Transform Your Restaurant with Digital Menu Boards for Increased Sales
Restaurants evolve constantly due to technological advances and changing customer needs. One such change is the switch from printed menus to digital boards.
Beyond the modern touch, digital menu boards are instrumental in increased sales. They also foster a better customer experience, communicating the restaurant’s commitment to excellent service. A customer-oriented approach reflected on the menu board’s content nurtures strong relationships that extend beyond profit.
Digital menu boards have become the norm in small and large restaurants. However, it’s not enough to join the trend. A better starting point is to grasp the significance of this innovation. What’s the big deal with digital signage? Read on to find answers.
Advantages of Digital Menu Boards
Digital menu boards are revolutionary because of the advantages they provide, making them worthwhile. Here are some of them:
1. Better Visuals
People’s attention is drawn to eye-catching visuals, which digital menu boards provide. These visuals help attract potential customers, many of whom become regular patrons. Visuals also improve the customer experience in ways that printed menus cannot. For example, a simple welcome message can affirm the dignity and worth of customers.
A meal displayed on-screen also increases customers’ appetite, and when you deliver on your promise, it fosters trust. This is less about impulse buying and more about service–ensuring your visitors get the best of their money’s worth. Visual appeal is crucial to a restaurant’s success.
2. Customized Menus
Restaurants have different offers at separate hours. Printed menus are static, which makes it difficult to customize them. Some restaurants have opted for multiple menus, incurring additional costs. Digital menu boards solve this problem with their flexibility. You can easily adjust menus to reflect the time of day, promoting efficiency and greater responsibility.
3. Easy Updates
Another advantage of digital menu boards is their seamless updates, thanks to their dynamic nature. Printed menus are difficult to update, requiring extra cost. By contrast, customer management systems enable the restaurant owner to make quick updates without manual labor. Like customization, this reflects efficiency and responsibility. This feature is especially helpful for large restaurants with multiple chains.
Why Digital Menus Are the Future
The earlier-mentioned benefits make digital menus supersede print, but that’s not all. Digital menus entail progress not only because of the benefits but also because of the outcome experienced by restaurants. The aim is to adopt even more innovations as the years move.
First, digital menus boost sales, a significant achievement for every restaurant. Through quality graphics, interactive options, and customized menus, digital menu boards encourage purchase. Restaurants that apply digital menus record higher profits, a sign of good management.
Besides, through digital menus, restaurants get a winning advantage over others in a highly saturated market. The right strategy and content enable your business to stand out and not be swallowed up in the market. However, getting an edge is more about delivering quality service and less about outshining competitors.
Another important benefit of digital menus is customer engagement. Every successful restaurant business focuses on its clientele's needs, seeking to meet them. Digital signage offers customers the best experience and maximum satisfaction.
Creating a Memorable Digital Menu Board
Now for the practical step. How do you create a digital menu board that incorporates all the aforementioned benefits? The good news is, that digital menu boards are easier to create than most people think. What you need are the right resources and steps.
First, the resources:
1. A Design Guide
A design guide is a resource concerned with making the design board both readable and visually appealing. It tackles different aspects of the design, all of which attract customers and encourage good choices. An example is the layout, which arranges items in a logical order. Colors matter too, aligning with your brand image. Do you run a lively restaurant? Brighter colors like yellow work. For a calmer atmosphere, opt for a cooler color like blue. Complement the coloring with an appropriate font size and type. The writing should be easy to read.
Lastly, the design guide also covers images of the items offered. These images must be appetizing, but not in an exaggerated manner.
2. Software Comparison
The software you choose for your digital menu affects its use. This resource helps in selecting the right software by comparing available options. The chosen software must meet the needs of your restaurant and offer desired features, offering flexibility and efficiency. It should also be easy for you and the customer to use. If you already use other tools you work with, get software that integrates well with them.
3. Best Practices for Content Creation
The menu’s content is the actual information that flashes on the screen. That said, your content should engagingly provide information, again for the benefit of the viewers. Dull or formulaic content will cause people to lose interest.
How can you make your content more engaging? By following effective practices. One such practice is using engaging descriptions. Here, you describe the ingredients vividly rather than just listing them. Another effective practice is showcasing specials during holidays or other special seasons. Include allergy warnings and other health-related information customers need to know.
Now, here are some steps to follow in creating a digital menu:
- Step 1: Sign to a digital signage software for different operations. These include creating content playlists, scheduling content, and switching widgets. The software controls what occurs on the screen. The software should contain important features like layouts, content scheduling, and multi-user access.
- Step 2: Create the content, the central part of your entire digital signage strategy. Due to its importance, it may be challenging to create content. However, you can achieve this step with the right tools, template, and team. Sometimes the right template is unavailable, in which case you create from scratch. Some tools worth using are Canva, DSMenu, Easil, Google Slides, and Apple Keynote.
- Step 3: Set up your digital screen. In this step, you place the content on the screen. The common screen is a Smart TV, which makes content uploading easy. You can also use a digital signage player or a web player for your content.
Conclusion
Restaurants stand to gain a lot with digital menu boards. They offer numerous benefits to the restaurant and are more advantageous than traditional signs. Therefore, the switch is a mark of progress. With the right tools, content, and strategy, digital signage will transform your restaurant.