How To Set Up Menu Bar For Blog Posts

With so much competition, you need your restaurant to stand out in as many ways as possible. In today's digital world, that means having an online presence, even if it's just your food menu. When someone is deciding where to eat, they usually pull out their phones and do a quick Internet search to see what's in the area, and what those restaurants serve. Having your menu available to these searchers means drawing in more customers. Here's how you can post your restaurant's menu online:

Create a Website

First of all, if you don't already have a website for your restaurant, you need to create one as soon as possible so that anyone who searches for you or searches for places to eat in your area finds you. It doesn't have to be too fancy — even a single page will do — as long as you have an online presence. Just make sure your site is mobile-friendly so that anyone who accesses it via their phone or tablet doesn't have to wait for it to load, or it doesn't look distorted when they view it.

No matter what else you post on your website, after your contact information, you need to add a menu that's also user-friendly. That means you don't want to upload a PDF file — the menu should be listed directly on the page. It also means adding enticing photos, descriptive language and any kind of background on your ingredients or cooking styles, such as whether you use locally sourced produce or your chef studied French cooking in Paris. Use a readable font, add prices and use a simple, easy-to-read design. Again, make sure it's mobile-friendly.

Create Social Media Accounts

If your restaurant doesn't have a presence on social media accounts, like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, it's time to get started. They're free to sign up for, and not only do they provide you with an additional place to post your website and menu, they allow you to interact with customers, listen to opinions and concerns and post daily specials and other upcoming events. Facebook even allows restaurants to post their menus directly on their page.

Upload Your Menu to Third-Party Sites

Another side effect of living in such a digital world is that there are dozens of places beyond your own website and social media accounts where you can post your menu, and you should take advantage of as many of them as you can to gain exposure. You have food delivery services, like GrubHub and Ubereats, as well as business review sites, like Yelp and OpenTable. Allmenus is a directory just for posting restaurant menus.

Create a Google Presence

Google also offers tools that can help you post your menu online and keep it front and center when people search for food in your area. The Google My Business tool not only allows you to link your menu to your listing, but you can also add contact info, wait time information and other important details, like your hours and customer reviews.

Take Advantage of Menu Creation Tools

If you aren't sure how to make a menu for your website, there are numerous tools out there that not only help you create an attractive menu, but they'll distribute them to various online sources for you. For example, at SinglePlatform you can upload your menu, edit and add designs to it, and part of the website's services include distributing your finalized menu to sites like UrbanSpoon and YellowPages. Locu and MenuPages are some other great options.

Stay Active and Updated

Finally, a word on what to do once your menu is online: Keep it updated. If you offer weekly specials, switch to seasonal dishes or if you change your prices, make sure every menu you post online reflects the new information. An outdated menu is a turnoff to customers and can leave them frustrated and uninterested in doing business with you again.