How to Set Up Your Restaurant’s Online Presence

If you’re gearing up to open or rebrand your restaurant, congratulations! It’s an exciting (and let’s be real, stressful) time. While you’re busy choosing paint colors, finalizing the menu, and testing out that perfect lighting, don’t overlook one of the most important parts of your restaurant’s success: your online presence.

Having a solid digital setup before your doors open doesn’t just make you look polished and professional—it sets the stage for long-term success. So, here’s your ultimate checklist to make sure you’re organized and hitting all the right notes before launch day.

#1: Develop Your Brand

You need your branding ready to roll before anything else. I see so many restaurants skip this crucial step and end up having a very disjointed brand. The sign, the menu, the website, the fonts, the colours are all different across their various marketing channels which makes it very hard for them to create any sort of brand recognition or familiarity—making it extremely challenging to expand and grow.

Creating a strong, cohesive brand is the foundation for your restaurant’s success. It’s more than just your logo and colors—it’s about crafting an identity that resonates with your target audience and guides every aspect of your business.

How to develop your brand:

• Define your origin story: Share why your restaurant exists, your inspiration, and key milestones.

• Articulate your values: Identify core principles that guide your business and reflect them in your team culture.

• Clarify your mission and vision: Define what you aim to deliver now and where you want to go in the future.

• Design a polished logo: Ensure it’s reflective of your theme or cuisine. Make sure it’s versatile enough to look good on everything from your website to your napkins.

• Establish a color palette and typography: Choose consistent colors and fonts that evoke your brand’s personality and use these for all your materials, digital and print.

• Create a brand style guide: Document visual standards, tone of voice, and examples for consistent branding.

• Define your brand experience: Align atmosphere, service style, and customer journey with your brand identity.

• Craft a tagline or slogan: Develop a memorable, unique phrase that encapsulates your essence.

• Build emotional connections: Foster community ties, engage customers, and showcase social proof.

• Plan for growth: Ensure your brand can adapt to growth and revisit it periodically to stay fresh.

• Photography: If your space isn’t photo-ready yet, get creative with mockups or teaser shots.

#2: Get Your Digital Assets in Order

Before you can go live, you need to claim and secure all the essential digital pieces:

• Domain Name: Purchase a clean, easy-to-remember domain (e.g., restaurantname.com).

• Professional Email: Set up email addresses that match your domain (e.g., info@restaurantname.com).

• Website Platform & Hosting: Go with a reliable and simple website platform that allows you to manage your website in-house and offers you as many tools as possible on one platform, with fast loading speeds and SSL security.

These are your foundational tools—don’t skip them and make sure you store ALL your log in credentials in a safe place.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not let website agencies purchase any of your assets under their company accounts. Always make sure the account is under your name or company name.

#3: Build a Basic Website

Even if you’re not ready to launch your full site, having a landing page is a non-negotiable. Here’s what to include:

• Coming Soon Page: Add a countdown timer, an email capture form, and links to your social media to follow along the journey. I highly recommend picking ONE main call to action—I personally like a waitlist / email capture.

• Core Pages: Start with a homepage, an about section, and contact details with an embedded Google Map.

• Reservation Integration: If you’re taking pre-opening reservations, link up tools like OpenTable or ResDiary.

• SEO Setup: Add titles, meta descriptions, and keywords to get indexed by Google.

Your website doesn’t have to be fancy at first, but it should reflect your vibe and give people a way to stay connected.

#4: Claim Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google is often the first place people will look you up. Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile (Google Map) with:

• Accurate Info: Add your name, address, phone number, and a note like “Opening Soon.”

• Categories: Select the right categories (e.g., 'Restaurant' or 'Café').

• Teaser Photos: Post placeholder images or behind-the-scenes shots to build anticipation.

#5: Claim Social Media Accounts

Secure your handles across major platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). Even if you’re not planning to post immediately, consistency is crucial.

• Profile Optimization: Use your logo as the profile picture, write a short bio that reflects your brand, and include a link to your “Coming Soon” page.

• Teaser Content: Post updates on your renovation progress, menu testing, or sneak peeks to build excitement.

#6: Online Listings & Directories

Make sure your restaurant is listed everywhere potential customers are searching:

• Food Apps: Claim your profile on Zomato, Talabat, and Deliveroo.

• Review Sites: Set up accounts on TripAdvisor and Yelp.

• Local Directories: Add your business to Dubai-specific directories for maximum visibility.

#7: Online Reservation & Menu Systems

Streamline your operations from day one by getting these systems ready:

• Online Booking: Integrate a system like OpenTable with your website.

• QR Code Menus: Upload your menu digitally and print QR codes for tables.

• Draft Menus: Even if it’s not final, add a placeholder menu to give people a taste of what’s to come.

#8: Host a Launch Event

Here’s where the fun begins. Use your opening as a chance to create buzz, get content, and connect with the community.

• Influencer & Media Event: Invite local influencers, food bloggers, and media outlets for an exclusive first look. Offer tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and Instagram-worthy moments.

• Local Business Outreach: Personally invite surrounding businesses in your local community.

• Exclusive Offers: Run a special promotion for neighbouring people & businesses during your first month to drive foot traffic.

A well-planned launch event does more than just create excitement—it gives you social proof, organic content, and visibility right out of the gate.

Important to set up your online presence right from the beginning

Your online presence is just as important as your physical space. By following this checklist, you’ll be set up for success before you even open your doors. Stay organized, keep your branding consistent, and focus on the essentials. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression—make it unforgettable! This will save you so much time and headaches in the future.