Here’s How Smart Restaurateurs Capture Online Sales
The food and beverage industry constantly witnesses new developments in tech and marketing. It is a competitive space, and restaurants need to be on their toes to keep the business afloat.
As more and more restaurants have decided to offer only food delivery and cut out in-house dining altogether, it is a good idea to be on the lookout for different strategies that can help you increase online sales. In this article, we’re going to discuss the top 5 strategies to help you set up your restaurant for success.
Personalized Packaging
By elevating the customer experience, you can easily stand out from the horde of orders customers receive every month. Since there isn’t exactly a lot of room for interaction when you aren’t meeting customers in person, making the food delivery experience more personal can help you gain an edge over the competition.
Every time you send out a food delivery, make sure you put in a handwritten note. While this may seem old fashioned, it is actually an effective marketing tool. Instead of tossing away the packaging immediately and diving into the food, customers will pause and take a moment to read the note. This positive experience is one they’ll keep in mind and appreciate, leading to a better brand image for you, and subsequently more orders.
Nite Owl, a restaurant in the USA connects with its customers in this manner. Apart from handwritten notes, you can also send out keychains of a customer’s initials. Make sure the aesthetic of your personalized packaging matches your brand logo too.
Checkout with multiple payment options
Did you know 87% of online customers abandon the cart or cancel the purchase if their preferred payment method is not available? The checkout process can make or break a customer’s experience; therefore, it is important to offer the most preferable payment options. Restaurant Operators with high customer loyalty provide multiple payment options, primarily targeting clients that are accustomed to digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
FreshBytes online ordering system provides several payment alternatives, including Google Pay and Apple Pay that can increase the probability of customers completing the purchase and becoming a loyal customer
Partnering with Influencers
Digital influencers have taken up the baton for effective marketing. Today, partnering with food bloggers and influencers on Instagram is instrumental if you’re looking to increase online sales. A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, a business makes $5.20. Naturally, collaborating with influencers who specialize in food blogging and lifestyle can be highly lucrative for your restaurant. Marketing to millennials is of utmost importance today and this demographic group is always open to trying out new things and experiences promoted by their favorite influencers.
Effective Google Ads
To bring in more customers and increase online sales, you need to take advertising to the next level. Let’s say your restaurant offers Japanese cuisine and is located in the Kent area of Seattle. Maybe your best-selling dish is sushi. What you need to do next is use Google ads to your advantage in such a way that the next time someone googles “sushi restaurants near me” in the city, your business pops up first and foremost.
When a customer sees the name of your brand at the top of the list, they’ll likely click on the result and check out your website and menu too. This increased accessibility with just one quick Google search can work wonders in bringing in more online sales. Setting up a Google Ads campaign can take some time and money, but it is immensely profitable in the long run.
Innovative Deals Tailored to your Location
In Romania, a small local coffee brand was brought to fame after it decided to take on Starbucks. How did it begin this friendly rivalry with the multinational company? By using a billboard that not only highlighted the brand’s USP i.e quality coffee at an affordable price but also countered Starbucks deals to attract eyeballs.
As Starbucks responded on Facebook, the banter went back and forth between the two brands. This soon led to a ton of posts on social media by Romanians all over the country discussing the event. Memes were made and practically everyone was engrossed, ready to see what would follow. With one catchy billboard slogan, a local company was able to win the hearts of Romanians everywhere.
To spread the word about your brand, you need to start by connecting with customers in the language that they understand better. Offering tempting deals is one thing, but making references to pop culture, local events, and holidays that enkindle them is sure to drive them to your brand.
All in all, there are many ways in which you can step up your online sales. It’s important to stay on top of your game and change your marketing strategy now and then to keep up with customer preferences.
