New Year, New Opportunity! Part 2: Tips for Success in the Virtual Restaurant Industry
Virtual Restaurants are one of the most straightforward business models because everything can be done from home, and most people already have everything they need to get started.
Starting a virtual restaurant is the perfect opportunity for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.
With a little bit of creativity and hard work, you can have your very own online food business up and running in no time! So what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming recipes and get ready to launch your culinary career today. A simple online food business with great perks, low startup cost, in-demand... What more could you ask for?
This New Year's resolution will bring fulfillment and financial relief into your life. If starting from scratch doesn't sound like something that would suit you or if this sounds too overwhelming-- don't worry! We're here to help guide you through every step of the process so there won't be any guessing. Because of the simple nature of starting a virtual restaurant, it's one of the easiest ways to make money online.
Requirements for creating an online restaurant include having a reliable web server and hosting account. Once you have these setups, you're ready to get started! So how do you go about choosing what kind of cuisine your business will feature? If you are passionate about specific types of food or have extensive knowledge of that subject, it will be easier to create recipes easily. But if this isn't the case, don't worry--you can always start small by cooking everyday items that are easy enough to replicate. And if this is not your first rodeo in the kitchen, consider making something else that's easy to recreate so you can spend less time testing out recipes and more time sharing them.
Step 1 Choose a name for your restaurant...
Could you keep it simple, catchy, and memorable? This is the first thing people will see when visiting your website, so make it count. Before purchasing it, be sure to research if that name is available; otherwise, you may lose out on potential customers or get into legal trouble because of copyright infringement. If you already have a business idea in mind, run through this list of 50 business names to get inspired!
Step 2 Create an online presence with social media accounts.
Virtual restaurants need to establish themselves as part of the community to create profiles on Facebook and Instagram (if they don't already exist). Having active accounts with regular posts will help you stay relevant and make your brand more visible to potential customers.
Step 3 Use SEO keywords in all of your social media posts, descriptions, website content, etc.
You can find lists of common keywords by doing some quick Google searches or exploring SEO tools like Moz. By using the most searched words related to your niche, you'll be able to connect with new people who otherwise wouldn't have found you! For example, if you're selling vegan meal prep recipes, it would be wise to include "vegan" or "plant-based" in each post. Once someone finds your website through this word, they will most likely stay because these are topics they are looking for--the first step to keeping them on your site.
Step 4 Make sure your website is easy to navigate, minimalist and includes the necessary tools for users to find what they're looking for.
On top of that, use relevant keywords in your URL, so it looks natural when someone does a Google search. This will help improve SEO rankings, leading more people within this niche to find you!
Step 5 Put together some great recipes!
Though this may sound like the most straightforward step, it's often one of the hardest because coming up with ideas can be difficult without practice or enough knowledge on the subject matter. That being said, there are always ways around any obstacle if you put your mind to solving it. If creating recipes isn't something that interests you try hiring someone through Upwork, Fiverr, or your local job board to help you with this step.
Step 6 Once you have some recipes to showcase, it's time to create the menu.
The easier way to do this is by splitting your recipes into categories featured on the menu. These categories, based on your key selling points, what you want to feature, and what you've found, are popular among your target audience. For example, if you're selling vegan meal prep recipes, it would be wise to include some breakfast meal prep ideas, lunch meal prep ideas, and dinner meal prep ideas.
Step 7 List pricing for your recipes.
Remember, factor in the cost of food as well as your time if you're hiring someone to help you. You can do this by making sure each recipe includes ingredient lists, cooking times, and any other relevant information that would be useful for someone who wants to recreate your meals at home. Once you have the prices listed for your recipes, calculate your cost per serving, so you know exactly how much it will cost you to make them.
Step 8 Setup shipping options.
Though virtual restaurants don't require physical storefronts or warehouses, many online shoppers prefer ordering products in bulk to be shipped straight to their home--especially when they live in a city where going grocery shopping isn't convenient. But instead of offering a one size fits all solution, why not give customers the option to choose the number of meals or what day they'll be delivered, for example? This kind of customer service will keep them coming back again and again.
Step 9 Ensure you have orders forms, pick-up options, and other delivery methods.
Though these may seem overkill, the more ways people can get your products, the more likely they are to choose yours instead of spending money somewhere else. Having additional options gives customers more control, which builds trust--the foundation that successful virtual restaurants created on.
Step 10 Offer deals!
If you're doing meal prep deliveries, then offering free shipping is a must because it's what will convince people to try your business in the first place. However, if you are selling ready-made meals or self-serve restaurant-style dishes, you might be able to offer discounts or deals that aren't usually seen. For example, if your recipes include: Taco Bowls (Make Your Own) - $15 Meal Prep for 5 Days (20 Servings), Here's How You Can Get it for Just $12! Purchase before the end of the month and get the November Box free! That way, even if someone isn't interested in ordering, they might contact you because they see a deal currently going on.
Step 11 Contact bloggers and other media outlets.
This will allow them to find out about your new business without having to look around while still giving you free advertising! To do this, create a press release that highlights all of your key selling points and send it to as many email addresses and websites as possible.
If this sounds good so far, we’ll have the icing on the cake in Pt. 3 of our series! Remember, we're here to help guide you through every step of the process!