How to Get More Online Orders for Your Restaurant (Without the Headache)

Online ordering isn’t a side hustle anymore. It’s a major part of the restaurant business. Whether you’re serving street tacos or upscale pasta, your takeout and delivery setup needs to pull its weight.

According to a report, around 58% of diners say they prefer to order food directly from a restaurant than a third-party app. That means if you make it easy to order from your own site, you can capture more sales and keep more of the profit.

Here’s how to get more online orders without relying solely on delivery platforms or spending a fortune on ads.

Make It Easy to Find You (and Order From You)

Before someone places an order, they need to find you, and your ordering link, without any hassles.

Google Business Profile

Keep it updated with ours, photos, and your direct ordering link. This is the first place many people check before making a decision.

Your Website

If your site is slow or hard to use, people bounce. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly and fast-loading and that it highlights your menu and online ordering options clearly.

SEO Basics

Use keywords people are actually typing into Google, like “best wings near Chicago” or “late-night Thai delivery.” Add those naturally into your menu descriptions, homepage text, and photo alt tags.

Smooth Out the Online Ordering Process

If the ordering experience is clunky, customers will leave. Fast.

Keep it simple: Your menu should be easy to browse, with a quick and painless checkout.
Mobile-first: The majority of online orders are placed on smartphones. If your site doesn’t look great on a phone, it’s time for a refresh.
Payment flexibility: Let customers pay their way. Credit, debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay. The more options, the better.
Order updates: Send instant confirmations and tracking if available. People feel more confident knowing their food is on the way.

Social platforms can do more than just show off your food, they can drive real orders.

Post regularly: Highlight bestsellers, limited-time items, or lunch specials with great photos and short captions.
Run local ads: A small budget on Facebook or Instagram can get your promo in front of hungry people nearby.
Partner up: Team up with food creators or micro-influencers in your area. A single post can bring in dozens of orders if it hits the right audience.

Encourage Orders with Smart Offers

Sometimes, people need a little push.

First-time deals: Offer 10% off a customer’s first online order or a free side with purchase.
Loyalty perks: Set up a gifital punch card system. Get a free entree after 5 orders, for example.
Timed promos: Create urgency with offers like “Free delivery every Friday” or “$2 off during lunch hours.”

Watch What’s Working (And Fix What Isn’t)

Once your online ordering is set up, don’t just leave it. Keep an eye on how it’s performing.

Track metrics like clicks, order completion rates, and abandoned carts using tools like Google Analytics or your ordering platform’s built-in data.
Ask for feedback: A short survey post-order can reveal if something’s confusing or missing.
Test and tweak. Try different menu layouts or promos to see what gets the best response.

Use Tech That Makes Your Life Easier

Juggling your online menu, website links, and delivery options across multiple platforms can be a lot. That’s where MyQuick.Menu comes in.

It gives you:

One mobile-friendly link that holds your menu, ordering options, and social channels
Easy updates without having to mess with code
Analytics to track clicks and see which items are getting the most attention

Plans start at just $9/month, and the first week is free, so you can test it out before committing. If you’re tired of managing five different apps to keep your online presence in sync, this might be your fix.

Final Takeaway

Online ordering isn’t just another revenue stream. It’s quickly becoming one of the most important. When your online setup is simple, clear, and fast, customers will keep coming back (and telling their friends). And the best part? You don’t need a huge marketing budget or a full-time web developer to make it work.

Use the tips above to clean up your online presence, tighten your ordering process, and stay connected with your customers. And if you want a no-fuss way to manage everything in one place, give MyQuick.Menu a try.