It was 2016 when restaurants embraced the idea of online ordering. In fact, restaurants who offer online ordering are succeeding six percent better than those who don’t offer the service. Six percent may not sound like a lot but think of it in terms of dollars – $2 billion.
$2 billion in sales you could be losing out on if you’re not using online ordering for your business.
No doubt the restaurants using online ordering POS programs like ChowNow and GrubHub are seeing a better bottom line. Restaurants with an integrated online ordering software with their POS systems are benefitting from the service. Your customers really benefit because no longer as they put on hold to order food. They can just go to the online site, order what they want and pay for it.
Of course, the real question is how do you stand out amongst the crowd. Implementing an online ordering service can be tricky and costly, and you still need to engage with your customers to ensure they keep coming back to your service. How do you do this and stay committed to your restaurant’s values and goal?
3 Ways To Boost Online Order Sales
Develop Some Online Ordering Marketing Strategies
Restaurants that offer online ordering see a rise in their revenue. According to GrubHub, there is a 30 percent increase in online ordering revenue for users. However, if you offer it and your customers don’t know about it, then they’re not going to use it. You’ll need to implement some strategies to spread the word about your online ordering service. How do you do this?
- Use In-Store Messaging – This means using chalkboard signs, menu inserts, window displays, etc. Anything that will get the word out to your customers that you now offer online ordering for their convenience.
- Use Receipt Space – Each time a customer pays for something, the receipt can be used for advertising space. Use it to add in a line that you offer online ordering. Why not even add in a coupon to it?
- Offer Discounts For Online Ordering – If your customers use your online ordering service, consider giving them a discount on their order to entice them to continue using the service.
Carry Out A Social Media Marketing Campaign
Your orders may not be able to order by Tweet as of yet, but social media marketing is the new word of mouth marketing that can do your business real wonders or harm. So, make sure to use social media to spread the word about your online ordering service.
- Facebook offers its Order Food option, making it easier for customers to order their food online.
- Share online ordering promotions on your social media page.
- Take and share pictures of your company, its staff and the food. If you have an online ordering menu that’s different from the in-store one, be sure to take a picture of it and post it for consumers to see.
Change The Way Your Phone Works
The idea is to get people acquainted with your online ordering service, why not change how your phone works.
- When a customer calls your message, you can record a message that promotes the online ordering service. It’s the same principle idea of calling your doctor’s office and getting the message of the location’s hours and address.
- Each takeout menu can include your phone number, but why not add your website to it along with it. This will help spur them to use the Internet to order their food rather than take phone calls.
Should You Use An Online Ordering Software For Your Restaurant?
According to statistics, 34 percent of people pay up to $50 when they order their food online. Compare that to just $15 to $30 in a full-service restaurant. It’s a no-brainer! Online ordering will net you more profit for your restaurant’s bottom line.