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How to increase sales at restaurants By Using WordPress

Apr 21, 2023

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You're incredible. Your restaurant's business has remained strong following the outbreak. You've proved your worth as well as demonstrated your shrewd business acumen. That's probably the reason why you're there!

The rising costs and the slowing economy could make some entrepreneurs stick their heads into the sand, but yours is different. It's your responsibility to be proactive and progressive to improve sales in your restaurant and ensure that your business is booming.

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

Additionally, we'll assist you in unlocking the potential that your web presence and social media community holds for your business.

Learn how to make the most of your WordPress website, and make money from the popularity of the membership model that's taking the restaurant industry by storm.

The Tools You'll Need

If your site is merely a place to publish your menu as well as provide contact information for bookings there's a lot of catch-up to do. However, that's fine.

You only need a handful of plugins and integrations to transform your WordPress site into an effective marketing tool that can compete with giant chain stores.

It's also super simple with a tiny bit of insider info. It doesn't require a lot of technical skills to accomplish this.

WordPress and  and have made it easy to get non-techies to run their business online. There is no programming required.

Here are the tools that you need:

  1. WordPress WordPress: The most used CMS for managing content (CMS) running around 810 million sites.
  2. Easy Affiliate Easy Affiliate: The "all-in-one" Affiliate program plug-in that works with WordPress

How to Increase Restaurant Sales With WordPress

Step 1: Choose a WordPress host and theme.

If you're not already running an WordPress site (sorry, but the most popular websites like Wix and SquareSpace don't come with all the necessary features) you first need select a hosting provider.

Once you've registered your domain you'll be required to choose the WordPress theme for your restaurant.

Step 2: Install the Plugin

is the most popular WordPress Membership and monetization plugin with a good reason. Its growing library of integrations and add-ons makes it extremely flexible, which means you can design the perfect subscription program for your clients.

watch >> the steps to install WordPress

You can do:

  • Profit from the rising trend in the restaurant industry of subscription-based services which offer monthly or yearly fees,
  • increase restaurant sales through loyalty incentives or members-only discounts for regular diners,
  • to create a network of valued and loyal customers.

There are many chains of all sizes taking advantage of subscription services. We'll look deeper into the ways restaurants of all sizes are leveraging their websites in order to design unique membership plans.

Step 3. Add WPCafe as well as WooCommerce plugins

It's been a long process to create an excellent menu, offer top-quality service and grow your customer base. Why, then, should third-party platforms charge extortionate charges and commissions?

DoorDash costs a staggering 30% for their complete marketing strategy. But even if you choose to not participate in their advertising and pay the 15%delivery charge, your company will still be marketed to the competition.

You could also connect your clients to these apps from third parties. Who's to say that you won't lose out to competitors paying for prioritized marketing?

Furthermore, you're subject to their 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 much more.

Through WPCafe and WooCommerce, you can retain full independence and controlover your operations at just half the price of hosting platforms.

Step 4. Upload Your Menu

Now it's time to the menu items you want to add.

In WooCommerce under Products, upload descriptions, create tags for categories, like starter primary, main, soft drink and cocktail, gluten-free vegetarian, etc.

There's also the option to upload images of your dishes so people are able to see the food they're eating.

5. Build customer loyalty with a membership Program

You now have everything you require to run your restaurant on the internet without third party platform, now it's time to get creative and find ways to create customer loyalty.

This is a great statistic: a 5% increment in loyalty to customers generates more than 25% rise in profit.

It pays to keep your existing patrons returning.

 Customer loyalty, however, is at a low point.

Rising costs are changing how consumers feel about the brands they love.

Here are some not-so-happy stats A third (30%) of people say that the price hikes affect their confidence with brands. In addition, 22% say their loyalties are declining.

Businesses need to find ways to provide value (or in the case of perceived value) to the customers they serve. Membership programs are one way to do it.

With a membership plan it is possible to reward repeat business with exclusive offers and online content. Additionally, you can use your new platform to increase cross-selling and upsell of food and drinks.

Stick around for tips and examples of effective membership programs.

This type of arrangement provides an income that is predictable and stable - that makes planning and budgeting a lot easier.

Plus, if you offer different tiers of membership, members can upgrade their membership in the course of becoming more involved in your establishment.

This is all feasible and can be done with ease.

Step 6: Create the Snowball Effect With Easy Affiliate

In the restaurant industry the goal of increasing customer satisfaction has a secondary effect that increases the sales overall: it attracts many more patrons in!

Eating out is social. This is what differentiates restaurants than, say, shopping outlets. Customers are looking for a good place to eat and then share the experience with their families, friends, or spouse.

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

Well look at that You have the snowball effect!

Membership-based programs could increase the impact of snowballs. Offer rewards for bringing friends or family members to your restaurants and invite them to sign up for the same membership plan.

This way, you're not only making sure your customers are returning and bringing new clients to the doors.

 Affili-what?

Affiliate programs are where people get rewarded for sharing your business with the world. Each "affiliate" is given an exclusive URL to your website. When someone purchases or joins a club using their hyperlink, you may offer them rewards!

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

  1. Add Easy Affiliate's plug-in to your WordPress dashboard
  2. Within the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Easy Affiliate > Settings.
  3. Choose your Affiliates tab.
  4. In the area that is written "Registration Type"at the top, where it says Registration Type,select private.
  5. You can turn on Auto-Add Affiliates which means that any new visitors will be automatically sent an affiliate link for your website.
  6. Click on the Advanced tab.
  7. Edit the Welcome Emailto describe how it all functions to your customers.
  8. You can also select and modify the email that you send to affiliate salesto instantly send an email with an example of the chance to win a gift card when a person signs up by using the code.

Note: Easy Affiliate is designed to give affiliates the possibility of earning a cash commission for every sale from their unique link. If you'd prefer to offer vouchers that they can redeem at the restaurant, be sure that you change the settings as well as the T&Cs to reflect that.

Tips to Reward Members as well as increase restaurant sales

Incentivize frequent diners with special Deals

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

High-margin menu items at a discounted price

If you're nervous about squeezing your margins already very tight make sure you offer discounts on items from the menu that have higher markups like beverages and food items.

Set minimum orders

It is also possible to set a minimum-order rule (e.g. free drinks when you spend $X on your primary) to make sure you're getting the most benefit from the offer.

Make a special happy hour only for members.

For instance, you can offer exclusive only for members happy hour promotions for sales to increase during slow times. Whichever is most beneficial for your business while still driving up perceived value for your customers.

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Always ensure that the house is the winner!

Make a Plan to Increase Order Size

Having a restaurant membership program will give you many opportunities to boost revenue and cross-sell things.

 It's time to get strategically.

Consider ways to utilize promotions from your membership program to drive customers to spend more.

A common method is one way is to use package or combo deals. The customer who typically has a main meal and a soft drink worth $20 could be lured by a combo deal with wine and dessert worth $28.

You could use data from existing customers' purchases to tailor deals based on items they've purchased previously.

If, for instance, a customer is accustomed to ordering the same meal every time you visit, give the customer a discounted wine that is a good match for the food. Or offer a deal for a more expensive meal that has a similar taste profile.

It's possible that you'll discover a new favorite, costlier order, that customers will continue to return to.

Create a unique online hub

Membership programs aren't only about offers and discounts. It can also be an area where customers are able to feel appreciated and a part of an exclusive community.

The installation setup process is quick and simple as well. bbPress gives you access to uni-directional admin areas where you can easily control and moderate forums.

The more your customers get out of their membership more they'll stay around and keep using your restaurant. It's a win-win for both parties.

5 Examples of Membership Programs that can boost sales at restaurants

1. Drink Clubs

They are also high-priced. moderately low price, 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 establishment, of course.

Here are 3 examples of companies that center their membership programs around alcohol:

 Cooper's Hawk Wine Club

Cooper's Hawk restaurant offers monthly registration for its wine club.

The members can take home 3 bottles of the restaurant's "wine of the month" accompanied by tasting notes and pairing recipe.

They can choose between the red, white, sweet, or different wine clubs, based on the style they prefer. They can either enjoy the wine at home with their meal or have them delivered.

Members also get access to various other benefits like a birthday gift 10 percent off take-out as well as catering, and special discounts on wine-tasting events.

Cooper's Hawk also offers gift membership! An excellent option for wine lovers as well as corporate gifts. It's a great avenue to boost sales at restaurants as well as introduce 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 get 8 beverages a month (which would normally cost as much as $40) at a cost of $25.

The program is particularly well with small, independent businesses with a solid community. For instance, B&H's dog loving customers.

 Panera Sip Club

Panera introduced an $8.99/month unlimited coffee service in February of 2020, to huge satisfaction. The following the year customer loyalty had eclipsed 40 million.

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

Interview in an interview with Fast Casual, Panera's chief brand and concept officer, Eduardo Luz, explains the benefits of its free beverage model:

"Subscription services can be considered table stakes in many other industries, and coffee was a product we saw being a good fit to create a more convenient and economical option [...] as well as providing the opportunity to earn recurring income."

2. Frequent Diner Member

With this membership model where diners pay for carte blanche access to specials and discounts. If more people dine in your restaurant, the better they can save as well as the more business they bring to you - everyone wins!

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Everyone wins!

 Blood & Sand

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

  • Discount of 20% on their bill
  • 30% of wine for take-away
  • Champagne and an appetizer are complimentary.
  • Welcome bonus for new members
  • Table assignment with preference
  • Guaranteed midweek reservations
  • Complimentary cocktails on every 10th visit

3. A VIP, Exclusive Experience

In this type of model it is possible for members to pay more for a feeling of being extra special. This isn't about creating value for your members, but rather, providing them an extravagant, luxurious, VIP experience.

 M Den

In London, Gaucho steakhouse and M restaurants in London have joined forces to 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:

  • A call to attend The "M is for Monaco" Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend race.
  • The bottle is personalized with a high-end spirit of their choice.
  • Exclusive Members Lounge access to special events twice a year.
  • Guaranteed restaurant bookings and a VIP phone line.
  • Unlimited Members Lounge access to five guests or more.
  • Four tickets for sporting events in VIP with celebrities.
  • Monthly gatherings for networking.
  • Concierge service available to help with travel, accommodation as well as events.

Members can also access The Portal The Portal is the online portal that provides details of upcoming events and extra benefits.

4. Community-Supported Restaurant Memberships (CSR)

This is a fantastic option for restaurants in need of cash in the beginning. It works on the lines of GoFundMe or Kickstarter However, this is targeted at restaurants.

The patrons pay upfront for the chance to use that amount (or even) for food or services in the future.

Benefit from immediate infusion of capital that can help finance things such as refurbishments or expansions, and your customers benefit from higher returns.

 Lenoir

Austin-based Lenoir restaurant gives patrons an opportunity to join of their CSR.

They offer 3 different levels of investment:

  • $1000 gets you $1200 on the account at their home.
  • $2000 gets you $2500 on their account for house.
  • $5,000 gets you a house credit of $3,000; a private, 5-course all-inclusive dinner for 8 people either at your residence or their dining room ($3,000 value) Two free sharpenings of knives, first access to events, as well as first reservations.

5. Content Hub Membership

If your establishment has strong branding and strong, authentic roots to its cuisine You have the ideal recipe to create an engaging website that provides members with content.

Create behind-the scenes videos that feature techniques for cooking, recipes Food stories, pairing ideas.

 L'Oca d'Oro

The restaurant is also located in Austin the restaurant L'Oca d'Oro in Austin is an award-winning restaurant with significant branding and a strong relationship on its Italian dishes.

The company offers two types of subscription through their website. Foodies can opt for Fiore's Regional Pasta Club, priced at $90 per month, while those who want to become Sommeliers can choose the Wine Share Club at $65/month.

Each month, participants of The Pasta Club not only receive food items and pantry necessities as well as the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian tradition.

Participants take part in a cooking class with the chef Fiore Tedesco on a tour of the countries and cities which inspired his food, sharing stories and recipes on the way.

L'Oca d'Oro combines subscription deals with online content to create an exclusive and unique experience for its members.

We hope these examples can inspire you to develop a membership program that will reward loyalty, bring you recurring revenue, and ultimately increases sales.

Conclusion

We've demonstrated how it's done, and now it's your turn!

Be sure to set up your site to accept delivery orders, so you're no longer in the hands of the third party platforms that host your website. Take back control of your website by using WPCafe.

It's time to be creative! Think strategically about which membership program type works best for your restaurant and get that revenue pumping!

Here's a reminder of the steps you need to take to improve sales for your restaurant via your site:

  1.   Choose an WordPress theme and hosting provider.  
  2.   Install the plug-in.  
  3.    Include WPCafe as well as WooCommerce extensions.
  4.   Add your own menu.  
  5.   Increase customer loyalty by implementing a membership program.  
  6.   Drive the snowball effect using the Easy Affiliate.  

Have you discovered any interesting restaurant membership programs? Have you got any ideas on how to increase revenue at restaurants by using WordPress? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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