While there are many restaurant chains that are getting it right, we’re still in love with local restaurants. There’s something magical about that little deli that serves some of the best latkes in the world, or that mom and pop smokehouse that serves the best barbeque in the U.S. We wonder, though, why many great restaurants don’t have good websites. Why should a restaurant have one?
Websites incite imagination. Through that imagination, people are drawn to the restaurant like zombies to brains. They can’t help themselves when they see those mouthwatering ribs, those delicate soups, or even the tantalizing milkshakes. Their yearning turns to dollars.
Websites drive conversation. With a website, a restaurant has the ability to put their opinions into the world. Does the chef believe that kale is the source of all goodness? Websites are an excellent place to put this information.
Websites sell products. From a California BBQ franchise to a global tasting experience in Montana, websites can be used to open new revenue streams for the restaurant, and turn the place from a local hangout to a global destination. If the parts for world domination are already in place, why not take it to the next level?
Websites tell stories. People love stories. They want to know how the restaurant was a dream of the owners, how it was founded on a few dollars and a brand new convection oven, or began as a passion. Stories sell.
Websites inform diners. Yelp, Urbanspoon, and other review sites might not tell the full story. If a restaurant, for example, changes menus daily, the website gives a place to post that new menu. It is also a haven to talk about neat stuff within the restaurant.
Websites improve traffic. A website helps more people more easily find a restaurant. So many people are searching online for a good dining experience. If you don’t have a website, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity to get attention.
A website can prove to be a valuable weapon in the war for diner’s money. A well-designed website stands out when pitted against a poor website or no website at all. The website is one component in the quest for a restaurant’s online domination.
