Restaurants' biggest online mistakes

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In this era of instant gratification, heading to Instagram and TikTok to see real-time photos and videos of restaurants is how many people decide where to eat. But diners are still Googling restaurants to find basic information, like hours and menus. And while it may not be their first impression, your website will likely be an early form of contact a potential guest has with you and your business.

Kimberly Parks, the owner and creative director of Andioma, does a lot of UX design and branding for restaurants, and shares what she believes are some of the biggest mistakes restaurants make when it comes to their online presence. -Julien Perry

What is the biggest issue you see with restaurant websites?Besides outdated designs, many restaurants, especially smaller mom-and-pops, have sites that look like they’ve been largely ignored: broken links, outdated information, hard-to-read fonts and sites that are not optimized for smartphones. 

What are some essentials restaurants should have on their site?
Strong imagery, a menu, a link to their social platforms and, perhaps most importantly, a phone number and email address that will reach an actual person! Also, if they offer takeout, an easy-to-use online ordering platform.

How do you justify the cost of a new website? A website is your resume, it’s your business card, a landing place where customers can see who you are—and that matters! So, investing in that is vital. If you don’t have the funds, at least invest in a strong social media presence.  

Before a restaurant reaches out for website help, what are some things they should know?It’s important to have an idea of what you’re willing to spend annually to update the website because it’s something that has to be maintained. Who in your restaurant is going to be taking care of that weekly, monthly, yearly? Also, having a clear vision of what you need: Do you already have photography? Menus? A story of how you got started? A chef bio? Once you start realizing all of the information that can be displayed on a website, you’ll begin to understand its value. 

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