As a chef or restaurant owner, you want your food to speak for you.
You want people to associate a signature dish or cuisine to your name.
You want them to think of fancy dinners, exceptional taste and memorable moments when they think of your restaurant.
If you are adept at what you do, some of the people who have visited your restaurant might link you with this.
But with a website, you can sell this great experience even to people who have never entered your restaurant.
And make them line up outside your door.
Like any small business, neighborhood and specialty restaurants generally have their own niche.
You could be a famous pastry chef, make the best barbecue, or be famous for your fresh pizzas.
Many small restaurants rely on fresh produce for their daily specials.
Or you might be adding a new dish to the menu everyday or on the weekend.
A website is a great way to let people know what's cooking in the kitchen, and attract hungry patrons.
Check these 6 ways to see how a good website can bring the crowds to your door.
1) The Online Menu As simple as it sounds, having an online menu is like winning half the battle.
Your customers can see what you offer at a glance and get excited.
In many cases, they will be tantalized by seeing different dishes and will want to hasten to your door.
Of course, having a well designed menu with detailed descriptions will help.
2) Attractive images We all know images evoke more emotions than mere words.
In the case of food, they can actually make a person drool and make their mouth water.
A website is a great way to have attractive pictures of your menu offerings in a portfolio or as part of an image slider.
If you are a buffet restaurant, you can showcase your buffet spread.
If you are an expert at wedding cakes, a few snapshots of your best work will not go amiss.
A good website will make the best of your signature dishes and highlight them visually.
Images need not be restricted to food.
Showcasing your ambience will also work wonders.
So if you have a seaside location, or a mountain view, or great interiors, a website can convey these to your customers.
3) Special Offers These could be special offers like soups in the Fall and Winter, turkey at Thanksgiving and fresh salads in the summer.
Panera changes its menu slightly every few months, and these seasonal dishes are highlighted on their website.
Some bistros have a different menu every day, and listing it on the web and adding pictures is a Must for them.
Adding a surprise element to an otherwise stable menu can keep regular patrons interested.
And a website is a great way to advertise these daily specials, especially before the lunch hour or at the end of the day for dinner.
4) Biography If you don't toot your horn, probably no one will.
If you went to a fancy culinary school, or trained under a famous chef, Let People Know! Any food business cannot be successful without passion.
Let people know what drives you, what made you open a restaurant, what cuisine you like best, what is your signature dish etc.
Adding some personal information makes it easier for people to connect with you.
And your website is the best place for this.
Once the first spark is ignited, you are all set for a long connection with your customers.
5) Recipes Chefs are known for certain recipes.
You can display some signature recipes for popular dishes, write about secret techniques, share family recipes etc.
Adding a recipe section to your website can be a great way to connect with customers.
6) Testimonials You can allow people to comment on what they like most about your food, and can display their experiences on your website.
This is a great channel to attract a similar demographic.
A bunch of happy youngsters will attract other youngsters.
A website can put you on the map and allow you to reach your target customers with a small initial investment.
What is stopping you from building a website for your restaurant?