Controlling Your Online Presence

Posted by Tim on November 15, 2013

Customers resort to online searches, especially through their smartphones, to find restaurant information more and more these days.  Bad online information, however, can hurt you.  A recent industry study revealed that 68% of people are not likely to visit a restaurant, café, or bar after encountering incorrect online information about the business.

Here are a few tips about managing your restaurant’s online presence:

Know Where You Are Listed - The numerous online outlets—Yelp, Foursquare and others—enable customers to identify, rate, and comment on the restaurants they patronize.  Be sure to regularly search for your restaurant online.  If you find a place where you are not listed, check into what it takes to get listed.  More importantly, if you see incorrect information, have it fixed ASAP.

Know What Counts - The aforementioned study also said that 60% of consumers say the menu is the most important factor in selecting a restaurant online.  For all of your online listings, you can link customers to your custom NetWaiter menu.  It will be available to consumers online and via mobile.  Photos are good, too – a few pictures of your restaurant (inside and out) are helpful selling tools.

Keep Online Information Updated - Remember, nobody likes a restaurant with bad or outdated online information.  Check and update your information regularly.  And most importantly:

Make sure your restaurant’s online ordering capabilities via NetWaiter are prominent - The quicker you can get customers to your online ordering site and placing their order, the better your bottom line will be. 

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Improving Curbside Takeout

Improving Curbside Takeout

Posted by Tim on April 24, 2014
Ask a takeout customer why they prefer ordering online vs. calling on the phone and you’ll almost assuredly be told it’s all about the convenience.  The same is said about ‘Curbside Takeout’ – aka the ability to order and have it brought to your car upon arrival. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make sure your Curbside Takeout program is as effective as possible.

Dedicated Parking – If possible, identify parking spots specifically for takeout customers to use upon arrival.  This helps provide convenience for customers and staff when delivering orders to cars.  Video surveillance and asking for the type of vehicle a customer is driving can further provide convenience.  In addition, those marked spots inherently promote your convenient takeout operation to other customers.

Dedicated Personnel for Takeout - It’s a fact: Once you institute online ordering, your takeout business will grow.  At some point, consider a dedicated person for processing takeout orders.  Don’t worry; you may not need to hire a new 
employee.  Instead, start by identifying a ‘point person’ on your staff to handle all ‘outbound orders’.  

Having a specific person manage curbside orders will help guarantee they are handled fast and accurately.  Some restaurants even have a separate production line in the kitchen for takeout orders during peak periods, which helps to 
further maintain quality.

Make Sure All Items are Takeout-able - Restaurant customers want the taste and look of takeout to match the in-restaurant experience.  If you have menu items that can easily lose their “look” or flavor when offered for takeout or delivery, consider not offering it in that format.

Eco-Friendly Packaging - Customers are more conscious of the environment, even in the restaurants they always patronize. Source packaging that is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and/or made from recycled ingredients. 

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