You can download a copy of a study on electronic food ordering from Cornell University, by Sheryl E. Kimes Ph.D., at no charge.  Among other tidbits of info: "The chief reason for electronic ordering given by those have ordered (users) is that they gain convenience and control. The major factor that inhibits those who have not ordered via an electronic channel (non-users) is a desire for interaction (although technology anxiety is also a factor).  Check it out at http://ow.ly/4WE3K 

NetWaiter, a premier provider of online ordering and marketing capabilities for restaurants, offers another industry first--integrating QR codes into restaurant marketing. NetWaiter has configured a unique QR Code for every restaurant on the NetWaiter Network. When customers scan a restaurant’s QR code, they are immediately directed to the restaurant’s mobile NetWaiter site and menu.

QR Codes for Restaurants.pdf (137.08 kb)

Without a doubt, you have probably noticed a new phenomenon in print – those funky squares that look like scrambled crossword puzzles. They are QR Codes (Quick Response Codes).

QR codes are popular with today's mobile culture. They read like bar codes when scanned and return information to the user based on how the QR code is setup. Their use in the U.S. catapulted 1,200% during the last six months of 2010. In Japan, where QR codes were developed, it is estimated that 86% of consumers scan at least four QR codes a month.

The best reason to embrace mobile technology, such as QR codes, is to make it more convenient for customers to do business with you. Many restaurant customers have Smartphones. You probably see them "checking-in" to your restaurant using location-based services such as Foursquare or Facebook. As customers continue to embrace Smartphones, mobile marketing will become increasingly important.

To help restaurants promote their mobile site, NetWaiter has configured a unique QR code for every restaurant on the NetWaiter Network. They can be easily accessed from a restaurant’s NetWaiter Management Console. When customers scan a restaurant’s QR code, they are immediately directed to their mobile NetWaiter site and menu.

TIP: Print some NetWaiter QR codes and post them around your restaurant to promote your mobile site and menu to customers. If your restaurant does not have a NetWaiter account, you can activate your account today, at NO CHARGE, and get immediate access to your restaurant's NetWaiter site and unique QR code.

One of the big topics of conversation buzzing around the industry lately is increasing prices. The facts: commodity prices and fuel costs are rising. This comes in conjunction with the last two years of economic recession, when it was hard, if not impossible, for restaurants to raise prices.

Here are some tips on how to strategically raise prices:

1. Don't wait too long to begin raising prices. Once you get behind, it's difficult to catch up and get your prices in line to where they need to be to earn an adequate profit.

2. Don't raise prices across the board. Start by surgically raising prices on a few menu items at a time to avoid "sticker shock". You'll just need to evaluate your prices more often, possibly once a quarter.

3. Use a menu format that can be changed quickly and inexpensively.

If you decide to raise prices, remember to check your online menu. This is where NetWaiter becomes advantageous, because making menu changes online with NetWaiter is a very simple.

Is online ordering an operational tool or a marketing tool? It is true - NetWaiter is certainly a better way to handle the takeout and delivery orders that come into a restaurant. However, as most restaurant owners discover, NetWaiter is actually a marketing tool.

For example - if you were to ask every guest how they first learned of your restaurant, you would quickly find that about four out of five people learned by referral - word of mouth. Social media - Facebook and Twitter - take word of mouth and put it online where it can grow exponentially. This type of new-age word of mouth advertising is built into every NetWaiter site. When a customer uses their Facebook account to place an order, a link to your site with your logo can be posted on the customer’s Facebook page for all their friends to see. The average Facebook user has over 130 friends. Imagine the impact!

Another significant marketing benefit is the ability to track customers. Of all the means you use to advertise and promote your restaurant, NetWaiter is one you can track. You can immediately see the payoff and have the ability to monitor customers.

Some restaurants spend a lot of money on expensive newspaper and magazine advertisements. They are virtually impossible to track. The only way to measure their impact is to provide some sort of redeemable coupon or discount. As a marketing vehicle, this is usually a losing venture.

So, not only is NetWaiter a marketing tool, it can actually be one of your best marketing assets, along with your website and other online media (email marketing, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

Bottom Line: Investing in the long-term success of your restaurant is a lot better than wasting money on one-time advertisements that cannot be measured. Online customers are the most loyal and profitable type of customer. So, rather than an expensive newspaper ad, you can more effectively leverage your marketing budget by promoting your own online ordering system. Not only will you be making good customers better ones, you will also be making them more profitable.

How important is it for your restaurant to offer online ordering through a mobile site? According to a 2010 study by Morgan Stanley, access to the Internet using mobile devices will overtake desktop/laptop Internet access by 2013.

Smartphone owners tend to use their handheld devices to help with everyday tasks. If given an option, will they call your restaurant from their cell phone to place an order? Probably not. The last time they called, they were put on hold and rushed to complete their order. With their smartphone, your menu is in front of them, they don’t have to wait on hold, and it’s accurate, fast, and paid for.

Online ordering is all about using technology for greater customer convenience. We at NetWaiter want to extend convenience to your customers any way possible. Mobile ordering is a great step to providing the ultimate convenience to your customers and is only getting bigger. If your customers are going mobile, your restaurant needs to go mobile.

NetWaiter was recently featured in QSR Magazine in an article about online ordering and the use of Facebook and social media for the restaurant industry. 

QSR Article - NetWaiter Facebook Ordering.pdf (254.00 kb)

The New Year (like any other time of the year) is a good time to implement strategies that can boost sales and profits. Don’t overlook opportunities with online ordering. In fact, it can be a great starting point. Consider adding a special dish only available online or try distributing ‘secret’ promotional codes with each receipt to drive repeat business from customers within a certain timeframe.

You can also start cultivating an ‘ownership’ of your online ordering system with your employees. Develop a short pitch employees can deliver when speaking with customers. It should be brief and upbeat:

“Are you familiar with our online ordering capabilities? You can order takeout from us online with your computer or smartphone. It’s easy. Just check out our website, click “Order Online”, and make your selections. You can even use your Facebook account to login.”

Remember - online ordering is not only a way to attract new business, but also a way to make good customers better ones. This year – resolve to make better customers!

Valentine’s Day Sales Tip - Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, is a big day for restaurants. HOWEVER - not everyone wants to make a reservation and spend a ton of money. Think about offering a Valentine’s Day takeout special that includes an appetizer, dinner, and dessert for two. It’s a great way to get business from the sweethearts that want to spend the night at home!

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, when it comes to getting your restaurant more online exposure, it can seem a little daunting.  It’s actually not that hard.  With just a few moments of your time, you can establish accounts with a number of online sites that will provide your restaurant more online exposure.  NetWaiter can help walk you through the basics:

Accepting Orders Online - This is easy.  If you’re considering NetWaiter, or already have an account, an online ordering site is provided for your restaurant.  In addition, a mobile site customized for your restaurant is also provided, giving customers maximum accessibility to your restaurant and menu.  Best of all – it’s very easy to setup.

Make a Name for Yourself and Get Connected - This is important.  If customers become more aware of your restaurant online, it will drive sales, both online and in-house.  Also, if you don’t monitor your online presence, you won’t know what is being said about your restaurant - good or bad!

While the Internet evolves daily, every restaurant can benefit from joining a few major websites.  Click on any of the following for a step-by-step guide to creating an account.  Here’s an overview:


- Driven by actual customers, who can add information, photos, and reviews of your restaurant.



- Maintained by Google (they’re a tiny company, maybe you’ve heard of them?).  This is where a lot of customers will land when doing a web search for your restaurant based on name, type of food, and/or area.



- Quickly growing as a competitor to Yelp!  Insider Pages is more of a “listing” service, while Citysearch contains a lot of what Yelp! has and more.



- A basic listing/review website with an easy to use interface.  One of the first to have an iPhone application and is now starting to get into online reservations.



- Foursquare is quickly growing as the mobile “check in” app.  Users can “check in” to your restaurant when they’re physically there and let their friends know what they’re up to.  As a restaurant owner, you can offer them discounts/perks for checking-in and/or being a frequent customer.

It’s no surprise that it’s the holiday season.  The big sales, endless carols, and countless commercials for the Snuggie® would have tipped you off if you hadn’t looked at your calendar recently.

Another nice thing about the holiday season: office meetings.  Office meetings are common this time of year as company employees collaborate to finish projects for 2010 and start planning for 2011.  This makes it a perfect time to take advantage of large takeout orders during lunch.

A Few Tips:
1)    Make sure your guests are aware that your restaurant is PERFECT for lunch orders.  Put up a sign, have employees tell customers in-person, and send out emails.  December and January are great months to take advantage of these orders, so continue promoting them into 2011.
2)    Try offering a discount for large orders.  For instance, setup a discount offer (either a percentage or fixed amount) for lunch orders that are $50 or more.
3)    You can also try offering a free item that is good for sharing OR a complimentary dessert for the group if they order above a certain amount.  (A dozen cookies will ALWAYS be well received by a group of employees.)