From Blog to Bag: Creating a Restaurant Blog to Boost Online Traffic and Direct Delivery Sales

In today’s competitive marketplace,  driving traffic to your restaurant’s website is essential  to boost direct delivery orders. With more would-be diners turning to online platforms to quench their appetite, establishing a strong online presence is no longer optional. It's essential. 

To be successful in this competitive industry, it’s important for restaurant operators to stay in tune with market trends, seek out knowledge from seasoned experts, and continue to look for innovative ways to improve. 

One of the most effective strategies to maximize your restaurant’s potential is through strategic blogging. By creating engaging, optimized, and relevant content, you'll not only attract more visitors to your website, but you can convert them into loyal customers who order directly from your online menu. 

To ensure you’re staying ahead in the food game, we’ve put together this guide to help you create, strategize, and manage a restaurant blog to boost direct delivery sales and enhance your digital footprint.

Benefits of a Restaurant Blog 

Restaurant blogs have several advantages, from improved visibility and consumer interaction to establishing credibility and developing a devoted following. The following are some of the most outstanding advantages of having a restaurant blog:

Showcases your menu offerings: A blog lets you draw attention to your menu items, special deals, and seasonal offerings. You can publish mouthwatering images, create savory menu descriptions, and post behind-the-scenes videos revealing how specific dishes are made.  

Establishes credibility: A restaurant blog demonstrates your understanding of the food industry and showcases your passion for it. It helps to build credibility and establish your restaurant as an authority by offering valuable, consistent, and useful information.

Improves brand awareness: Regularly posting high-quality, SEO-optimized blog posts will help boost your digital footprint, help your website become more visible, increase organic traffic, and reach a wider audience.

Increases customer engagement: A blog allows you to engage with your customers online and promote a sense of community by encouraging social media exchanges.

Educates customers: Use your blog to inform readers about your restaurant’s history, unique dining experiences, exceptional cuisine, and innovative culinary methods. 

Increases consumer loyalty: Customers are interested in reading interesting and instructive content. Develop a devoted following by providing consistent, accurate, and informative content on your blog.  

10 Strategies for Creating a Restaurant Blog

A restaurant blog can be a powerful tool to showcase your online menu, increase engagement, and expand your customer base. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Identify Your Blog's Purpose 

Whether your goal is to increase customer involvement, showcase new dishes,  or highlight events and promotions, the first step to creating a blog is to identify its purpose.

2. Define Your Audience

Once you’ve defined your blog’s purpose, the next step is to identify your audience. Whether they’re locals or tourists, serious foodies or fast food enthusiasts, anticipating who will read your blog posts will help you create engaging, relevant, and shareable content.

One way to define your target audience is to visit other blogs for restaurants in your area to identify audience lifestyles, preferences, and demographics. 

3. Conduct Keyword Research  

Before you begin writing your first blog post, you'll need to figure out its chances of success in search engine result pages—which translates into more eyes on your content. Conducting keyword research to identify the most relevant search terms for your topic is the first step to a successful post.

You can find keywords for your own articles by using multiple keyword research tools. If you're new to blogging, start with free tools like Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner. After that, consider upgrading to more advanced tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs.   

While conducting keyword research, it’s important to note that the more specific the phrase, the more closely it will match your audience intent. On the other hand, broader keywords will have larger search volumes, meaning more people look for them.   

4. Utilize SEO-Optimization Strategies

A solid SEO strategy includes optimizing your content both before and after you write the blog post. 

Start by scattering relevant keywords/phrases throughout your post. Consider the key phrase “boost restaurant delivery sales." Use this phrase in your headline, body text, and one to two subheadings (if it's a natural fit ).  

Next, go to settings and include this keyword/phrase in your metadata as well. This includes a title (known as the meta title) and a short description (known as the meta description). The meta description is the snippet that Google shows in search results. If you do not indicate your meta description in settings, Google will take the opening line or two from your article, which isn’t the greatest approach.

You should also include the keywords/phrase in the URL of your article and the alt text of the images in your blog post.  Using these SEO elements will help to improve your blog's overall performance.

Learn more in this related post: 10 SEO Tips For Boosting Your Restaurant's Online Presence

5. Use Internal Linking

Link to your online menu and other relevant blog posts to improve site navigation and SEO.

6. Highlight Your Delivery Services

Create blog posts that highlight your delivery services, including how to order, delivery areas and hours, and special offers.   

Showcase Your Delivery Menu: Feature popular delivery items, new additions, and seasonal specials.

Create Visual Appeal: Use high-quality photos and videos of your delivery dishes to make them more enticing.

Go Behind-the-Scenes: Share stories about how delivery dishes are prepared, emphasizing quality packaging, locally sourced ingredients, and unique culinary methods. 

Highlight Special Promotions and Limited-Time Offers: Provide readers with exclusive discount codes or promotions for delivery orders.  Create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers for delivery services.

7. Choose a Blogging Platform

Choosing the right platform for your restaurant blog is crucial to ensure your content reaches the right audience and engages effectively. Key points to examine include ease of use, SEO features, mobile optimization, seamless integration with your website, cost, and customer support. By carefully evaluating your options, you can select a platform that best suits your needs, helps you engage with your audience, drives traffic to your website, and boosts direct delivery orders.

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a blogging platform:

Ease of Use: Look for a platform with a straightforward, intuitive interface that allows you to easily create, edit, and publish posts without needing advanced technical skills. Ensure that the platform offers customizable templates and design options to match your restaurant’s branding.

SEO Features: Opt for a platform that provides built-in SEO tools such as customizable meta tags, keyword suggestions, and easy URL structuring to help improve your search engine rankings. Platforms with a wide range of plugins and extensions can enhance your SEO efforts and blog performance.

Mobile Optimization: Look for a platform that supports responsive design  and functions on all devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets and allows you to manage your blog on the go.

Seamless Website Integration: Choose a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing website, allowing for a consistent user experience and easy navigation between your blog and other site pages. Look for a  platform that supports e-commerce features if you plan to integrate online ordering or reservations.

Cost Considerations:  Assess the value the platform offers by evaluating the cost of ongoing subscription fees, hosting costs, and additional expenses for themes or plugins.

Customer Support and Active Community: Ensure the platform offers reliable customer support with live chat, email, and comprehensive documentation. And remember, a platform with an active community can be a valuable tool for engaging, troubleshooting and finding solutions to common customer concerns.

Pros and Cons of Popular Blogging Platforms

WordPress 

Pros

• Highly customizable

• Extensive plugin library

• Strong SEO capabilities

• Large community 

Cons

• Requires more technical knowledge

• Requires self-hosting 

Squarespace

Pros

• Beautiful templates

• User-friendly interface

• All-in-one platform

• Hosting included

• Good customer support 

Cons

• Limited customization 

• Higher cost 

Wix

Pros

• Easy drag-and-drop editor

• Beginner-friendly

• Integrated hosting

• Affordable pricing 

Cons

• Limited flexibility and scalability

• Fewer SEO tools than other platforms 

Medium

Pros

• Easy to use

• Built-in audience

• Clean design

• Strong community features 

Cons

• Limited customization
  

• Less control over SEO 

8. Promote Your Blog on Social Media

Share your blog posts on all of your social media channels, keeping these tips in mind: 

• Use relevant hashtags to engage with your followers. 

• Encourage readers to post pictures of themselves enjoying your restaurant’s food by offering discounts and free menu items. 

• Include links to your latest blog posts in your email newsletters.

• Partner with local influencers or other businesses to broaden your audience.

• Encourage readers to leave comments and feedback. 

• Respond to comments to build a sense of community.

• Use polls and surveys to increase feedback. 

9. Send Personalized Emails

Email is still one of the  most dependable marketing channels since it allows for direct communication between you and your target audience. Sending personalized emails to potential consumers with the goal of turning them into loyal followers is a key component of a successful digital marketing strategy.  

Learn more in this related post: Email Still Delivering for Restaurant Marketing.

10. Partner with Influencers and Local Bloggers

More than a trend, influencer marketing is widely held to be one of the most effective digital marketing channels available to contemporary marketers. And for restaurants, the local influencer has become the face of social media marketing. The best local influencer marketing campaigns are built on mutual respect, authentic relationships, and engaging experiences. That means partnering with local influencers that mesh well with the vibe of your business, know the community, and are engaged with the local food scene. 

Partner with food influencers to review your delivery service and share their experiences. Invite local bloggers to write guest posts about your restaurant’s delivery offerings.

Learn more in these related posts: Influencer Marketing for Restaurants, Influencer Marketing 101.

Generating Blog Ideas for your Restaurant Website 

When creating a blog post for your restaurant website, be sure  to cover topics that are useful to readers and align with their interests. 

Creating compelling blog post titles is crucial for attracting readers and boosting your restaurant's online presence. To get your blog off to a great start, here are 20 enticing titles:

1. "Spice Up Your Night: A Guide to Our Most Popular Late Night Dishes"

2. "Falling for Seasonal Delights: What’s New on Our Autumn Menu"

3. "Decadent Desserts You Can’t Miss This Season"

4. "Vegan Delights: Plant-Based Favorites at Our Restaurant"

5. "From Farm to Table: Our Commitment to Freshly Sourced Ingredients"

6. "Behind the Scenes: How Our Chef Prepares Your Favorite Dishes"

7. "Meet the Team: Spotlight on Our Culinary Crew"

8. "The Art of Plating: Creating Visual Masterpieces"

9. "Customer Spotlight: Stories from Our Loyal Guests"

10. "Popular Picks: Customers Rank Their Favorite Dishes"

11. "Home Made: Recreate Our Famous Gluten-Free Pizza Crust at Home"

12. "Dinner Made Simple: 5 Delivery Dishes for Busy Weeknights"

13. "Superfoods on Our Menu: What to Eat for Optimal Health"

14. "Healthy Balance: Our Approach to Healthy Eating"

15. "Supporting Locals: Our Partnerships with Local Farmers"

16. "Explore the City Through Food: Our Culinary Tour Guide"

17. "Giving Back: Our Community Involvement and Charitable Efforts"

18. "Hometown Pride: The Best Local Food Spots"

19. "Date Night Delights: Romantic Dinners at [Restaurant Name]"

20. "Growing on You: The Rise of Plant-Based Dining"
    

Take Away

By creating engaging, relevant, and informative blog content, you can attract more visitors to your website, build a loyal customer base, and encourage direct online orders. A well-managed blog not only improves your restaurant's online presence but also provides a platform to showcase your menu, share behind-the-scenes stories, and highlight promotions. By leveraging SEO strategies, social media posts, and influencer marketing, your blog can significantly enhance your delivery sales and help your restaurant thrive in today's competitive marketplace.

By implementing these strategies, your blog can be a powerful tool for driving traffic to your online menu, enhancing customer engagement, and ultimately boosting direct delivery orders. So, start blogging today and watch your orders grow!

By Eileen Strauss