A compelling online presence is a must for every restaurant today. With 73% of consumers conducting research online before deciding where to eat or what to order, your restaurant's web presence can be the difference between a bustling kitchen and a slow trickle of tickets. But while a strong website is critical, it won't drive much revenue if it doesn't allow online ordering.
According to Statista's Worldwide Restaurant Delivery Report, the restaurant delivery market worldwide is projected to witness substantial growth in revenue, reaching a staggering $153.8 billion in 2024. There's no better time to set up online ordering and capture this growing revenue potential. Read on to discover valuable tips for building an online ordering website that's functional, appealing, and profitable.
Key considerations for your online ordering website
When the time comes to build an ordering platform, you'll want a site that checks all the boxes — from consistent branding to ease of use. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when designing your online ordering website.
Brand customization: Use descriptive language to tell a story that sets your business apart, so that customers will remember your business long after they've eaten your food.
Appealing visual elements: High-quality photos of your restaurant's dishes can increase delivery volume on DoorDash by 15%. Food photos can help persuade customers to make a purchase in the moment and create a lasting memory that keeps them coming back for more.
Ease of use: A non-responsive website can reduce your restaurant's credibility and the likelihood that customers will return — making a well-functioning ordering website even more important.
Key information: Be sure to include basic business information such as phone numbers, menu prices, and hours of operation. Make ordering as easy as possible to prevent customers from getting frustrated and turning elsewhere for their next meal.
Mobile-friendly format: Considering that more than half of all global web traffic comes from mobile devices, not including tablets, it's worth investing in an online ordering website that's mobile-friendly.
Grow your revenue with an online ordering website
Now that you know the important elements of an online ordering website, how do you actually start building one? Luckily, you don't have to be tech-savvy to create a sleek and efficient online ordering website for your restaurant. DoorDash Online Ordering is an online ordering platform that allows you to easily add delivery and pickup ordering to your current website — converting your website traffic into sales. It only takes a few minutes to set up and, best of all, orders are commission-free.
"DoorDash Online Ordering is the best product ever. If you have a brand that people love, Online Ordering is an option for them to order from you for delivery at a much lower rate to you because they're already your customer."
Here are a few additional benefits of using Online Ordering for your online ordering website:
Customize to match your brand
Easily insert your logo and adjust the colors so customers are immersed in a true-to-brand Online Ordering site that matches your restaurant's look and feel.
Boost your digital sales
Illinois-based grilled chicken franchise Port of Peri Peri is familiar with driving rapid sales growth through online ordering. When Syed Pasha, the restaurant's president, realized the valuable website traffic they were receiving wasn't converting into sales, he created an online ordering website through DoorDash Online Ordering. Since then, the restaurant has seen a 17% increase in DoorDash sales and a 56% increase in DoorDash orders.
Turn online views into orders — with no commissions or monthly fees
When Dallas-based Brazilian steakhouse Texas de Brazil's founders originally built the restaurant, they hoped they could stir up excitement for Brazil's lively churrasco culture in the United States. Their grilled meats carved fresh at every table proved to be a hit — and led to the opening of 60 locations worldwide.
Because diners loved the in-house experience at Texas de Brazil, on-premise orders comprised a steep 99% of revenue. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they had to find a way to make up for those sales. They implemented DoorDash Online Ordering and observed a 58% increase in DoorDash sales and a 127% increase in DoorDash orders. Today, 20% of Texas de Brazil's off-premise sales come from Online Ordering, commission-free.
"We were taken aback by how much we were able to bring in. It used to be 2-3 takeout orders per night. Now we’re getting 40 per night at some stores."
Easily manage online orders
With Online Ordering's seamless integrations, you don't need to manually enter customer orders on your POS, reducing the chance for human error. When Vincent Williams rebranded the website for his restaurant Honey's Kettle, he implemented Online Ordering to make the ordering experience easier and more convenient for customers. Between 2021 and 2022, sales grew by 12% and Vincent saw an increase of more than 50 orders a week. "The online orders just took off; it got to such a pace that we were creating like a half an inch stack of tickets within 10 minutes," Vincent says.
Integrate with social media
Diners love scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to discover their next favorite restaurant. By adding a link to your Online Ordering site on your social media profiles, you can help people easily navigate to your ordering platform after finding a dish that piques their interest.
How to build your own branded website with DoorDash Online Ordering
With DoorDash Online Ordering, you don't have to spend hours learning how to build and manage an ecommerce site. You can set up commission-free delivery and pickup ordering on your website in a few easy steps:
Sign up for DoorDash (Online Ordering is included in all DoorDash partnership plans).
Add your restaurant's logo and change Online Ordering's colors to match your brand.
Enter your menu, write descriptions of each dish, and upload photos.
Add your Online Ordering link to your website, social media, Google Maps listing, email newsletters, and more — and start receiving commission-free online orders. Delivery orders will be fulfilled by Dashers and pickup orders will be collected in your store by customers.
Start accepting online orders today
With so many people turning to the internet to find their next meal, you want to ensure you're capturing the sales potential of online traffic. Online Ordering will help showcase your fantastic food — and convert hungry website visitors into paying customers.
Sign up for Online Ordering today to reach new customers and grow your online sales. Ready to chat with the team? Schedule a demo to see how Online Ordering can work for your restaurant.
