Your Online Menu: Guide for Wix Restaurants
In today's digital age, your restaurant's online presence is just as crucial as its physical location. If your restaurant is your story, then your menu is its main character. Creating an effective online menu isn't just about copy-pasting your physical menu onto a webpage. It's about strategy, optimization, and understanding the unique needs of online customers.
This guide will walk you through the best practices for creating a compelling online menu using Wix Restaurants.
Article Outline
Why Your Online Menu Matters
With the continuous rise in takeout and delivery sales, having a well-crafted online menu is more important than ever. It's often the first point of contact between your restaurant and potential customers, making it a powerful tool for attracting and retaining business.
Best Practices for Online Menus
1. Keep It Short and Sweet
Contrary to popular belief, shorter menus can actually increase your revenue. They also streamline order fulfillment and reduce food waste. Aim for:
5-7 options per category for most restaurants
Up to 10 options for fine dining establishments
Remember, customers don't want to be overwhelmed with too many choices.
2. Prioritize Popular Dishes
Place your best-selling items at the top of your menu. This makes it easier for customers to find and order their favorites, potentially increasing sales of these high-performing dishes.
3. Appeal to New Audiences
Keep your online menu fresh and exciting by regularly rotating in new dishes. This strategy can attract new customers who might not have considered ordering from your restaurant before.
4. Consider Delivery-Friendly Options
Not all dishes travel well. Remove items from your online menu that might arrive at the customer's home in less-than-ideal condition. This practice ensures customer satisfaction and gives diners an incentive to visit your restaurant in person for those special dishes.
Creating Your Online Menu with Wix Restaurants
Now that we've covered the strategy, let's dive into the practical steps of setting up your online menu using Wix Restaurants:
From your dashboard, navigate to 'Restaurants' and then 'Menus'
Click 'Add New Menu'
Start with a specific menu, such as dinner
Organize your menu into sections for easy navigation
Adding Menu Items
When adding dishes to your menu:
Include high-quality photos: Visual appeal drives sales and sets clear expectations for customers.
Write compelling descriptions: Highlight your brand values and list key ingredients.
Use labels effectively: Mark items as vegetarian, organic, or indicate spice levels.
Offer customization options: Allow guests to choose sizes, toppings, or modify ingredients.
Managing Your Online Menu
Wix Restaurants allows for real-time updates to your menu. If you need to remove a dish temporarily, simply edit the inventory to update its availability on your site.
Mobile Optimization
With many customers ordering via mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure your menu looks great on smaller screens:
In the Wix editor, go to your menu page
Click the mobile icon to preview the mobile version
Check for proper formatting, readability, and no extra spaces
Conclusion
A well-crafted online menu is the foundation of a successful digital presence for your restaurant. By following these best practices and utilizing the features of Wix Restaurants, you can create an appealing, efficient, and profitable online menu that keeps customers coming back for more.
Remember, your online menu is just the beginning. The next step is setting up an efficient online ordering system to complement your menu and streamline your operations. Click here for our next guide on implementing online ordering for your restaurant!
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