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How to Increase Sales at Restaurants Through WordPress

Apr 21, 2023

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You're incredible. Your restaurant's business has remained strong after the pandemic. You've demonstrated your strength as well as demonstrated your shrewd thinking in business. This is likely the reason you're here!

The rising costs and the slowing economy might make other entrepreneurs put their heads in the sand, but you're different. You're aware that you must remain proactive and forward-thinking to increase restaurant sales and continue to grow your business.

This tutorial will show you how to set up your WordPress site to receive orders with no third-party platform. You will also be able to take complete control over online purchases.

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

Find out how you can make the most of your WordPress site, and make money from the trend of membership that is taking the dining business to the streets.

The tools you'll need

If your site is merely an online platform to post your menu as well as give contact details for bookings there's a lot of work to complete. However, that's fine.

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

Best of all it's super easy with a little insider info. It doesn't require a lot of technical skills to pull this off.

WordPress and  and have made it easy to get non-techies to run their businesses online. No programming necessary.

These are the tools you require:

  1. WordPress: The most well-known Content Management System (CMS) running around 810 million websites.
  2. Easy Affiliate Easy Affiliate: The "all-in-one" affiliate program plugin for WordPress

How to Increase Sales at Restaurants By Using WordPress

Step 1: Choose an WordPress Host and Theme

If you don't have an WordPress site (sorry it's a shame that well-known builders such as Wix and SquareSpace don't come with all the necessary features) you'll need select a hosting provider.

When the domain has been registered, you'll have to select an WordPress theme to design your restaurant.

Step 2: Install the Plugin

is the most popular WordPress Membership and monetization plugin for a reason. Its growing library of plugins and integrations make it extremely customizable, meaning you can create the ideal subscription program for your clients.

Watch >> for instructions on for instructions on how to install wordpress

You can do:

  • take advantage of profit from a rising trend in the world of restaurant business, which is based on subscription-based services with recurring annual or monthly fees.
  • Increase sales in restaurants by offering rewards for loyalty or discounts only available to members boost sales in restaurants by offering loyalty rewards or member-only discountsfor regular diners,
  • to create a network of valued customers.

It's not just big chains that are taking advantage of subscription service. In the future, we'll dive into more detail on how restaurants of all sizes are leveraging their websites to develop innovative membership programs.

Step 3: Add WPCafe as well as WooCommerce plugins

It's been a long process to create a great menu, provide top-quality service and grow your customer base. Why, then, should third-party platforms charge extortionate fees and commission rates?

DoorDash charges a whopping 30% for its full built-in marketing strategy. However, even if you choose to opt out of their marketing and pay their 15%delivery cost, your company is being promoted alongside the competition.

You could also connect your clients to these apps from third parties. But who's to say you'll not lose to competitors spending money on marketing that is prioritized?

What's more, you're in the hands of the platforms' ever-changing rules and regulations.

With WPCafe it's easy to publish your menu, define your operating hours, number of available reservations the cancellation policies and more.

With WPCafe and WooCommerce You can keep your full autonomy and controlover your operations at just one-third the cost of hosted platforms.

Step 4. Upload Your Menu

Now it's time to upload your menu items.

In WooCommerce Under the category Products, upload descriptions, include tags and categories like starter main, soft drinks, cocktail, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.

Additionally, you have the ability to upload images of your dishes so people are able to see the food they're eating.

Step 5: Build Customer Loyalty with a Membership Program

You now have everything you require to run your business online, without the use of a third-party system, it's the time to be creative and find ways to build customer loyalty.

Here's a happy statistic: a 5% increase in customer loyalty generates more than a 25% rise in profit.

It is important to keep your existing patrons coming back.

 But customer loyalty is in crisis.

The rising costs are affecting how consumers feel about their favorite brands.

Here are some not-so-happy stats: Almost a third (30 percent) of people say that price increases affect their trust in brands, while 22% of them say that they feel their loyalty to brands is decreasing.

The business world needs to figure out ways to create value (or or at the very least, perceived value) for their valued customers. And membership programs are just the solution.

With a membership plan, you can incentivize repeat business with exclusive offers as well as online content. Additionally, you can make use of your platform to cross-sell or upsell products and drinks.

Stay tuned for more ideas and examples of how to run profitable membership programs.

This setup can provide steady and predictable income which just makes budgeting and forecasting a whole lot easier.

Plus, if you offer different levels of membership your customers are able to upgrade their plans when they are more involved with your restaurant.

All of this is possible and can be done with ease.

Step 6: Create the Snowball Effect with Easy Affiliate

In the world of restaurant, improving customer loyalty has another effect which boosts the sales overall: it attracts new customers to the restaurant!

Eating out is an activity that is social. That's what makes restaurants different to, say, retail shops. People want to find a great dining establishment and be able to share their experience with loved ones, friends or partner.

It's the reason the importance of customer loyalty is especially significantin the world of restaurant. Keep your customers coming to you, and they'll be bringing ever more customers along with them. Make sure that their customers come back, and they'll bring more people with them.

Well look at that, you have what's called an snowball effect!

Membership programs can increase the snowball effect. Offer rewards for bringing friends or family members to restaurants, and also invite them to sign up for the membership program, too.

That way, you're not only making sure your customers are returning, but you're also driving new customers through the door.

 Affili-what?

An affiliate program is where individuals are rewarded to promote your company's services to the world. Each "affiliate" will be given an exclusive hyperlink to your site. If someone makes a purchase or sign-up for a membership through their hyperlink, you may give them a reward!

Through Easy Affiliate, you'll be able to be rewarding your members for inviting their friends and family to become members. This is how to do it.

  1. Include the Easy Affiliate plugin on your WordPress dashboard
  2. On your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the Easy Affiliate menu > Setting.
  3. Select your affiliates tab.
  4. Then, where it says "Registration Type"at the top of the page, select private.
  5. Turn On Auto-Add Affiliates to ensure that new customers receive an affiliate link to your website.
  6. Head to The Advanced tab.
  7. Modify the Welcome Emailto explain how everything functions to your customers.
  8. There is the option to choose to edit the Send Affiliate Sale Emailto automatically send an email with, for example, a voucher reward every time someone registers with their promo code.

NOTE: Easy Affiliate is designed to give affiliates a monetary commission on each sale from their unique link. If you'd prefer to offer vouchers they can use in your establishment, ensure that you modify the settings and Ts and Cs to reflect this.

Ideas to Reward Members as well as increase restaurant sales

Incentivize Frequent Diners With Special Discounts

Keep in mind that by keeping loyal customers sweet, you're saving cash in the end.

If you're concerned about squeezeing your already tight margins make sure you offer discounts on items from the menu that have high markups such as beverages and food items.

Set minimum orders

There is the option of setting an order minimum (e.g. free drinks when you spend $X on your main) to make sure you're not missing out on this offer.

Make a special happy hour only for members.

Or you could run members-only happy hours to boost sales during slower time frames. Whichever is most beneficial for your company while increasing the perceived value of your customers.

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Make sure the house always prevails!

Get Strategic to Increase Order Size

Participating in a membership-based restaurant program can provide plenty of opportunities to increase the sales of your establishment and also to cross-sell or up-sell things.

 It's the time to be strategic.

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

One common way is to utilize combos or packages deals. The customer who typically orders a main or soft drink of $20 may be attracted by a combination deal with dessert and wine worth $28.

You can use data from existing customer purchases to create targeted deals based on items they've bought previously.

In this case, for example, if your client is likely to order the same meal every time they visit you, offer discounts on wine that is a good match for the dish. Or offer a deal for a more expensive meal that has the same flavor profile.

You might just develop a new favorite, higher-priced order they'll keep coming back to.

Create a unique online hub

A membership program isn't just about offers and discounts. It's also a space where your clients feel valued and as a part of a community that is exclusive.

The setup procedure for installation is quick and simple, and bbPress gives you access to uni-directional admin areas that allows you to easily control and moderate forums.

The more value your patrons get out of their membership, the longer they'll stick in the restaurant. Both the parties.

Five examples of membership programs that can boost sales at restaurants

1. Drink Clubs

They are also high-priced. relatively low cost, and high perceived value, drinks can be a good choice to take advantage of membership offers and discounts.

Offer them discounted drinks, and guess which place they'll choose to dine out? In your restaurant obviously.

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 registration for its wine club.

Members get to take home 1-3 bottles of the restaurant's "wine of the month" with the tasting notes and recipes.

They can choose between the red, white, sweet, or variety wine clubs depending on their preferences. The members can enjoy wine at home with their meal or have them delivered.

The members also have access to a range of other offers like a birthday gift, 10% off carryout as well as catering, and special discounts at wine tasting events.

Cooper's Hawk also offers gift membership! An excellent option for wine lovers and corporate gifts. This is a fantastic way to boost sales at restaurants as well as introduce customers to their business.

Boris and Horton Coffee Club

East Village's very first pet-friendly café provides a coffee subscription every month.

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

The membership plan works especially well with small, independent companies that have a strong community, like B&H's dog-loving customers.

 Panera Sip Club

Panera launched the $8.99/month unlimited coffee service back in February 2020 to great satisfaction. In July of that same calendar year customer loyalty had reached 40 million..

Three years later, Panera has extended its offering to include a variety of hot and cold beverages.

An interview was conducted in an interview with Fast Casual, Panera's chief brand and concept officer, Eduardo Luz, explains the success of the free-of-cost model:

"Subscription services can be considered table stakes in many different industries. Coffee was a service we could see fitting into that model in order to provide a more practical and economical solution [...] in addition to providing an ongoing revenue stream."

2. Frequent Diner Membership

This model is a membership system where diners purchase carte blanche access to discounts and deals. When more customers dine at your restaurant, the better they can save and the more business you get from them - everyone benefits!

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Everyone wins!

 Blood & Sand

The St. Louis restaurant Blood & Sand The members have to pay just $15 to enjoy various discounts, including

  • Discount of 20% on their total bill
  • 30% off wine on the go
  • Champagne and an appetizer are complimentary.
  • Bonus for new members signing up
  • Preferential table assignment
  • Midweek reservations with guaranteed reservations
  • Complimentary cocktails on every 10th visit

3. Exclusive, VIP Experience

With this model, members pay a premium to be treated as a VIP. It's not about creating the value of your customers, so much as giving them an all-out, luxury, exclusive 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 $1240) and includes VIP offers including:

  • An invitation to the "M stands for Monaco" Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend event.
  • A personalized bottle of a top spirit they prefer.
  • Members only Lounge access to special events twice every year.
  • Restaurant reservations that are guaranteed and a VIP phone line.
  • Unrestricted Members Lounge access for five guests or more.
  • Four tickets to sporting events in VIP with celebrities.
  • Monthly networking parties.
  • Full concierge service to help with travel, accommodation and events.

Members can also access The Portal The Portal is An online platform that contains information of upcoming events and extra benefits.

4. Community-Supported Restaurant Memberships (CSR)

It is an excellent alternative for restaurants that are in need of funding upfront. It works on the same lines of GoFundMe or Kickstarter However, this is targeted at establishments.

The patrons pay upfront to redeem the same amount (or more) in services and food in the future.

Your business will benefit from an instant cash injection to fund things like refurbishments or expansions, and your patrons benefit from greater profits.

 Lenoir

The Austin-based Lenoir restaurant gives patrons the chance to be part of Lenoir's CSR.

They have 3 tiers of investment

  • $1000 gets you $1200 on the house account.
  • A $2000 amount will get you a $2500 credit on their account for house.
  • A $5,000 investment will get you a $3,000 house account; a private, 5-course all-inclusive dinner for 8 people either at your residence or the dining area ($3,000 worth); 2 complimentary knife sharpenings, first access to events, and priority reservations.

5. Content Hub Membership

If your establishment has strong brand identity and traditional roots for its food, you have the perfect recipe for creating an appealing website that provides members with content.

Make behind-the-scenes video tutorials that share recipes, cooking tips Food stories, pairing suggestions.

 L'Oca d'Oro

Based in Austin, L'Oca d'Oro is a prestigious restaurant that boasts significant branding and a strong relationship around its Italian food.

There are two subscription options available via their website. Food lovers will opt for Fiore's Regional Pasta Club, priced at $90/month, while aspiring sommeliers will go for the Wine Share Club at $65/month.

Each month, participants who belong to The Pasta Club not only receive food items and pantry necessities as well as the opportunity to be immersed in Italian tradition.

Participants take part in a cooking class with Chef Fiore Tedesco as he tours the cities and countries that inspired his dishes while sharing tales and recipes along the way.

L'Oca d'Oro combines subscription deals and online content for a unique exclusive experience for their members.

We hope that these ideas inspire you to create a membership program that rewards loyalty, brings you an income stream that is recurring, and increases sales.

Conclusion

We've demonstrated the process, now it's your turn!

It is important to configure your website to take delivery orders, so you're no longer dependent on hosted third-party platforms. Regain your freedom by using WPCafe.

It's time to be inventive! Make a plan of what types of membership programs is the most suitable for your restaurant, and then get that revenue pumping!

This is a quick reminder of the actions you must take to boost sales at your restaurant on your website:

  1.   Pick a WordPress theme and hosting provider.  
  2.   Install the plugin.  
  3.    The extension is available for WPCafe as well as WooCommerce plug-ins.
  4.   Add your own menu.  
  5.   Build customer loyalty with the help of a program for membership.  
  6.   Create the snowball effect using the Easy Affiliate.  

Have you found some interesting restaurants' membership programs? Are you able to offer suggestions regarding how to boost the sales of restaurants using WordPress? Please share them in the comments below.

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Profitably increase your restaurant's revenue through your self-hosted member program.