It has been 10 years of the ‘Digital India’ campaign that aimed to empower the country and its society digitally. Looking around, we can say that the ‘move’ has moved the nation tremendously.
An extensive digitalization of the country’s business sectors has impacted the food and beverage industry as well. An example? The emergence of digital menus in restaurants and diners. It’s one of the best restaurant marketing strategies that’s driving revenue for your competitors right now.
Let’s take a scenario. A group of smiling faces enter your restaurant and take their pre-booked seats (they booked online – digital). Instead of handing them a heavy booklet (menu), you give them a QR code, asking them to scan it. Now, they take turns to scan the code, instantly accessing an elusive digital menu that showcases all your cuisines (sometimes even the ingredients and calorie count for health conscious customers).
-
No fighting over a paperback menu
-
Scan individually and peacefully
-
Choose their favorite dishes one by one
But this is not an imagination. It’s the reality of high-rated restaurants in 2025. According to industry experts and bloggers, incorporating a digital menu in your restaurant service list increases average order value by 10-20%.
Why Digital Menus Are A Must For Your Restaurant
Right now, we’re gliding through one of the biggest digital revolutions after ‘DOT com’ in the 90s. AI-powered technologies are being integrated to streamline work processes in multiple industries. It’s very simple. If you’re still grappling with the basics, you’re losing out on customers.
And getting a digital menu for your customers IS one of these basics. Why?
-
No confusion and reduced pre-order timings
-
30% increase in sales through visual appeal
-
Fast ordering and faster services
Are you still thinking? Scroll on. We have more reasons.
In an indirect way, you’re contributing to the environment by reducing paper waste. Even if that doesn't pique your interest, there are some direct benefits you should know of.
-
Visual appeal enhances food cravings by up to 84%
-
HD food images increase ordering value by 30% (at least)
-
Embedded imageries, like GIFs and short videos, further add value
-
Easy menu upgrades, cutting down on reprinting costs
-
Include important messages (unavailability or shortage of ingredients)
-
You can adjust fonts, color themes and include multilingual options
-
Accessible by everyone, so every member can take their time to order
-
Special services, like voice-assistance for visually-impaired guests
-
No waiting; customers can order directly from the menu
-
Include offers, like “Happy Hours” and “Season’s Specials” easily
-
Incorporate restaurant promotion ideas, like new interiors, or a selfie board
-
Embedded review forms to get instant reviews and ratings from guests
-
Cross-promote featured or complementary items
-
Inform about events, like Live Music, etc. to increase chances of footfall
How Digital Marketing Comes Into The Picture
Just creating a digital menu won’t help much. It will only be available to guests, who visit your place. What if we tell you that you can attract more people to your restaurant WITH the menu?
Yes, it’s possible!
A well thought-out digital marketing plan for your restaurant can help take your menu to the ones, who are searching but don’t know about your business yet. Let’s tell you how it works.
- SEO & Google My Business - Your restaurant menu appears in local searches to answer “food near me” queries instantly
- Upgrade Your Restaurant Website - A well-designed digital presence is like an advertising ground for your restaurant, and the menu
- Social Media Marketing - Sharing your menu on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp in the form of tempting food reels to intrigue casual scrollers
- QR Codes Everywhere - Placing your menu QR on takeout packages, food receipts, and even delivery bags to increase awareness
- Retargeting Ads - Display menu items to visitors, who landed on your website but didn’t order.
- Personalized Offers – Pop-up deals like, "Your favorite pasta is 15% off today!" to tempt customers into ordering.
- Urgency Tactics - Induce FOMO (Fear-Of-Missing-Out) with countdown timers for flash sales or limited-time deals.
Other ways you can smartly incorporate advertising for your restaurant within the digital menu are:
| Marketing Tactics | Benefits | How it’s done |
|---|---|---|
| Gather customer insights | 1. Make menu updates according to customer preferences 2. Get instant feedback | 1. Track most-clicked items on the menu 2. Post-order ratings and comments to understand needs |
| Make your menu viral | 1. Manifold increase in restaurant/cafe visibility 2. More orders, more customers, a full-house restaurant | 1. Use HD photos of your cuisines 2. Feature customer photos (with permission) in your digital menu |
| Convenient multi-channel ordering | 1. Easy ordering for restaurant/cafe takeaways 2. No third-parties needed | 1. Direct ordering from social media 2. Voice-search inclusion for hands-free convenience |
| Own social media with service-proof and cuisine specialities | 1. Increase online referrals via menu shares and DMs 2. Enhance overall restaurant branding | 1. Customer reviews embedded in digital menus = trust |
Designing A Stunning Menu For A 5-Star Rating
Remember, customers decide fast - sometimes in a span of 3 seconds.
-
Highlight your bestsellers to grab eyeballs
-
Give bold headers for every section, e.g., Starters, Mains, Desserts, Offers
-
Include subtle animations to keep them engaged on every dish
Human psychology plays a big role in food ordering. Use it properly.
-
Highlight cuisines with "Chef’s Pick" badges for instant customer confidence
-
Anchor pricing, like showing a premium dish at the top to make others seem affordable.
Integrate some readily-available tech to enhance customer experience.
-
Put QR codes to encourage contactless ordering
-
Give AI suggestions for beverages to be paired with food items
-
Automated stock updates that instantly blurs/grays sold-out dishes
Final Suggestion From The Comval Team
A tech-smart menu + A custom digital marketing plan for your restaurant is the secret weapon to:
-
Increase business revenue
-
Ensure 5-star customer experiences
