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Websites are even important for Restaurants!

February 27 2008

Virtually every business type in the world has a valid reason to have a website, whether the website be an online eCommerce portal or a simple online 'brochure'. In addition to being the creator of Dilbert Scott Adams part owns a restaurant which he has recently taken over the running of.

In his most recent newsletter he writes:

In our wired world, it is rare for people to try a new restaurant before checking the web site. In the restaurant business, at least in our area, advertising of any sort is generally useless. But a good web site is hugely important.

Once the web site was redesigned, I cranked up the publicity engine and drove lots of traffic to the site. That guarantees it comes up near the top when people are searching for a banquet or wedding site. And that makes our phone ring. Check it out.

He makes two incredibly important statements:

1) People check out a restaurant’s website before visiting; and
2) You need to promote your website to get results.

Scott’s restaurant isn’t huge and it’s not top class restaurant where everyone goes because it has 5 chefs hats. It’s a standard run of the mill city restaurant that is using technology to improve business. The fact that Scott Adams is a highly successful Internet entrepreneur should make all business sit up and take notice of what he does for his own businesses.

A quick review of the website

I don’t think a huge amount of the design of the websites, nor do I think much of the fact that they are not mobile phone ready. In my opinion, restaurant websites should be easily viewable on a mobile device especially as the Apple iPhone is causing a large number of websites to break when viewed on a small screen.

The other element missing online is an online booking form, which is very important for people wanting to book or get a quote for a large event. This was definitely something I was surprised about.

The enflexion website and our other related products all get a lot of online enquiries which are pushed into our sales management system and then followed up. We do get spam as well through, but for the small amount of time it takes to delete the spam we get great sales leads through online forms!

Have a look of your site the quick 5 minute review

So have a look at your website and ask yourself a couple of questions:

  • Is your website sending the right message to your potential customers?
  • Is your site getting enough traffic I.E. potential customers?
  • What are you doing to attract people to your website?

If the answer to question 3 is you aren’t doing anything to attract people to your website, you need to be doing something today!

Why not start with some of our marketing ideas?

http://www.staceyscafe.com/

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