In today's digital-first world, having an online ordering system for restaurants is no longer optional—it's essential. As more customers embrace the convenience of ordering food online, restaurant owners need effective strategies to promote their digital ordering platforms and maximize their return on investment.

With the restaurant industry generating nearly $500 billion annually in revenues, the food eaten off-premises market represents a substantial $210 billion slice. Online delivery accounts for $30 billion of this, with tremendous growth potential as only about 2% of the addressable market (excluding pizza) has been captured so far.

If you've recently implemented an online food ordering system for your restaurant, you need a solid promotion strategy to drive adoption and boost sales. This comprehensive guide provides 10 proven ways to effectively promote your restaurant's online ordering system and increase your digital revenue stream.

Why Promote Your Online Ordering System?

Before diving into promotion strategies, let's understand why actively promoting your online ordering system is crucial for your restaurant's success:

• Increased Revenue: Online orders are typically 20% larger than in-person orders, directly boosting your bottom line.
• Improved Operational Efficiency: Staff can focus on in-house customers rather than answering phone calls, enhancing overall service quality.
• Expanded Customer Reach: While your physical location may only accommodate 100-200 diners at once, online ordering allows you to serve thousands simultaneously without additional infrastructure.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Online ordering eliminates order errors common with phone orders and provides customers with a convenient, contactless option.
• Valuable Customer Data: Digital ordering platforms collect customer information and preferences, enabling targeted marketing and personalized experiences.
• Competitive Advantage: Only 2-3% of restaurants worldwide offer online ordering, giving early adopters a significant edge.

An effective online food ordering system for restaurants allows customers to place orders directly through your website or app, giving you complete control over the customer experience while avoiding the high commission fees charged by third-party platforms.

Effective Ways to Promote Your Online Ordering System

Commit to Your Website and Online Presence

Your website is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools at your disposal. Make your online ordering capability immediately visible to visitors:

• Prominently display "Order Online Now" buttons near your logo or in the main navigation
• Create a dedicated online ordering section with clear instructions
• Use high-quality food photography and compelling descriptions to entice orders
• Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, as many customers will order from smartphones
• Implement SEO best practices to help customers find your online ordering page through search engines.

Remember that your restaurant website serves as a 24/7 digital storefront. Investing in professional design and user experience will pay dividends through increased online orders.

Use Printed Materials and In-Store Promotions

Leverage your physical restaurant space to promote your digital ordering platform:

• Place eye-catching posters and table tents highlighting your online ordering option
• Position promotional materials strategically where customers wait or gather
• Train staff to mention online ordering options when interacting with customers
• Include QR codes on printed materials that link directly to your ordering page
• Design window decals or sidewalk signs to attract passersby

The key is to place these materials where they'll naturally capture customer attention. As diners wait for their food, they'll likely look around the restaurant—use this opportunity to promote the convenience of ordering online next time.

Leverage Receipts and Packaging for Promotion

Every order that leaves your restaurant is a marketing opportunity:

• Print a custom message on receipts promoting your online ordering system
• Include a special discount code for first-time online orders
• Add QR codes to takeout bags and packaging that link directly to your ordering platform
• Use branded stickers on packaging with your website and online ordering information
• Insert promotional flyers in takeout bags highlighting the benefits of ordering online

These touchpoints are valuable because they reach customers who already enjoy your food and are likely to order again. A simple message like "Next time, skip the wait and order online for 10% off!" can be highly effective.

Offer Coupons and Incentives to Drive Online Orders

Financial incentives are powerful motivators for changing customer behavior:

• Provide a one-time discount for first-time online orders
• Create time-limited promotions for online orders during slower business periods
• Offer free delivery or reduced delivery fees for orders placed through your website
• Implement a digital punch card system that rewards repeat online orders
• Bundle popular items at a special price for online orders only

Promote these incentives across all your marketing channels, including social media, email newsletters, and in-store signage. The initial discount may cost you in the short term, but the lifetime value of converting customers to your direct ordering platform will more than compensate. 

Blog and Educate Customers About Online Ordering Benefits

Content marketing helps establish your expertise while promoting your services:

• Create blog posts highlighting the convenience and benefits of online ordering
• Share behind-the-scenes content about how your online ordering system works
• Develop guides for first-time users with step-by-step instructions
• Address common questions or concerns about online ordering
• Share customer success stories and testimonials from satisfied online customers

Educational content not only promotes your online ordering system but also builds trust with customers who may be hesitant to try a new ordering method. Addressing concerns about food quality, delivery times, or payment security can help overcome barriers to adoption.

Optimize Your Menu Presentation for Online Ordering

Your digital menu requires special attention to maximize conversions:

• Use high-quality, appetizing images for each menu item
• Write detailed, mouthwatering descriptions that compensate for the lack of aroma and visual appeal of in-person dining
• Organize menu categories logically and make navigation intuitive
• Highlight bestsellers, chef's specials, and high-margin items
• Make customization options clear and easy to select
• Ensure pricing is transparent, including any delivery fees or minimums

Remember that your online menu is doing the selling without the help of servers who can answer questions or make recommendations. The more informative and appealing your digital menu, the higher your conversion rate will be..

Integrate Your Online Ordering System with POS and Delivery

A seamless ordering experience requires proper integration with your existing systems:

• Connect your online ordering system for restaurants with your POS system to streamline operations
• Set up POS and delivery integrations to ensure accurate order fulfillment
• Implement real-time inventory management to prevent ordering unavailable items
• Offer multiple delivery options, including in-house delivery or third-party services
• Provide accurate delivery time estimates based on order volume and distance

When promoting your online ordering system, emphasize the reliability and convenience that comes from these integrations. Customers who have a smooth experience are more likely to order again and recommend your platform to others.

Promote Across Social Media and Email Marketing

Leverage your digital marketing channels to drive online orders:

• Create dedicated social media posts highlighting your online ordering option
• Use platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Facebook Shop to facilitate ordering
• Run targeted social media ads to reach potential customers in your delivery area
• Send email newsletters with special online-only promotions
• Create a "first order" email sequence for new subscribers with incentives
• Share customer testimonials and food photos that link directly to your ordering page

Social media is particularly effective for food businesses because visual content can trigger immediate cravings. Combine mouth-watering food photography with clear calls-to-action directing followers to your online ordering platform.

Implement Customer Loyalty Programs

Reward repeat customers to encourage ongoing online orders:

• Develop a points-based customer loyalty program specifically for online orders
• Offer tiered rewards based on order frequency or spending amounts
• Create special perks for your most loyal online customers (early access to new menu items, birthday rewards)
• Implement a referral program that rewards customers for bringing new online orders
• Send personalized offers based on past ordering history

Loyalty programs work particularly well with online ordering because the digital platform makes it easy to track customer behavior and automatically apply rewards. Promoting the benefits of your loyalty program can be a compelling reason for customers to choose your direct ordering platform over third-party apps.

Monitor Performance and Continuously Improve

Use data to refine your promotion strategy over time:

• Track key metrics like conversion rates, average order value, and customer retention
• Analyze which promotional channels drive the most online orders
• Collect and respond to customer feedback about the ordering experience
• A/B test different promotions, menu layouts, and messaging
• Regularly update your online menu based on performance data

The most successful restaurants treat their online ordering system as an evolving platform that requires ongoing optimization. Use the data collected from your system to understand customer preferences and refine your offerings accordingly.

How Restolabs Empowers Your Restaurant's Online Ordering Success

Implementing these promotion strategies becomes significantly easier with the right online ordering platform. Restolabs provides a commission-free online food ordering system for restaurants that puts you in complete control of your digital presence and customer relationships.

With Restolabs, you can:

• Launch a branded online ordering website that reflects your restaurant's identity
• Retain 100% of your profits with zero commissions on orders
• Maintain ownership of valuable customer data for marketing and personalization
• Integrate seamlessly with your existing POS system and delivery services
• Offer a mobile food ordering system through a custom-branded app
• Access detailed analytics to track performance and optimize your offerings
• Implement customer loyalty and rewards programs to drive repeat business

Unlike third-party delivery platforms that charge high commissions and control the customer relationship, Restolabs empowers you to build direct relationships with your customers while keeping more of your profits.

As you implement the promotion strategies outlined in this guide, having a reliable, user-friendly online ordering system becomes the foundation of your success. Your customers will appreciate the seamless experience, and your business will benefit from increased order volume and higher average ticket sizes.

Ready to take your restaurant's online ordering to the next level? Schedule a Demo with Restolabs today!