The Restaurant Owner‘s Guide to Online Food Ordering in WordPress (2023)

Hey there, restaurant owner! Are you ready to tap into the massive revenue opportunity of online food delivery? If you haven‘t enabled online ordering for your restaurant website yet, you‘re missing out – big time.

Consider these eye-opening statistics:

• 60% of U.S. consumers order delivery or takeout once a week (Source)
• 70% of consumers say they‘d rather order directly from a restaurant, preferring that restaurants keep the profits (Source)
• Restaurants that offer online ordering see an average sales increase of 30% (Source)

The demand for online food ordering is skyrocketing, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants without their own digital ordering systems are at a serious disadvantage. That‘s the bad news.

The good news? Setting up online ordering on your WordPress restaurant website is easy! You don‘t need to be a tech wizard or have a big budget. With the right tools and guidance, you can start accepting digital orders quickly, affordably, and on your own terms.

In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to set up online food ordering for your restaurant in WordPress, including:

1. Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting & Theme for Online Ordering
2. Step-by-Step: Setting Up a WordPress Online Ordering System
3. Integrating Online Ordering Into Your Restaurant Website
4. How to Manage Online Orders Efficiently
5. 5 Proven Tactics to Market Your Restaurant‘s Online Ordering

I‘ve helped countless restaurant owners get up and running with WordPress online ordering. Follow the tactics below and you‘ll be well on your way to tapping into more revenue – without paying exorbitant third-party fees.

1. Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting & Theme for Online Ordering {#hosting-and-theme}

First things first: to enable online food ordering, you need a WordPress website for your restaurant. If you don‘t have one yet, no worries – launching a new site on WordPress is surprisingly simple.

The two key components you‘ll need to get started are:

1. A reliable web hosting provider
2. A restaurant-friendly WordPress theme

When it comes to hosting, you want to choose a reputable company that understands the needs of restaurants and small businesses. Your online ordering system needs to be fast, secure, and always accessible to customers. Even a few minutes of downtime during peak ordering hours can cost you sales.

Based on my experience, the top WordPress hosts I recommend for restaurants are:

• Bluehost – Offers a seamless WordPress installation process and an affordable starter plan at just $2.95/month. Great pick for restaurants just getting started with online ordering.

• WP Engine – Provides premium managed WordPress hosting known for its speed, security, and scalability. Prices start at $30/month, making it a good option for restaurants serious about growth.

• Cloudways – A powerful cloud hosting platform that‘s optimized for WordPress speed and performance. Plans start at $10/month and offer good value for the features.

Once you have hosting squared away, you‘ll need an appealing WordPress theme designed specifically for restaurants. The right theme will provide the features and layout options essential for restaurant sites, such as:

• Mobile-responsive design
• Eye-catching menu layouts
• Online ordering and reservation functionality
• Customization options to match your brand

To help narrow down your choices, here are some of the best restaurant themes I recommend:

When evaluating WordPress themes, be sure to read ratings and reviews from other restaurant owners. Pick one that‘s earned a strong reputation for quality, support, and ongoing updates.

2. Step-by-Step: Setting Up a WordPress Online Ordering System {#ordering-system}

Once you have your WordPress website set up with a reliable host and restaurant theme, you‘re ready to implement your online food ordering system.

When it comes to adding ordering capabilities to WordPress, you have two main options:

1. Use a WordPress restaurant ordering plugin
2. Integrate with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) ordering system

Let‘s break down the pros and cons of each approach:

WordPress Restaurant Ordering Plugins

Ordering plugins are extensions that add food ordering functionality directly to your WordPress site. You manage everything – your menu, order options, checkout, payments, etc. – all within the WordPress admin dashboard.

Pros of using a WordPress ordering plugin:

• Avoid paying commissions to third-party ordering services
• More control over your ordering process and customer relationships
• Orders are placed directly on your website, reinforcing your brand

Cons of WordPress ordering plugins:

• Requires some technical setup and ongoing management
• You‘re responsible for your own payment processing
• Limited support compared to a SaaS solution

If you prefer the flexibility and control of hosting your own ordering, here are some of the best WordPress plugins for the job:

SaaS Online Ordering Systems

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) ordering platforms are standalone systems that handle your restaurant‘s online ordering. You connect them to your WordPress site, typically by adding an ordering link or embedding a menu widget.

Pros of SaaS ordering systems:

• Easier to set up than a WordPress plugin
• Handles all payment processing and checkout
• Provides responsive customer support
• May offer extra features like POS integrations, customer analytics

Cons of SaaS ordering:

• Monthly software fees, plus payment processing costs
• Less control over the ordering experience
• Customers are ordering through a third-party interface

Popular SaaS ordering platforms that integrate with WordPress include:

• ChowNow
• GloriaFood
• Restolabs
• Upserve

So which ordering approach should you choose for your restaurant? If you‘re comfortable working within WordPress and want full control, go with an ordering plugin. If you prefer a more hands-off solution and don‘t mind paying a bit extra, use a SaaS platform. Whichever you choose, be sure to test the system thoroughly before launching to customers.

3. Integrating Online Ordering Into Your Restaurant Website {#website-integration}

With your online food ordering system in place, the next step is to incorporate it seamlessly throughout your WordPress website. You want to make it effortless for visitors to place an order no matter what page they‘re on.

At a minimum, be sure to add prominent "Order Now" calls-to-action in the following locations:

• Main navigation menu – Place an eye-catching "Order Online" button in your header.

• Homepage hero section – Feature online ordering front and center on your homepage with a bold CTA.

• Sitewide header banner – Use an announcement bar that appears at the top of every page promoting online ordering.

• Menu page – Include "Order" buttons next to each menu item and category.

• Footer – Add an "Order Now" link to your site‘s footer area.

Here‘s an example of an effective "Order Online" call-to-action button on the navigation menu:

Additionally, consider creating a dedicated "Order Online" page on your site that explains how your ordering process works. Highlight your commitment to fast, accurate delivery and any special offers.

The exact steps for adding online ordering links to your WordPress site will depend on the theme and ordering system you‘re using. Helpful WordPress tips and tricks to make it easier include:

• Use a WordPress menu plugin like Max Mega Menu that allows you to create CTA buttons in your nav without code

• Check your ordering plugin or SaaS documentation for shortcodes you can use to embed "Order Now" buttons and menus on any page

• Hire an experienced WordPress developer to seamlessly integrate your ordering system if you‘re not comfortable with the technical setup

Remember, the more frictionless you make online ordering, the more sales you‘ll generate. Don‘t make visitors hunt to place an order – keep it front and center across your entire site!

4. How to Manage Online Orders Efficiently {#order-management}

Once the orders start rolling in, it‘s critical to have a reliable, well-organized system in place to manage them. The goal is to fulfill every order quickly, accurately, and with five-star customer service.

My top tips for effectively managing online orders include:

• Set up instant notifications – Configure your ordering system to immediately alert you and your staff as soon as an order is placed. The faster you‘re aware of incoming orders, the faster you can fulfill them.

• Print order tickets automatically – If possible, set up your system to print orders in the kitchen without manual intervention. This saves your staff time and reduces potential errors.

• Regularly check for new orders – Make it part of your regular workflow to review your ordering dashboard for new orders awaiting approval/processing. Designate a staff member to monitor orders at all times during business hours.

• Establish a clear order fulfillment process – Create a documented, step-by-step process for your team to prepare, package, and deliver orders. Assign clear roles and responsibilities to each staff member.

• Use order status tracking – Send customers automated text or email notifications when their order is received, prepared, and out for delivery. This improves customer confidence and reduces calls checking on order status.

• Follow up on every order – After an order is delivered, send the customer a follow up message thanking them and requesting feedback. Prompt them to leave a review on sites like Google and Yelp.

It‘s also wise to keep a close eye on key metrics related to your online orders, such as:

• Total orders and revenue
• Average order value
• Average fulfillment time
• Customer ratings and feedback

By regularly monitoring this data, you can identify bottlenecks in your process, discover popular menu items, and make improvements over time.

5. 5 Proven Tactics to Market Your Restaurant‘s Online Ordering {#marketing}

Implementing online ordering capabilities on your WordPress site is a great start. But to maximize revenue from digital orders, you need to get the word out to customers. Here are my top 5 restaurant marketing tactics proven to drive online orders:

1. Leverage Google Business Profile – Claim and optimize your restaurant‘s Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). Prominently feature a link to your online ordering page and add mouth-watering photos of your most popular items.

2. Promote Ordering on Social Media – Share eye-catching graphics and videos on social media highlighting your online ordering. Use a mix of organic posts and paid ads on the networks where your customers are most active, like Facebook and Instagram.

3. Invest in Search Ads – Set up Google Ads campaigns targeting keywords your local customers are using to find food delivery, like "pizza delivery near me". Direct these visitors to a landing page optimized for conversions, featuring your online ordering CTA.

4. Send Order-Boosting Emails – Email marketing is one of the most effective channels for restaurants to drive orders. Send targeted promotions with online ordering links to your subscriber list, such as limited-time discounts or free delivery.

5. Incentivize First-Time Orders – Offer a compelling discount or bonus for customers placing their first online order with you, such as 20% off or a free appetizer. Promote these new customer deals across your website, social media, and local listings.

As you market online ordering, emphasize the benefits to your customers. Highlight your fast delivery times, order accuracy, and exclusive discounts. Make it a no-brainer for them to order from you instead of competitors.

Ready to Boost Sales with Online Ordering?

In today‘s digital world, offering online ordering is essential for restaurants of all types – from pizza and burger joints to five-star fine dining. But while diner demand for food delivery is higher than ever, that doesn‘t mean you should sacrifice the majority of your revenue to third-party delivery apps.

By implementing your own online ordering system on your WordPress website, you can satisfy customers‘ cravings for speed and convenience, without eating into your own profits. You control the ordering experience, maintain your branding, and keep more money in your pocket.

So what are you waiting for? It‘s time to tap into the massive online food delivery opportunity! Follow this guide to get your WordPress ordering system up and running quickly.

Have questions about setting up online ordering for your restaurant? Leave a comment below and I‘ll do my best to help you out. Here‘s to your restaurant‘s digital ordering success!

Adam Connell is a WordPress expert and digital marketing consultant who has helped numerous restaurant owners drive sales through online ordering. Learn more about his work at adamconnell.me.