3-minute read ---
In today's digital age, where purchasing a new meal is just a few clicks away, ordering food online has become a staple part of our lifestyles. From modern “social media influencer marketing” to traditional billboards and online media campaigns, images play a crucial role in a business’s overall profits, shaping consumer choices and influencing daily purchasing decisions.
Here are 4 essential roles images play in helping restaurants in gain and retain new customers:
Here are 4 essential roles images play in helping restaurants in gain and retain new customers:
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1. Images Create Strong First Impressions In a physical restaurant setting, customers can smell and see the food they may want to order. But when ordering online, these sensory experiences disappear, leaving restaurants with only screen-based images to convince customers to make their first (and future) purchases. As the saying goes, “people eat with their eyes,” consider what a customer may think of a restaurant if the menu images are blurry, small, or poorly lit. For many customers, low-quality photos do not whet the appetite and leads to lower sales. The unfortunate result for restaurants is that the potential customer turns away and finds a competitor with higher-quality photos and better looking food, before they even try food and drinks from your restaurant! On the other hand, images that are vibrant, sharp, and appear professionally staged are more likely to result in strong first impressions and more first-time purchases. Promoting high-quality food images and a smooth online ordering experience, provides customers with increased trust and confidence that leads to great first impressions and repeat business. 2. Images Tell Guests What to Expect
A “large portion” at one restaurant may not be the same size as a “large portion” in another restaurant. Quality over quantity matters to many diners. Images help customers understand the portion sizes and ingredients of a particular appetizer, entree, or dessert. They provide visual cues about quality ingredients, presentation style, and the types of side dishes available, so customers can know what to expect from their online purchase. This can prevent confusion and disappointment when the food finally arrives, enhancing customer satisfaction and further building trust in the restaurant’s food and services. 3. Images Trigger Additional Purchases It cannot be denied – a high-quality image of a gooey chocolate lava cake can make a customer’s mouth water. Clear, colorful, and attractive food pictures act as a catalyst, triggering additional purchases from a hungry buyer. Like a dessert cart or display case would be presented in the restaurant, digital menu images can act as a virtual dessert cart or display case that nudge customers to add additional items to their cart, even if it was not in their initial plan. 4. Images Build Brand Identity
We are almost constantly surrounded by national brands and marketing campaigns that treat their food as models during photoshoots, and from this we can see how presented images play a crucial role in a business’s brand identity. By showcasing images of a restaurant’s food and drinks with a consistent visual style, theme, or presentation, restaurants create a unique brand identity that makes their business stand out against competitors. When done well, consistent messaging increases reliability and trust on the part of the consumer, encouraging them to make additional purchases from the restaurant, especially when coupled with a restaurant loyalty program. 5. Images are Accessible For customers who have language barriers or difficulty reading digital menus, images serve as a universal language, allowing guests to understand what exactly the restaurant offers and make a confident and comfortable purchasing decision. Aldelo Express POS Includes Images Online and In-Store
In conclusion, images are the key to successful online food ordering. Far from just a “nice addition” or an aesthetic choice, images are powerful tools that drive sales, contribute to customer satisfaction, and build a restaurant’s brand identity. Therefore, thoughtful photography is not just desirable but necessary in the competitive landscape of online food ordering. Aldelo Express POS not only includes images in in-store cloud POS terminals and self-service Kiosks, but in its native online ordering solution, Masa+, available at zero additional cost with the Aldelo Express Cloud POS platform. Merchants also receive, at zero additional cost:
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All Aldelo Express users have 100% access to a Centralized Multi-Store Restaurant Technology Platform including Merchant- and Customer Facing Solutions Aldelo Express POS, Masa+ Online Ordering, eGift and Loyalty Programs, Unlimited Licenses, Software Releases, Software Upgrades and 24/7 Technical Support are always included! Absolutely zero add-on modules or solutions to buy! *** Please contact an Aldelo representative today for more details, including a free Aldelo Express POS demo trial merchants@Aldelo.com | 877-639-8767 | partners@Aldelo.com |
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