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Why Your or Bar Restaurant Needs a Website

Smiling Male Waiter Serving Group Of Female Friends Meeting For Drinks And Food In Restaurant

Nowadays, word of mouth isn’t normally enough to keep new customers flowing into your bar or restaurant. Considering that 75% of consumers who were surveyed said they chose a restaurant to dine at based on its search results, it is paramount that you have a good, accessible website. By having a strong online presence, you are more likely to draw in new customers, whilst simultaneously ensuring that those who have visited your restaurant are likely to return. 

It builds your identity 

Having an identifiable image is an important thing to build if you want people to remember your establishment. One way you can achieve this is by mirroring the design of your website with the image of your bar or restaurant. For example, if your establishment is Mexican themed, then using fonts and themes on your site which match the style of your bar or restaurant means that site users are more likely to remember your image and brand identity.

Having a strong online identity also allows you to get creative – if there’s a certain aspect about your bar or restaurant which is unique to you then you can explain this in a section about yourself. If, for example, you use local produce in your ingredients then you can write about this, explaining why this makes your establishment different from the others around. This highlights your USP – unique selling point – and helps you to stand out from the crowd.

You can feed the customer information about your establishment 

Considering that most people lead hectic lifestyles, it is incredibly convenient if you provide all the necessary information about your business online. By ensuring your details are only a few clicks away, your phone won’t become inundated with people asking menial questions, or moving on to a competitor that does provide this information. By uploading images of your most recent food and drink menus, people are able to visually try before they buy: a site user is much more likely going to want to visit you if they’ve seen a well-written, informative menu. 

When building your website, you should also include key pieces of information such as, your address, a booking form, an email address, a telephone number, and any other specific pieces of information which you might want your customers to know. 

It’s a free way to advertise your business

Spending an extensive amount of money to advertise your business on TV or within the media is not an effective way to market your bar or restaurant. Not only is the cost extortionate, but it could also mean you lose some of the authenticity within your establishment, reducing the human element of bar or restaurant.

A better, more cost-effective way to market yourself is by linking your social media accounts to your website. Creating sites such as Instagram for your business means that you can post appetising and aesthetic images onto social media, showing your followers just how tantalising your dishes and drinks can be. 

Social media is also another great way for others to spread the word about you. By encouraging people to tag you in pictures they upload of your food and beverages, friends and family of that person are more likely to see what you have to offer. You can also use sites such as Facebook to advertise any deals or discounts that you have on offer. Whether its a 2-4-1 cocktail or discounted dessert, everyone loves a bargain; meaning more people are likely to seek out your bar or restaurant.

Posting reviews 

In the food and drink business, good reviews play a key role in drawing new customers into an establishment. Considering that BrightLocal reported that 84% of customers trust online reviews as much as recommendations from people they know, publishing your reviews is vital if you want people to trust your bar or restaurant. 

To ensure site users can see that your reviews are authentic, you could link well-known review sites such as TripAdvisor to your review page. By providing users of your site with unfiltered, unbiased views of your establishment, you are paving the way for them to become more interested in what you have to offer. 

How to start 

Starting a website completely from scratch can be complicated and time-consuming. Luckily, Go Sitebuilder is one of the best website builders in the UK for small businesses – it’s simple, hassle-free, and does all of the difficult bits for you. Their 14-day free trial ensures you have a ready to go website at your fingertips, completely free of charge. 

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What every bar or restaurant website should have

Wide angle shot of a restaurant interior of the bar counter and shelves of alcohol behind the bar.

Having an effective website for your bar or restaurant can significantly increase your customer base by attracting new visitors to your establishment. The design and content of your website can make a real difference in how your brand is portrayed. 

Well designed websites will showcase your food and drinks to the highest standard, enticing customers with beautiful images and informative menus. This blog explores the different features which are key to creating an effective website for your bar or restaurant. 

Clear information 

Even the most stunning website design is ineffective without clear information on what you are selling. Having clear, informative content is vital in showing your customers the key aspects of your business. There is some information you should consider including:

Menus or Drinks Lists: perhaps the most important aspects to include in your website is the menu or drinks list at your bar or restaurant. If your menu changes daily, then upload a sample menu so that potential customers can see your style of food. 

Your services should be your number one selling point, therefore to include a menu on your website allows you to showcase what is unique about your establishment. Ensure the menu is in a format which is easy to download such as a PDF file and that it is high quality.  

Contact numbers and booking system: in order for more customers to visit your bar or restaurant you must have your contact options clearly displayed. 

If you run a restaurant, it may also be useful to have an online table booking system, this will save you time taking calls to book tables and is more convenient for your customers. Whichever way you get your customers to contact you, make sure there is a requirement for them to input their email. This will allow you to contact them in the future with offers or news regarding your establishment.   

Location and opening times: to ensure more customers visit your bar or restaurant you must make sure that they have the information needed to find you. When showing your location it may also be useful to include a Google map link, this is so that customers can see your location in relation to other landmarks or their location. 

Another important aspect to include is your opening times. This should be clearly shown along with location and contact numbers. Make sure you include special opening times such as holidays. 

Your Spaces: this may be more relevant for larger establishments. Providing information and photographs of different areas in your restaurant or bar is particularly relevant if these spaces can be privately rented out, such as a meeting room or room for a party. 

Enticing Images

Having visually appealing images of your restaurant/bar can be a significant factor in encouraging new customers to visit. These images should be well lit and high quality. If the images show food/drink ensure to include a caption as to the name of the dish or drink. This allows customers to visualise your menu. 

When choosing your images consider how they show your restaurant or bar. Low lighting and busy scenes can show a bustling sophisticated bar, attracting a young clientele. Whereas bright lights and saturated colours may represent a more relaxed daytime atmosphere, attracting young families.  

Social Media 

Another way many bars and restaurants show their images is through social media. Creating a platform on sites such as Instagram and Facebook can increase the knowledge of your restaurant or bar. There is also the potential to link your social media platforms to your website. Having a section on your website about your social media platforms and links to them can be an effective marketing tool. 

Key aspects to remember when making a social media profile are:

  • Images should be high quality 
  • Captions should be short and relevant
  • Hashtags and location can increase the number of people who see your posts
  • A relevant username 
  • Including a link to your website and your location in the description at the top of the page 

A Mobile Friendly Website

Designing the perfect website will not gain you many customers if your website is not mobile friendly. With 63% of Google searches happening on a mobile device, you want your website to quickly and easily display the information that they’re looking for, without being clunky or difficult to use. Go Sitebuilder is 100% optimised for mobile devices, and with this feature built-in, we can ensure your website looks good on every device. 

If you are looking to build a website for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional website up and running in minutes, so that your restaurant or bar can start attracting more customers today! Try our 14-day free trial to see what we can offer.