Nowadays, running a successful eatery means having a solid online presence. The only way to achieve that is by building a website for your establishment. But it isn’t enough to just pay for a domain name. You also have to ensure that customers click on and access your website with ease. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of things to include in your site design to ensure it furthers the success of your restaurant.
Decide On a Layout
The first step in figuring out how to build a successful website for your restaurant is deciding on your site’s look and layout. You can select a digital platform that allows you to create your website on your own. Or you can hire a developer to help you. Either way, it’s imperative to choose a site design that appealingly represents your brand.
In this stage of the process, choose colors, designs, and page layouts that showcase your establishment and its core values. Doing so will ensure that your online presence is consistent with what your restaurant provides to customers in person.
Start Outlining Your Pages
After selecting your website layout, it’s time to start outlining your pages. Most successful websites have the following pages:
- About page
- Home page
- Contact info page
- Current Menu Page
All of these pages should have pertinent information about your business, the services you provide, and the type of food you offer. So, take some time to put together a loose outline of the specific information you wish to include on each page.
Perhaps you want to add a mission statement, personal bio, and core values on your “About page.” Or maybe you want to integrate a link to your SEO-optimized foodie blog on your home page. In any case, an outline for your site pages will give you a better idea of how you should design and organize each page so that your website is as successful as possible.
Make It Easy To Navigate
User-friendliness should be a top priority if you’re trying to understand how to build a successful website for your restaurant. After all, you can’t expect your website to be successful if its design is convoluted or hard to navigate. No one wants to sift through confusing navigation tools and pages with tiny, unintelligible fonts.
For these reasons, you need to design your website with intuitive navigation in mind. These features make it easy for customers to access your site’s most important information, such as:
- Menu
- Hours of operation
- Contact information
These tools are even more imperative if you plan to incorporate features like an online ordering platform or payment system into your site. For instance, suppose a new customer comes across your online menu. They happen to be looking for the kind of dishes you serve, so they click on your link. After perusing your readable and fluid menu, they decide they want to go ahead and place an order.
They tap on the dish they want, and your site redirects them to an “add to cart” screen. From there, the customer can order and pay for their food quickly. This is a perfect example of how a user-friendly website can lead to more success for your business. So, don’t skip over this crucial aspect when designing your website!
