Off

Why Your Restaurant Needs a Mobile App

As little as a year ago, more than 90 percent of all restaurants did not have an app. But times are quickly changing, and if you are an owner or manager running a restaurant without an app, you should definitely consider changing that.

(Photo: Bence Boros/Unsplash)

For example, did you know that three out of every five local searches on a mobile app converts into buying customers within as little as an hour? If you still aren’t convinced, here are the top five reasons why your restaurant needs a mobile app:

1. You can geo-target customers

This means you can rely on the GPS settings of a person’s phone to tell you where they are. If you have a restaurant in their general vicinity, you can then send that person a push notification to lure them over to your restaurant during a meal time. You can further persuade them with exclusive coupons or discounts.

2. It is easy for people to view your menu

Potential customers will be much more interested to come to your restaurant if they can see your menu on their mobile device. Make sure that your menu is very easy to access in your app, and also make sure you display clear images of each of your offerings to entice people even further.

3. It is easier to create a loyalty program

Many customers have loyalty programs already because they are very effective at turning new visitors into repeat customers.

Having an app will make it even easier for you to create a loyalty program, because each time someone orders something from you, you can scan a barcode on their app for them to earn points. Later, they can then convert those points into cash to act as a gift card and stop by again. It is much easier and preferable over the more traditional punch card method.

4. You will get increased sales among the younger crowd

While you should see increased sales across all demographics, you will certainly see more visits from millennials by having an app. The reason why is because millennials are far more likely to want to place orders using an app on their phone over the older crowd.

5. You will get more referrals

Finally, having an app means you can boost referrals to attract even more customers. As part of your rewards program, you can give points to existing customers who refer a friend or a family member to come eat at your establishment. Considering the fact that almost a third of all people actually do refer someone after eating at a restaurant, it is almost guaranteed you will get more customers this way.