The mobile app market is exploding. More people are downloading applications than ever before. Consumers are expected to download 147 billion mobile apps by the end of 2021. By 2024, the number is predicted to reach 184 billion.
Building an app for your restaurant, on the other hand, is only the beginning. To eliminate duplication and errors, you'll need a solid online ordering system. In order to increase your app's popularity and sales, you'll also need to optimize and market it successfully.
Make it easier to order from you
The simpler it is to place an order with you, the more orders you will receive. As a result, ensure that clients can place meal orders with just a few mouse clicks.
Here are some ideas for making an order through your app easier for customers:
Emphasize your limited-edition items and best-sellers.
Customers should be able to add/remove foods with a single click.
Allow customers to save their address and payment information for quicker checkout.
Sort food into categories depending on the cuisine and other factors (vegetarian/non-vegetarian, appetizer, bread, main course, etc.).
Add a search tool to make it easier for clients to find the food they're looking for quickly.
Use mouth-watering pictures
When someone is already hungry, showing them mouth-watering food photos can increase conversion rates. Upload images of menu items to be displayed alongside their names. Customers should be able to click and zoom the image for a better reference.
Additionally, to maximize conversions in your app with pictures, adopt these best practices:
Make use of original photographs (avoid stock photography). This will allow you to set realistic goals and appear genuine.
If necessary, hire expert food photographers.
In the frame, use your hands (if possible). Your photos will be more appealing as a result of this.
Keep the focus on the food (should cover more than 33 percent of the picture).
Make reordering seamless
There will always be a few foods that the majority of your clients enjoy (i.e., your specialties). As a result, it's critical to take advantage of it and urge customers to buy your best-selling items.
To accomplish so, though, you must make reordering smooth. There are several options for doing so:
Previous orders are displayed at the top of the homepage.
Allow clients to like the goods they like.
Both of these choices are available in a decent online ordering system, making it easy for customers to reorder. Customers can go to the order section and purchase the food they've already eaten with a single tap.
Leverage social proof
While social proof is more about your restaurant as a brand, it can help you convert more customers online. Furthermore, it aids in the development of trust with potential clients and encourages them to give you a shot.
Within the app for food delivery:
Foods with the highest ratings should be highlighted.
Showcase the most popular dishes.
Showcase popular cuisine items (the ones which more people are ordering today).
Away from the app:
Share on social media what people are saying about your restaurant (along with a link to download the app).
Customers should be encouraged to rate your software and services on the Play Store and AppStore.
Send compelling push notifications
People spend so much time on their smartphones that there's a good probability they'll read the push notification. It must, however, be appealing enough to entice consumers to open your app and place an order.
The greatest meal delivery apps use persuasion and humor in their push notifications to entice users to open the app and place an order.
Here are some pointers on how to make the most of push notifications:
Maintain relevance and interest at all times. If a consumer orders Italian food frequently, proposing Chinese food may not result in sales.
When users haven't ordered from you in a while, send them a reminder.
Create a sense of urgency to persuade users to place a purchase right away.
Emojis can be used to lighten up a message.
Set a daily limit for the number of push notifications you send. To find the appropriate number, you'll need to do an A/B test.
Don’t ignore email marketing
In the long run, using email marketing to advertise your business can be helpful. Customers should be segmented depending on their ordering behavior, and email campaigns should be created accordingly.
It is not necessary for all of your emails to be promotional. Rather, it should engage customers and keep your restaurant front of mind at all times.
To persuade customers to purchase food, follow these email marketing best practices.
Emphasize how sanitary your services are (food, preparation, etc.).
Increase sales by offering discounts and coupon codes.
Send client satisfaction surveys to find out how happy they are with your services.
Include eye-catching images to pique interest.
To emphasize the action you want users to do, utilize a call-to-action (CTA) button.
Send weekly emails that provide value to clients (rather than sales pitches).
Here's an illustration: To attract users to order, combine appealing content with professionally snapped photos. At the top, include a link to download the app. Users who already have the app installed can order the salad right away by pressing the order now button.
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