Creative tips and tricks

How to Increase Restaurant Sales Through the Use of WordPress

Apr 22, 2023

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You're incredible. Your restaurant is running smoothly in the aftermath of the outbreak. Your determination has been proven and you've showed a lot of courage and business savvy. Which is probably why you're here!
   
    Costs are increasing and slower economic growth rate could lead other business owners to put their heads in the sand, but you're different. It's your job be proactive and innovative to boost sales in your restaurant, and to keep it growing.

This tutorial will show you how you can set up your WordPress site to receive orders with no third-party platform. You can then get back full control of the online purchase.

We'll also help you unlock the potential of your internet presence and community help your business.

Learn how to get the most worth out of your WordPress site and make money from the membership movement that is taking the restaurant sector on the run.

Tools you'll require

If your website functions as an online platform to post your menu, as well as provide contact information for reservations You're in need of catching up. However, that's fine.

You only need a handful of plugins and connections to turn your WordPress site into an effective marketing tool, able to compete with big chains.

The best part is that it's easy with a little insider information. This doesn't require any kind of technical skills to pull this off.

WordPress and others has made it easy for those who aren't technologically proficient to run their business on the internet. It is not necessary to program.

Here are the tools are required:

  1. WordPress WordPress: The most widely used CMS to manage content (CMS) that runs around 810 million sites.
  2. Easy Affiliate This is the "all-in-one" plug-in for affiliate programs to WordPress

How to Increase Sales at Restaurants By Using WordPress

Step 1: Select the WordPress host and theme.

If you're still not running an WordPress website (sorry it's unfortunate that the most popular websites like Wix and SquareSpace don't come with all the features you need) you first need select a web host.

After you've registered your domain you'll be required to choose an WordPress theme to create your restaurant.

Step 2. Install the plugin

It's among the most popular WordPress Membership and monetization plugin because of. Its ever-growing library of add-ons and integrations makes it extremely customizable, meaning it's possible to design the perfect subscription system to your clients.

follow the link for more information on how to install WordPress

You can do:

  • profit from the rising trend within the restaurant industry for subscription-based services that offer either the option of monthly or annual fees.
  • Increase sales at restaurants with incentives for loyalty programs, or member-only discounts increase sales at establishments through loyalty rewards or discount offers for members-onlyfor regular diners.
  • in order to build a community of valued customers.

There are numerous chains of all sizes who are taking advantage subscription service. We'll look deeper into the methods restaurants that are diverse in size use their sites to develop unique membership plans.

Step 3: Install WPCafe and WooCommerce. The plugins

You've invested many hours of work in creating a top-quality menu, offer outstanding customer service, and expand your pool of clients. What's the reason, then, that third-party platforms be charging ridiculous commissions and charges?

DoorDash is priced at 30% to complete their marketing strategy. Even if you decide not to participate in their marketing plan and instead pay a fifteen percentdelivery cost, you will find that your business is being promoted alongside those which are competing.

You could also send your customers on to other applications. What's to say you'll not lose to the companies that are investing in their marketing strategies?

In addition, you'll be subject to the changing policies and terms.

With WPCafe it's easy to upload your menu. decide on your operating hours and also the total number of reservations that are available, as well as cancellation policy, and much more.

With WPCafe and WooCommerce you'll be able to retain full control and full controlover your company's activities for only half the cost of other hosted platforms.

Step 4. Upload Your Menu

Now is the time to add menu items you'd like to include.

In WooCommerce Under the category Products add descriptions. add categories and tags such as starter main, soft drinks cocktail, gluten-free vegetarian, etc.

Additionally, you have the ability to upload photos of the food items you're serving so that people are able to view the food items they're eating.

Step 5: Build customer loyalty with a membership Program

Now you have all you require to run your establishment on the internet with no third-party platform now is the time to be creative and think of methods to increase the trust of your patrons.

Here's a happy statistic: a 5% increase in customer loyalty is more than 25% growth in revenue.

It's important to keep loyal clients coming back.

     However, customer loyalty is in crisis.    

The costs are increasing and changing how consumers are feeling about the brands they are loyal to.

These are not so happy statistics. Around a third (30%) of consumers say price increases affect their trust in brands they trust, and 22% think their loyalty to brands is declining.

Companies must find ways to create value (or at least perceived value) to their clients. Membership programs may be an answer.

A membership program that rewards repeat business with exclusive offers and online information. It is also possible to utilize your membership platform to cross-sell or upsell products and drinks.

Keep an eye out for useful tips and examples of successful membership programs.

This kind of arrangement offers steady and predictable income which makes forecasting and budgeting much easier.

Plus, if you offer various levels of membership, customers can upgrade their packages when they are more involved with your company.

This is all feasible and can be done with ease.

Step 6: Create the Snowball Effect Using Simple Affiliate

In the industry of restaurants the improvement of customer loyalty is added benefits, and boosts sales overall: it will bring more customers to your establishment!

The food outings that you go to are social. That's what sets restaurants apart from, say the grocery stores. A majority of customers want to find a great place to eat and then enjoy the meal with their families and friends, or even spouses.

It's the reason the importance of customer loyalty is crucialin the world of restaurant. ensure that your customers return to bring an increasing number of people to them. Be loyal to their customers, and they'll bring additional guests with them.

Look at this, you have what's called an snowball effect!

Membership-based programs could enhance this"snowball" effect. You can offer rewards for guests who invite friends and family members into your establishments and encourage them to sign up for the program too.

This means you're not only trying to make certain that your clients are coming back but also bringing new customers through the door.

Affili-what?

Affiliate programs are in which you are able to earn a reward for advertising your company to other people. Every "affiliate" will be given an unique URL to your site. When someone purchases or signs up for membership through your link, you're eligible to offer them a reward!

With Easy Affiliate, you'll have the possibility of giving your members a reward for inviting their relatives and friends to join. Here's how you accomplish it.

  1. Include Easy Affiliate's plugin on your WordPress dashboard
  2. In the WordPress dashboard, click the menu Easy Affiliate > Setup.
  3. Select Affiliates from on the affiliates tab.
  4. In the next step, in the area that says "Registration Typeat on the top," select the private option.
  5. Switch on the Auto-Add Affiliates feature to ensure that new customers get an affiliate link to your site.
  6. Go to The Advanced tab.
  7. Change the Welcome emailto explain how everything functions to the customers.
  8. It is also possible to select and modify the email that you send to affiliate salesto automatically email that contains an illustration of a voucher for an incentive at the time a customer signs up using their promotional coupon.

Important: Easy Affiliate is designed to provide affiliates with a financial fee for each sale made through their own unique link. If you'd rather offer vouchers to customers who can be used in the restaurant Make sure to modify the settings and the T&Cs accordingly.

Tips to Reward Members as well as increase sales at restaurants

Encourage frequent diners to eat with you by offering special Discounts

Remember, by keeping loyal customers sweet and loyal and loyal, you'll save cash in the end.

Items on the menu that have a price reduction and high marksup

If you're nervous about squeezing your margins, which are already tight. You can offer discounts on certain items on the menu that have significant margins such as drinks as well as food items.

Set minimum orders

It is also possible to set an order minimum (e.g. free drinks when you spend $X on the main) to make sure you're not snagging the offer.

There will be a happy hour available to members only

For instance, you can offer members-only happy hour specials to drive sales in slower periods. Whatever makes sense for your company while improving the value perception of your customers.

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Always ensure that the house wins!

Make a Plan to Increase Order Size

A restaurant's membership program offers many opportunities to boost sales and increase cross-sell and up-sell sales.

The time is now to think strategically.

Consider ways to utilize promotions from your membership program to get your customers to buy more.

One common option is to utilize combos or packages deals. A person who typically orders a main and a soft drink worth $20 could be interested in an offer that includes dessert and wine for $28.

You could utilize information from purchases made by previous customers to target deals by focusing on products they've purchased previously.

For instance, if your patrons usually order the same dish when you visit, give discounts on wine that goes nicely with the food. It is also possible to provide a deal for an expensive meal that has the same flavor profile.

There's a chance that you'll find a completely new favorite, more expensive order that they'll keep coming back to.

Create a unique online hub

A membership program doesn't need to be just about deals or discounts. It can be an experience where clients feel respected and are members of an elite community.

Installation setup is simple and swift The bbPress platform offers administrators' panels that are unifying, allowing you to effortlessly manage and moderate forums.

If you can ensure that your patrons are getting maximum value from their subscription, the longer they'll remain in your restaurant. The result is win-win for all of the parties.

Five Example of Membership Programs to Increase Restaurant Sales

1. Drink Clubs

With their high markup, relatively low cost, and high perceived value, drinks are a great selection for deals and memberships.

Offer them discounted drinks and guess the place they're going to dine at? In your establishment naturally.

Below are three examples of firms that have created their membership programs around alcohol:

Cooper's Hawk Wine Club

Cooper's Hawk restaurant offers monthly membership for their wine club.

The guests can get 3 bottles of restaurant's "wine every month" together with tasting notes and pairing menus.

They can choose from the red, white, sweet, or any of the wine clubs according to the preferences of their members. Wine is served in-house with their meals or have them delivered.

Members also have access to many other benefits such as a $15 birthday bonus, which is 10 percent off take-out or catering services, as well as discounts on wine tastings.

Cooper's Hawk also offers gift membership! It's a great choice to those who appreciate the taste of wine as well as corporate gifts. This is a fantastic option to improve sales in eateries and also to bring customers to the company.

     Boris and Horton Coffee Club

East Village's first pet-friendly cafe provides a coffee subscription every month.

The members get eight drinks per month (which usually is between $45 and $40) for $25.

The membership plan works especially for independent small businesses with a solid community, like B&H's dog-loving patrons.

Panera Sip Club

Panera launched its $8.99/month unlimited coffee plan in February 2020 to massive popularity. In July of that the same year, the total number of loyalty members had exceeded 40 millions..

Three years later, Panera has extended its offer to include a range of cold and hot beverages.

In an an interview conducted by Fast Casual, Panera's chief brand and concept director Eduardo Luz, explains why the company's "free beverage" concept works:

"Subscription services could be viewed as tables stakes in a variety of fields as well, and coffee was one product we saw fitting into this model to provide a more appealing cost-effective alternative [...] in addition to offering recurring revenue streams."

2. Frequent Diner Membership

This model is a membership model, where diners pay each month for access to deals and specials. When more people dine at your restaurant, the more they can save and their business will increase to your business - everybody wins!

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Everybody is a winner!

Blood & Sand

The St. Louis restaurant Blood & Sand, members pay $15 for access to numerous discounts, including

  • Discount of 20% on the bills
  • 30% off on wine on the go
  • Complimentary sparkling wine and appetizer
  • A bonus for members who sign up
  • Tables of Preference
  • Midweek bookings with guaranteed reservations
  • Complimentary cocktails each time you visit 10 times.

3. A VIP, Exclusive Experience

This kind of system it's possible for your members paying more for the privilege of feeling more special. The goal isn't to increase the value of your customers, but rather, providing them an all-out, luxury high-end service.

M Den

In London, Gaucho steakhouse and M restaurants have joined in the creation of M Den, a private members' club with special discounts and invites.

A year-long membership at every venue is priced at PS1000 (about approximately $1240) as well as special offers for VIP members such as:

  • The call is to join the "M signifies Monaco" Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend race.
  • An individual bottle of top spirit they prefer.
  • The exclusive members Lounge access for events once every year.
  • Reservations for restaurants are guaranteed, as is the VIP phone line.
  • Unlimited access to Members Lounges for 5 guests or more.
  • Four tickets for special sporting events with sports stars.
  • Social gatherings every month.
  • Complete concierge services to help with travel, accommodation and events.

Members also get access to The Portal - the online portal with information on future events and other benefits.

4. Community-Supported Restaurant Memberships (CSR)

This is an ideal option for restaurants that are in need of cash upfront. The concept is on similar with GoFundMe or Kickstarter, however this is targeted at restaurant owners.

Patrons pay an upfront sum in order to exchange the exact amount (or more) in exchange for meals or other services at a later date.

Benefit from immediate infusion of capital, which can be used to finance items like renovations or expansions while your clients will benefit from greater profits.

Lenoir

The Austin-based Lenoir restaurant provides patrons with the possibility to become part on their CSR.

There are 3 levels of investment

  • $1000 gets you $1200 on the house account.
  • A $2,000 amount gets the homeowner a credit of $2500 to the account for your house.
  • The $5k amount grants homeowners a home account worth $3,000 to enjoy a five-course, private all-inclusive dinner for 8 guests in your house or at their dining area ($3,000 value) two free sharpenings of knives, access to the first events, as well as initial reservations.

5. Content Hub Membership

If the restaurant you are operating boasts a solid brand image, and traditions for the food it serves You have the ideal recipe to build an engaging website that provides members with content.

Create behind-the-scenes tutorial videos which share cooking recipes, techniques, stories about food and pairing concepts.

      L'Oca d'Oro

It is also located also in Austin Restaurant L'Oca di Oro in Austin is a restaurant which has been awarded numerous awards. There is a strong bond and brand with the Italian cuisine.

Two subscription options are that can be found on their website. Food lovers will opt for Fiore's Regional Pasta Club, priced at $90 per month and those wanting to become Sommeliers could opt for to join the Wine Share Club at $65/month.

Every month, members who belong to The Pasta Club not only receive pantry items and ingredients, but they also get to experience Italian traditions.

The group joins Chef Fiore Tedesco for a journey of cities and nations that inspired his cooking as they share stories and recipes along the way.

L'Oca d'Oro combines subscription deals and online content for an experience that is unique and exclusive for members.

This list of examples will hopefully inspire you to create an incentive program for members that offers members a reward to show the loyalty of your customers. It also generates revenue regularly and, eventually, improves sales.

Conclusion

We've shown you how it's done, and is now your turn!

It's important to set up your website for delivery orders so you're not in the hands of hosted third-party platforms. You can regain your independence through WPCafe.

Then it's time to get creative! Think strategically about which types of membership programs works best for your restaurant and get your revenue flowing!

It is a short review of the steps you should take to improve sales for restaurants through your site:

  1. Pick the WordPress host along with the WordPress theme.
  2. Install the plugin.
  3.       Include WPCafe and WooCommerce plugins.
  4. Add your own Menu.
  5. Create customer loyalty through using a membership program for membership.
  6. Make the snowball effect by using Easy Affiliate.

Are you aware of interesting restaurants' membership programs? Are you able to offer suggestions for how you can boost revenue for restaurants making use of WordPress? Please share your ideas in the comments section in the following.

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Revenues for your restaurant can increase with your self-hosted, membership program.

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