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How to Increase Restaurant Sales With WordPress

Apr 21, 2023

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You're incredible. The restaurant you run is thriving post-pandemic. You've demonstrated your strength and shown resourcefulness and shrewd management skills. That's probably the reason why you're there!

Rising costs and a slowed economy could make some entrepreneurs look at their feet in the sand, but you're different. It's your responsibility to remain proactive and forward-thinking to increase restaurant sales and keep business booming.

This tutorial will show you how to configure your WordPress website so that you can directly accept orders, without the use of a third party platform. Then, you can take back the full control over your online orders.

Additionally, we'll assist you in unlocking the potential that your web presence and community hold for your company.

Read on to find out how you can get the most value from your WordPress site, and cash in on the trend of membership that's taking the restaurant industry on the run.

What Tools You'll Need

If your website serves as a place to publish your menu, and also provide contact information for bookings there's a lot of catching up to do. However, that's fine.

It just takes a few plugins and connections to turn your WordPress website into a potent sales tool and compete with big chain stores.

The best part is that it's simple with just a bit of insider info. You don't need a bunch of tech skills to pull this off.

WordPress and  and have made it simple for non-techies to manage their businesses online. It is not necessary to program.

Here are the tools that you need:

  1. WordPress: The most well-known content management system (CMS) powering approximately 810 million sites.
  2. Easy Affiliate This is the "all-in-one" affiliate program plugin for WordPress

How to increase sales at restaurants Through WordPress

Step 1: Choose an WordPress Host and Theme.

If you're not already running your own WordPress site (sorry it's a shame that the most popular websites like Wix and SquareSpace do not have all of the features you need) you'll need select a hosting provider.

Once the domain has been registered you'll have to select the WordPress theme for your restaurant.

Step 2. Install the plugin

It is one of the most well-known WordPress membership and monetization plug-in because of. The ever-growing list of plugins and integrations make it extremely flexible, which means you can design the perfect membership program for your patrons.

watch >> for instructions on how to install wordpress

By using this software, you are able to:

  • Profit from a increasing trend within the industry of restaurants to offer subscription services that offer recurring annual or monthly fees.
  • boost sales at restaurants through incentive programs for loyalty, or member-only discounts boost sales in restaurants by offering loyalty rewards or member-only discountsfor regular customers,
  • and build a community that is comprised of loyal customers.

It's not just big chains making use of subscriptions. Later on, we'll go in greater detail about how restaurants of all sizes are leveraging their websites to create unique membership plans.

Step 3: Add WPCafe as well as WooCommerce The Plugins

It's been a long process to create a great menu, provide outstanding service and increase your customer base. Why, then, should third-party platforms charge extortionate charges and commissions?

DoorDash charges a whopping 30% to use their full marketing strategy. However, even if you choose to choose to not participate in their advertising and pay the 15%delivery cost, your company is still being marketed alongside the competition.

This means you can refer your customers to these third-party apps. However, who's to say that you won't lose out to the competitors spending money on marketing that is prioritized?

Furthermore, you're subject to these platforms' changing policies and terms.

With WPCafe it's easy for you to create your own menu and define your operating hours, number of available reservations, cancellation policies, and many more.

By utilizing WPCafe and WooCommerce, you can retain full independence and controlover the operations of your company at a a fraction of the cost of hosted platforms.

Step 4: Upload Your Menu

The time has come to upload your menu items.

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

You also have the option to upload pictures of your dishes so people can see what they're ordering.

Step 5: Build customer loyalty with a membership Program

You now have everything you require to manage your restaurant on the internet without third-party platform, it's time to think outside the box and think of ways to create customer loyalty.

A happy number: a 5% growth in customer loyalty results in greater than 25% increase in revenue.

It pays to keep your existing patrons coming back.

 Customer loyalty, however, is in crisis.

Rising costs are affecting how consumers perceive about the brands they love.

Below are a few not-so-happy statistics: Almost a third (30 percent) of consumers say that they are less trusting with brands. In addition, 22% say their loyalty is declining.

Companies must find a way to provide value (or at least perceived value) to their customers. And membership programs could be the solution.

By joining a program for membership, you can incentivize repeat business with exclusive offers as well as online content. It is also possible to make use of your platform to cross-sell or upsell products and drink.

Keep an eye out for helpful ideas and examples of how to run profitable membership programs.

This setup can provide steady and predictable income making budgeting and forecasting a much easier.

Furthermore, if your restaurant offers different levels of membership your customers are able to upgrade their plans in the course of becoming more involved in your establishment.

It's all possible and made easy with.

Step 6: Drive the Snowball Effect With Easy Affiliate

In the industry of restaurants the goal of increasing customer satisfaction has another effect which boosts the sales overall: it attracts many more patrons in!

Dining out can be an activity that is social. Restaurants are different than, say, shopping outlets. People seek out a top restaurant and be able to share their experience with families, friends, or even their partner.

This is why customers' loyalty is incredibly crucialin the restaurant industry; Make sure your customers come to you, and they'll be bringing many more guests with them. Remain loyal to their guests, and they'll bring many more guests along with them.

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

Membership-based programs could enhance this"snowball" effect. Give rewards to guests who bring friends or family members into your establishments and make them enroll in the same membership plan.

So, you're not only keeping your regulars coming back, but you're also driving new customers through the door.

 Affili-what?

A program for affiliates is a way that you can earn a reward to promote your company's services to other people. Every "affiliate" receives a unique URL to your website. When someone purchases or joins a club using their link, you can reward them!

Through Easy Affiliate, you'll be able to be rewarding your members for inviting friends and family to become members. How do you do that.

  1. Add the Easy Affiliate plugin on your WordPress dashboard
  2. On on the WordPress dashboard, navigate to the Easy Affiliate menu > Setting.
  3. Choose your affiliates tab.
  4. Where it says "Registration Typeat the top, where it says Registration Type,select Private.
  5. You can turn off the Auto-Add Affiliates feature which means that any new visitors receive an affiliate link to your site.
  6. Go to go to the Advanced tab.
  7. Edit the Welcome Emailto explain how everything is working to members of your organization.
  8. It is also possible to select to edit the Send Affiliate Sale Emailto automate the sending of an email that contains, for example, the chance to win a gift card every time someone registers using their coupon.

Note: Easy Affiliate is designed to provide affiliates with the possibility of earning a cash commission for every purchase made via their specific hyperlink. If you'd rather offer vouchers to customers who can be used in your restaurant, make sure you amend the settings and Ts and Cs to reflect this.

Tips to Reward Members as well as increase restaurant sales

Incentivize frequent diners with special Deals

Be aware that by keeping your loyal customers satisfied by offering them a discount, you'll save cash in the end.

If you're nervous about squeezing the margins of your business already strained make sure you offer discount on food items that carry significant markups, such as drinks and appetizers.

Set minimum orders

You can also set a minimum-order rule (e.g. free drinks when you pay $X for your main) to make sure you're not missing out on the offer.

Make a special happy hour only for members.

Or you could run members-only happy hours for sales to increase during slow times. Whichever is most beneficial to your business, while increasing perceived value to your customers.

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You must ensure that your house always wins!

Get Strategic to Increase Order Size

Participating in a membership-based restaurant program will give you numerous opportunities for increasing revenue and cross-sell things.

 It's time to get strategically.

Explore ways you could utilize promotions from your membership programs to encourage customers to spend more.

A common method is the make use of combo or package deals. Someone who normally has a main meal and soft drink for $20 may be attracted to purchase a deal that includes wine and dessert worth $28.

You can utilize data from your previous purchase by customers to tailor offers based on what they've already bought.

For example, if a customer is accustomed to ordering the same dish when they come to your restaurant, you can offer them a discount on a wine that goes well with the dish. Offer a discount on a meal at a higher cost that shares an identical taste.

It's possible that you'll discover a new favorite, more expensive order that they'll keep coming back to.

Create an Exclusive Online Hub

A membership program isn't just about discounts and offers. It's also an area where customers feel respected and as a part of a community that is exclusive.

The installation setup process is quick and simple, and bbPress provides you with an admin panel that is unified, which allows you to handle and manage forums.

The more your customers get benefits from their membership, the longer they'll stick to your restaurant. Both parties.

Five Examples of Membership Programs to boost restaurant sales

1. Drink Clubs

Due to their higher markups, the relatively low cost and a high perception of value, beverages are an excellent choice for membership deals and offers.

Offer them discounted drinks, and guess which place they'll choose to dine out? At your joint Of course.

Below are three examples of companies who have designed their membership programs around alcohol:

 Cooper's Hawk Wine Club

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

The members can take home three wine bottles from the restaurants "wine of the month" with tasting notes as well as pairing dishes.

You can pick between wine clubs that are red, white, sweet, or variety wine clubs depending on their preferences. They can either enjoy the wine in-house with their meals or get them delivered.

Members can also avail various other benefits like a birthday bonus, 10% off carryout as well as catering, and special discounts at wine tasting events.

Cooper's Hawk also offers gift membership! It's a great choice for wine lovers as well as corporate gifts. This is a fantastic way for restaurants to grow their sales and to introduce new customers to their business.

Boris and Horton Coffee Club

East Village's only dog-friendly café has a subscription to coffee for a month.

Members can enjoy 8 drinks per month (which could normally run as much as $40) for just $25.

This membership program works particularly for small independent companies that have a strong community, like B&H's dog-loving customers.

 Panera Sip Club

Panera rolled out an $8.99/month unlimited coffee plan beginning in February 2020 and it was a huge success. The following calendar year loyalty membership had exceeded 40 million..

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

An interview was conducted with Fast Casual, Panera's chief brand and concept officer, Eduardo Luz, explains how the company's free beverage model:

"Subscription services are commonplace in other fields, and coffee was a product we saw as fitting in with that model in order to provide a more practical and cost-effective solution [...] in addition to providing the opportunity to earn recurring income."

2. Frequent Diner Membership

With this membership model where diners purchase carte blanche access to specials and discounts. When more customers dine at your establishment, the more they maximize their savings, and the more revenue you get from them - everybody wins!

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Everyone gets to win!

 Blood & Sand

In St. Louis restaurant Blood & Sand, members are charged $15 for entry to various discounts, including

  • 20percent off of their bills
  • 30% off wine on the go
  • Champagne and an appetizer are complimentary.
  • Bonus for new members signing up
  • Table assignment with preference
  • Guaranteed midweek bookings
  • Cocktails are complimentary on every 10th visit

3. A VIP, Exclusive Experience

Through this system the members are charged a fee for a feeling of being extra special. This isn't about creating the value of your customers, but rather, providing them the ultimate luxury premium service.

 M Den

The M Den is located in London, Gaucho steakhouse and M restaurants have partnered the for the development of M Den, a private member's club that offers exclusive deals and invitations.

A year-long membership at all venues costs PS1000 (about around $1240) and comes with VIP benefits like:

  • An invitation to an invitation to the "M is for Monaco" Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend-long event.
  • An individual bottle of top spirit they prefer.
  • Members only Lounge access to special events twice every year.
  • Guaranteed restaurant bookings and VIP line.
  • Unrestricted Members Lounge access for five guests or more.
  • Four tickets to VIP events with sports celebrities.
  • Monthly social gatherings.
  • Full concierge service for travel, accommodation, and other events.

Members can also access The Portal The Portal is an online hub with details of forthcoming events as well as other benefits.

4. Community-Supported Restaurant Memberships (CSR)

This is a great alternative for restaurants that are in need of cash upfront. The concept is on the same lines of GoFundMe or Kickstarter However, this is targeted at restaurants.

Customers pay a lump sum for the chance to use that amount (or greater) in services and food in the future.

Your business will benefit from an instant cash injection to pay for things like renovations or expansions. Your clients benefit from better returns.

 Lenoir

The Austin-based Lenoir restaurant provides patrons with the chance to be part of their CSR.

They offer 3 different levels of investment:

  • $1,000 gets you $1200 in their house account.
  • The amount of $2000 will give you $2500 in the house account.
  • $5,000 gets the homeowner a house account of $3,000 for a 5-course, private all-inclusive dinner for 8 people at home or in their dining room ($3,000 value) two complimentary knife sharpenings, first access to events, as well as priority reservations.

5. Content Hub Membership

If your restaurant is well-established with solid brand identity and genuine roots in its cuisine If you're a restaurant with a strong brand and authentic roots, then you've recipe for creating an appealing online content hub for members.

Create behind-the-scenes videos sharing recipes, cooking tips as well as food tales and pairing ideas.

 L'Oca d'Oro

The restaurant is also located in Austin the restaurant L'Oca d'Oro in Austin is a restaurant that has won awards. significant branding and a strong relationship around the Italian cuisine.

The company offers two types of subscription via their website. For those who love food, they can choose Fiore's Regional Pasta Club, priced at $90/month, while aspiring Sommeliers can choose their Wine Share Club at $65/month.

Every month, members are able to join The Pasta Club not only receive ingredients and pantry essentials as well as the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian tradition.

Members take part in a cooking class with chefs Fiore Tedesco as he tours the countries and cities that inspired his cuisine while sharing tales and recipes as he goes.

L'Oca d'Oro combines subscription deals as well as online content, creating the most exclusive experience available to their members.

We hope that these ideas can inspire you to develop a membership program that gives you a reward for loyalty, generates regular revenue and eventually increases the number of sales.

Conclusion

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

It is important to configure your site to accept deliveries so that you're not in the hands of hosting third-party platforms. Get back your independence through WPCafe.

Now is the time to get inventive! Make a plan of what kind of membership plan works best for your restaurant, and then get that revenue pumping!

This is a quick reminder of the steps you need to take to boost sales at your restaurant via your site:

  1.   Pick an WordPress host and theme.  
  2.   Install the plug-in.  
  3.    Include WPCafe as well as WooCommerce extensions.
  4.   Download your menu.  
  5.   Build customer loyalty with the help of a program for membership.  
  6.   Create the snowball effect with the Easy Affiliate.  

Have you come across an interesting program for restaurant members? Have you got any ideas regarding how to boost revenue at restaurants by using WordPress? Please share them by leaving a comment below.

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