How many times have you been in your car, at a meeting, or finishing some errands and decided right then and there to go eat something? This happens to me all the time. More than often, I am making my dinner reservations and decisions on the go. As mobile technology evolves, diners have an increased possibility to see peruse different restaurant websites and make their choice via their phone. Once they’ve made their decision, they can easily access the restaurant’s information, directions, and menu. This is why for many restaurants, it is critical to have a website designed to reach those tiny screens and give out the maximum of information possible.
Since the Restaurantsfx website has seen a significant increase of mobile visitor traffic since the beginning of the year 2009, we wouldn’t be surprised if in couple of years customers will visit restaurant websites from their cell phones more so than from their computer!
The benefits of having an optimized mobile website for your restaurant:
- People today are often on-the-go and can check out website directly from their phones anytime, anywhere.
- Word of mouth is one of the best ways for viral marketing. Cell phone users can show your restaurant’s website and information to others from their smartphones.
- Your customers can make reservation on the go
- Your target market is wider and is not only targeting people who have access to a computer.
- Customer can purchase restaurant gift cards or order food from their phone.
- People can browse your menu and prices at their leisure.
How much of a budget should be put aside for a mobile restaurant website?
Prices vary depending on content and functionality, but generally start at $300.
Is your current restaurant website mobile-optimized?
The best way to know is:
- Avoid flash – Mobiles aren’t currently ready to support all kinds of flash animations.
- Loading speed. If your website takes forever to load, then it probably isn’t optimized or not correctly built.
- Check on both the Blackberry and the iphone.
- Test your mobile website on http://ready.mobi
Check out our restaurant website mobile module demo.
Send us a mobile website request on our restaurantsfx form if you wish to optimize your restaurant for mobile phones.
