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What are the best restaurant websites for design inspiration?

Customers inside a restaurant discussing the best restaurant websites designs

Having a strong website design is key for all online businesses – considering that 38% of people will be put off a website if the content is unattractive, it is vital that your site design is aesthetic so you capture the visitor’s interest. This is even more crucial for restaurants: if your website isn’t visually appealing, then the user is more likely to form a negative impression of your restaurant, which means they probably won’t want to visit your establishment. 

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you have to have the skills of a top website designer to build a website that reels visitors in. We’ve broken down some of the best ways to build your own website for your restaurant, so that you can get some design inspiration. 

Strong colour pattern 

Source: Between The Bread

This restaurant has used bright, bold colours of its foods, and displayed them on a contrasting background. By using colours that pack a punch, the visitor is immediately drawn to whatever you want them to see first – in this case it’s the food! Using a variation of colours means your landing page stands out, meaning your website is more likely to stick in the minds’ of those who visit your site. However, it is important not to overload your website with colour, as this can lead to confusion: this restaurant has focused on reds, yellows and greens, telling the visitor that they can expect vibrant, colourful foods.

Focus on font

Whitmans text with burger

Source: Whitmans New York

Whilst a picture might speak a thousand words, the type of font you use also sends out a certain message. Here the casual, relaxed font suggests that this restaurant has more of a laid back atmosphere – the flavours are bold, but the establishment has a more chilled vibe.

Informative

man in kitchen making pasta

Source: Pastaria

Providing key information on your business, which can be clearly seen, is essential when you build your own website. According to KoMarketing, 44% of website visitors will leave a site if there aren’t any contact details. Providing the site users with contact information that they can clearly see, and giving them an option to contact you to make queries or reservations is essential. Considering that most people will make a booking with your restaurant either by phone or online, it is key that you make this process for them as easy as possible.

High quality images

filleted fish

Source: Catch

Using a high quality image, which isn’t blurred or poorly lit, shows just how professional your restaurant is. Considering that high quality images are a crucial factor in helping to sell your product – or restaurant – the best way you can create a good impression on someone is by using images which have been professionally taken. It’s important not to overcrowd your site with images too – just like this restaurant has done, keep things simple to achieve a sleek, attractive finish to your website design.

Appetising 

flatbreads on rustic table

Source: Lemonade

Of course, as a restaurant, if there’s one thing you want to get right, it’s how you present the food that you sell. People will want to come to your restaurant if you prove to them that you can serve them dishes which look great, and taste even better. As they obviously can’t sample the food by looking at your online business, they have to sample it with their eyes instead – capturing your tastiest dishes in a way that shows them off in all their glory will push people to make a reservation with you. 

Less is more

three juice bottles

Source: Foster Juice Co.

As you can probably see so far, these restaurants have stuck to a simplistic style of website design. Whilst some have taken the less is more approach more seriously than others, it is clear that these site designs have avoided overcrowding the landing page with multiple different pictures or crazy colour schemes. Instead, they’ve allowed the colours to bounce off each other to create a visually appealing effect. By holding back on wild, clashing colours and over the top images, you can build a website which delivers a pleasant site user experience. 

Atmosphere of the restaurant 

plates of mexican food

Source: El Burro

What kind of dining experience can your customers expect? When searching for a restaurant, people normally type in words that describe the type of restaurant they want to visit. Your website design must reflect the atmosphere of your restaurant, so that the user has some idea as to what kind of experience you are offering – here the bold, bright colours and rustic looking foods of this restaurant’s website design suggests they are a more casual establishment.

Welcoming 

Most importantly, your website should be welcoming! You want to create a positive image of your restaurant which sticks in the minds of site users. With Go Sitebuilder’s ready to go site, creating a captivating website design couldn’t be more simple. Or, if you find yourself completely pushed for time when you’re first building your website, why not browse our free stock photo gallery, so that you can use professional photos, completely free of charge?

Try Go Sitebuilder today; our free 14-day trial gives you the ultimate freedom to design the perfect website for your restaurant!

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How much does it cost to make a website for a small restaurant?

Diverse small group of four attractive laughing friends having wine and a meal together in restaurant talking about how much it cost to make a website for a small restaurant

Did you know that 62% of diners research restaurant choices online before dining out? Having a website for your restaurant is of paramount importance and in a previous blog we looked at why you need a website for your restaurant. Whilst you might understand why having a website is key for your restaurant, you might be a bit apprehensive about the costs of building a website. 

Although there isn’t a set price when it comes to building a website, there are multiple different routes to take, and some are cheaper than others. If you have the time and the necessary knowledge, you may want to build a website from scratch, or you may opt to enlist the help of a website builder, such as our simple, easy to use site builder, for a quicker and simpler option. We break down the costs of these two choices, so that you can build your website with a rough idea of prices. 

Building a website from scratch 

Web hosting 

If you’re building a website from scratch, you’ll need to find a web host, as it is a service that will allow you to post your website onto the internet, and in turn, lets others find you on the internet. Of course, this is vital to attract new customers – if potential site traffic can’t even find your restaurant on the internet, then you’re not going to be able to entice any potential customers, regardless of how appealing your web design is. 

The costs of web hosting can cost anything from a couple of pounds a month to £700 a month. If you want to find the cheapest option, then shared hosting is your best bet – however, as numerous other websites are sharing the resources of a single server, your site can become slow and more difficult to use. If you want more control over your server, dedicated hosting gives you your very own server, although it is the more expensive option. 

SSL certificate

An SSL certificate is an important feature for your restaurant’s website: as you’ll be taking bookings via your website, you’ll need to collect personal information from site users. As an SSL certificate ensures that any information stored on your site is protected from potential site hackers, having one helps to build trust between your website and a potential customer. 

Again, the cost of a SSL certificate can vary quite widely, depending on the scale of your business. If you’re building a website purely to take bookings, then you could be looking at a cost of roughly £50 a year for your SSL certificate. However, if you’re building an ecommerce website for your restaurant to sell products that you make, you may want to have a higher level of protection, as your customers will be handing over their bank details. This could cost you anything from £90 to over £200 a year. 

Web designer 

Part of the attraction of a restaurant is its aesthetic appeal – in fact, there is a complete psychology behind what pulls us into a restaurant. This means that you’ll want your website to look as good as your restaurant itself: if you have a bad web design, it sends the message that your restaurant is similarly of low quality. 

For a beautiful, sleek web design, you’ll probably want to enlist the help of a web designer to ensure your website looks stunning. The price of hiring a web designer is relative to their level of expertise – you could be looking at a cost of anything from £10 to £150 per hour. Ultimately, the choice of how much money you’re willing to invest into your web design is up to you. 

Using a website builder 

Costs of website builder 

With a website builder, you’re required to pay a set subscription fee a month, which can go up if you require additional features for your website. Although you have less control over individual costs with a website builder, website builders will include the aforementioned within their packages and more. Not only do the prices often work out cheaper than if you were to build a website from scratch, but it also saves you the time it would take to build a website without a website builder. 

Of course, you’ll still have to factor in additional costs of hiring a photographer if you want to upload clear and professional pictures. This is extremely important for a restaurant website, as users will be attracted by the look and design of your restaurant as well as appetising pictures of your food. If your pictures are badly lit and obviously unprofessional, this will quickly put potential customers off. 

At Go Sitebuilder, we have ready to go templates especially designed for restaurants so you can easily upload pictures of your stylish space and delicious menu and have a smooth and sophisticated web design up and running in minutes. To find out more about everything we offer in our affordable, yet high quality, package, try our 14-day trial today!

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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.

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How to Attract Customers to Your Bar or Restaurant

Birds eye view of a table full of plates of colourful food with people sat either side of the table

Owning a bar or a restaurant can seem like a lot of work. However, it is an incredibly rewarding business to get into. If you have a love of food and drink then going into this industry could really play to your skills. However, it is important to have some kind of strategy in place so that you can attract customers into your establishment. If you don’t know where to start, then follow our tips to ensure you advertise yourself in the right way, to the right customers. 

Know your audience 

This may seem obvious, but work out what kind of atmosphere you want to create within your establishment. From decor to menu, website to social media, it is important to have a theme running through every element of your business so that you are able to market to your targeted clientele. 

For example, if you want to start up a sports bar then having a relaxed, comfy interior with cheap drinks and bites on offer will be appealing to those who want to have a fun night out without racking up huge expenses. However, if you would rather reach out to those who are looking for fine dining then it is important to cultivate a high-class image of your establishment. 

It could also be useful to consider the area that you are in, and whether this should affect how you market yourself. For example, if you’re establishing yourself in a small community then it could be good to use local produce in your ingredients. Or if you’re in a city with a large student population then offering student discounts can pull in swathes of youngsters. 

Working out your target audience is also important when building your online image. By building a website which mirrors the experience that you offer, you are more likely to attract the right customers.

Have a strong website design 

As mentioned above, it is important to have a theme running throughout your business. Perhaps you decide to emulate your website’s colour palette with that of your restaurant’s interior design.

It is also important that you make your brand name clear on the website: this will make your image more identifiable, and if it is eye-catching then it is more likely to stick in other people’s heads. 

It is also vital to have a website that is easy to navigate, both on a computer and on someone’s mobile phone. Considering 57% of internet users say they wouldn’t recommend a business if their website isn’t optimised for mobile, it is important to have a website that is easily accessible in both formats. Go Sitebuilder – an online website builder based in the UK – is an extremely simple way to create your dream site, and is optimised for both desktop and mobile devices. 

It’s also great to write a bit about your background and what inspired you to set up this business. This adds a personal touch and could be the reason that a potential customer chooses your restaurant or bar over someone else’s. If you’re unsure what other pages of content to include, check out our top tips on our blog.

Don’t neglect social media

Social media is a fantastic way to advertise yourself to potential customers. Posting aesthetic pictures of the food and drink that you have to offer onto your Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page helps get your image out there. 

Virtual word-of-mouth isn’t to be underestimated: the more people tagged in the comment section, the more people know about your establishment. Your visibility can also be increased if people post snaps of products that they’ve enjoyed within your bar/restaurant – you can even offer a discount for people who do this! By encouraging people to hashtag your business name in their description and tag you in the image, you are essentially coining in on some completely free advertising. 

The fact that social media is so accessible means it is also a great way to advertise discounts. Offering deals such as 2-4-1 cocktails or discounted set menus means people are more likely to visit your restaurant if they’ve never heard of it before. 

Write blogs 

This seems slightly unusual, but posting blogs onto your website is a great way to build trust between yourself and potential customers, as well as boosting your visibility on Google. 

Perhaps you want to post a certain cocktail recipe that you offer, or maybe you would like to write about the inspiration behind your best selling dish. Writing about your food and drink means foodies are more likely to be attracted to your establishment, as it places you in the role of a leader in the industry. Using highly searched for keywords in your blog can also help you gain more visibility on Google, as search engines pick up on these keywords and then rank your website higher up on the search list.

Building your website 

Building a website which can perform all of these functions may appear daunting. However, Go Sitebuilder is one of the best website builders to turn to for help. Our expertise in website building means creating your perfect website is only a few clicka away. Try it today – with our 14-day free trial, you have nothing to lose!

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Why you must have a menu on your restaurant website

Building a Restaurant Website using Go Sitebuilder

Many people consult a restaurant website first before deciding to book a table. It encourages people to book a table at your restaurant over others and attracts people to your website and establishment. For this reason, getting your site spot-on is crucial to winning potential customers over to visit your eatery. While there are plenty of elements that go a long way to ensure your restaurant website hits the right mark, including menus on your site is especially important.

Showcase what you’ve got to offer

Including menus on your website, whether as downloadable pages or within their own sections showcases what your restaurant has to offer. Your menus are your number one selling point, so without them, new customers won’t know what to expect. Many people also choose a restaurant based on price, so having your menus easily visible lets would-be customers know if the food you offer is within their intended price range. Your menus will also give a clue as to the kind of ambience or experience diners might expect, from casual meals to more formal, a la carte dining. This might be reflected in the type of food being served as well as the offers available. It’s also worthwhile including a gallery section on your site with images of some of the dishes off your menu, to whet customers’ appetites.

Catering for every taste

Lots of people have special dietary requirements, so providing your menus online lets people see what you offer to cater to different needs and tastes. It’s a good idea to include any relevant symbols next to dishes to denote any dietary options, such as gluten-free or vegetarian. If you cater to youngsters, don’t forget to include a children’s menu.

Easy to view

Since restaurant menus play such a big role in customer decision-making, when including yours on your site, ensure that they’re easy to find and access. If you add downloadable PDF menus, they should be fast to open, as well as properly configured for easy viewing on mobile devices.

Keep menus current

Having menus included on your site makes for a worthwhile opportunity to keep customers updated on any offers you have on or any new dishes. Keep your menus current, so that customers who visit your premises know what to expect. You’re unlikely to get the thumbs up from diners if you increase your prices or drastically change your dishes without reflecting these alterations on your advertised website menus. It’s also not good business to still be promoting your Christmas menu online when it’s almost Easter. Bear in mind that search engines rank sites higher that keep their content fresh and up to date.

If you’re looking for a new website for your restaurant check out Go Sitebuilder today! Get started for free and join over 9 million people already growing their business with Go Sitebuilder.


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How to make your bar or restaurant visible on Google

If you own a bar or a restaurant, chances are that you operate in a highly competitive market. Getting your bar or restaurant visible on Google is one way to stand out from the crowd – and here’s how to do it.

Get on Google

If you want to be seen by Google, the first step you need to take is to get on Google itself. Register with Google My Business to increase your presence on the site, so that your name appears in local listings and on Google Maps.

Devise a local search strategy

Unless you operate a global chain of bars or restaurants, most establishments will have a localised presence, so use this to your advantage to enable your Google ratings to soar. Adding your name to local search listings will work in your favour with Google, but including relevant geographical keywords naturally within your website’s content can also help to boost your visibility online.

Mobile friendly

Any bar or restaurant that wants to earn brownie points with Google needs to have its website configured so that it is easily viewable on mobile devices. This also makes for a better user-experience, bearing in mind that the vast majority of online searches are now conducted using mobiles.

Focus on content

You’ll boost your visibility on Google if you focus on adding varied, quality content to your website that is useful to viewers. Menus are a worthy inclusion on a bar or restaurant website, but images of your food or premises also score top marks with search engines. If you do include photos, however, make sure that the image files aren’t so large that they’ll slow down the speed of your site. This could work against your Google ranking.

It’s also a good idea to keep your website up to date if you want to see it soar on Google. Add content on a regular basis, and consider starting a blog. Include relevant keywords within your content that will get your name visible on Google – but don’t necessarily opt for the most obvious ones. Choose keywords that are unique to your brand to boost your rating.

Add links

Another way to increase your visibility on Google is to feature your web link on other relevant websites. There are lots of options for this in the bar and restaurant industry, such as through an esteemed food blogger’s site, or an online magazine detailing local eating and drinking establishments.

Social media

Google favours those websites that have a presence on social media sites, so as well as owning a website, create pages on relevant platforms that showcase your bar or restaurant brand. Include buttons on your site that link to your social media pages to further boost awareness and appeal of your business.

We’ve created Go Sitebuilder to be the easiest website builder for small businesses. If you’re looking to give your business the web presence it deserves, check out Go Sitebuilder’s 14-day free trial and see just how easy it is.