group seating as diners are eager to get out to eat with those they’ve missed, or changing up the layout of your restaurant with more tables spaced closer than 6 feet apart. And if you’re one of the many restaurants with an outdoor seating space, don’t forget to make adjustments for capacity there as well.

KEEP TAKE OUT ON THE MENU

According to The Wall Street Journal, the pandemic has rapidly accelerated the growth for food delivery companies like DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub. But it’s not just delivery. According to the same LendingTree survey, spending on food away from home, including at restaurants and on takeout, increased by 23.1% between April 2020 and January 2021. And that’s outpaced even the rise consumers are spending on groceries. With to-go and delivery here to stay for many consumers, now is a great time to evaluate how your restaurant handles orders for efficiency. Whether that means a dedicated to-go menu, a streamlined mobile ordering and pick up experience, a separate to-go kitchen, dedicated to-go only parking or creating a drive through for your restaurant.

Restaurant Marketing Communications Advice

The Struggle to Hire is Real. Here’s What You Can Do About it.

Post author By admin
Post date May 13, 2021

As vaccines continue to roll out and the country opens back up, restaurants are struggling to do the same. Sticking to take-out and curbside nowadays has less to do with safety and much more to do with the lack of staff. In fact, this time last year the industry had laid off or furloughed roughly 5.5 million workers nationally. And bringing them back has become a challenge.

One of the main reasons experts believe it’s become so hard to hire is the $300-a-week boost to unemployment benefits from the new $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Economists calculate that roughly half of unemployed Americans are temporarily making more from unemployment than they did from their jobs. Still, this boost is only for a short time (through September) and with health concerns lowering, we expect to see a large increase in available workers through the summer and fall. As a restaurant owner, here are a few things you can do to attract new employees.

START WITH REFERRALS

From Silicon Valley to Wall Street, referral programs are a major way corporate America hires. The foodservice industry should be doing the same. Owners and GMs shouldn’t just encourage, but reward employees who bring in new hires. These rewards can be anything from straightforward cash bonuses to paid time off for hourly workers to tickets to sporting events, etc. Owners can tier their incentives by offering higher rewards for harder-to-fill positions and even greater rewards if the new hire stays with the store for 6 months or a year. Using your current workforce to bring in new hires is one of the most effective ways a restaurant can recruit.

RECRUIT LOCALLY

Most restaurants serve a community, and most communities have a pool to pull from. Local universities and community colleges should be large recruiting grounds for nearby restaurants. A recent Snagajob survey showed that flexible hours and scheduling were in the top three benefits a job can offer at 89% of responses. This benefit directly impacts students who need to schedule around classes, tests and breaks. Owners and GMs should be reaching out to campus recruiters with job openings. Additionally, finding employees who live close by is crucial. Studies show that restaurant workers who live within 10 miles of their job are 50% more likely to stay past six months. Finally, once you get a foot in the door with students at a university, it should make the referral program mentioned above a breeze.

REWARD THE EFFORT

Employee discounts have always been a major way to attract and retain employees. That same Snagajob survey also listed discounts in its top three benefits at 76% of responses. Still, there are scales to these discounts and ways to out-offer your competitors. Some restaurants only offer employee discounts during shifts, while others offer discounts at any time. To know that your employers value you when you’re not on the clock is huge for potential new workers. GMs and owners also know that for employees who rely on tips, not every shift is built equally. Offering free shift meals, even with a limited menu, shows employees that their time and effort are valued. Even on the slowest days, workers still leave feeling full.

WORK HERE, WORK ANYWHERE

As hard as restaurants try to retain their employees, we know sometimes people have to leave. Whether it’s because a spouse was offered a job elsewhere or a student is heading home for the summer, churn is inevitable. Yet, there is the potential that your restaurant chain has another location where that employee is relocating. Creating a relocation program with open communication between corporate and local restaurants will help employees on the move find new jobs wherever they’re settling. Larger corporations like Yum! Brands, who own several different restaurant chains such as KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, can help relocate employees between their different brands. You’ve spent the time and effort to train quality staff—this is one of the more effective ways to keep them in your system.

While the struggle to hire restaurant workers is ongoing, we know it won’t last. As more vaccines roll out and unemployment benefits dwindle, experts expect a large wave of available workers in the near future. Following the steps we laid out will put any restaurant ahead of the pack when it comes to recruiting the best talent.

COVID Restaurant Marketing Communications Advice

Is 100% Capacity Right for Your Restaurant?

Post author By admin
Post date April 23, 2021

As states begin to loosen COVID-19 restrictions, some restaurants are cautiously considering the same move. In Florida, which allowed restaurants to return to total capacity in September 2020, several chain owners reported a bump in sales. However, according to OpenTable, statewide restaurant reservations remain 20% lower than last year. So while local restrictions ease, the demand may take time to catch up. If you’re still deciding whether or not reopening to total capacity is right for your restaurant, here are a few important things to consider.

SLOW & STEADY

Researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that counties that allowed on-site restaurant dining had a rise in COVID-19 cases in the weeks afterward. Federal officials have also warned against removing coronavirus-related precautions too quickly as virus variants continue to circulate. If you see a similar trend in your area and local mandates currently allow 100% capacity, it may be wise to consider a few alternatives to attract diners safely.

INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR

With vaccinations on the rise throughout the U.S., diners are growing more comfortable with dining out—especially outdoors. According to an April 2021 Morning Consult survey, as much as much 68% of respondents said they feel safe sitting for a meal outside. Which is good news if you’re one of the many restaurant owners who’ve invested in an outdoor dining area. Utilizing this space as allowed by local mandates is a great place to start—especially during spring and summer. If your restaurant is limited to indoor dining, consumer comfortability continues to look promising. According to the same survey, 60% of respondents reported feeling comfortable dining out as of April 2021, and 73% of respondents said they think they’ll be comfortable dining out within six months.

ASK YOUR LOYAL GUESTS

Go straight to the source—it’s the easiest way to know for sure how many of your customers would consider dining with your restaurant again. We’ve covered the importance of loyalty programs in the past, and now is a perfect time to ask how many would consider an indoor dining experience. A simple survey and dine-in offer is a great way to gauge how many of your guests want to be in the dining room. Not only will this help you plan for seating arrangements and ideal capacity, but it can also inform how much you’ll need to order from your suppliers.

OFF-PREMISE & TO-GO REMAIN PROMISING

According to the Morning Consult survey, takeout continues to be the most popular dining option with 42% of respondents reporting ordering takeout at least once a week. If your restaurant has adjusted well to off-premise dining, consider sticking with the trend by offering menu items that travel well, along with a few others. Curbside pickup boomed during the beginning of the pandemic and demand continues to show no signs of slowing down.

MAINTAIN NEW REVENUE STREAMS

Over the last year, many restaurants found success in setting up and promoting new revenue streams. And even as restrictions ease, it’s still a good idea to maintain the ones that worked best for your restaurants, from the ever-popular family bundles around holidays and special occasions to extra helpings of heat-and-eat meals.

REMAIN FLEXIBLE

Few industries have felt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic more than the restaurant industry. And while many are anxious to return to normal, no one knows for sure what that new normal will look like. In the meantime, it’s important to listen to your guests and staff, plan ahead and make adjustments day by day to gauge when returning to 100% capacity is right for your restaurant.

COVID Restaurant Digital Media Advice

How to Plus Up Your Restaurant’s Online Presence

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2021

Having a robust online presence has been crucial for restaurants. Still, this past year we’ve seen people spend even more time online and make it routine to turn to the Internet to search for and order from restaurants. The following tips are always best practices to keep in mind, but they may be more important than ever during this year and looking ahead.

Strong Website Design

This first tip is just as important as it ever was. When thinking of web design, first and foremost, focus on functionality. Ensure your website is clean and easy to navigate so customers can easily find locations, your hours of operation, how to place an online order and more. Mobile design should be a priority as that’s where people are spending more and more time. It’s also, of course, important to make sure the website reflects your brand identity and that your design is helping to drive a state of crave. High-quality photos and branded videos will go a long way to entice your customers to visit or order online.

Optimize for Search

Never underestimate the power of SEO. It’s crucial that when people search keywords related to your business that your restaurant appears in their search results. Google Analytics and other tools can help you identify the keywords best for you brand. If the budget is there, utilizing paid search ads can certainly be beneficial. Also, make sure your Google My Business page is up to date and get more tips in our previous guide. You want to make sure that people are getting the most accurate and recent information when they pull up a Google search result for your restaurant.

Engage with Reviews

As many customers use third-party review sites to inform their dining out decision, it’s important to be aware of your presence on those sites and what your customers are saying. Responding to positive reviews and thoughtfully replying to the negative ones in your brand’s voice shows that you respect and value your customers. You should also gently encourage your guests to leave reviews to help grow your restaurant’s presence on those platforms since many people make decisions based on the number of positive reviews.

Amp Up Your Social Presence

And finally, we all know social media is a great way to boost your online presence but are you using it strategically? Identify the platforms that make the most sense for your business and focus your energy there. You’d rather invest in a robust Instagram page with stunning photos than focus your energy on tweeting with little engagement. Also, be sure to create a content strategy that drives genuine engagement and encourages UGC.

These are all tried and true ways to boost your online presence, but it can be good to take a moment to reevaluate your efforts in these areas and see where there could be room for improvement or reinvestment. As time spent online by consumers only continues to increase, you’ll be happy you made the time to do so now when you reap the benefits down the road.