![A Guide to Setting Up Online Orders for Your Small Business 10 Most Common Digital Marketing Mistakes and How to Fix Them](https://jgmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ONLINE-ORDERS-2.jpeg)
A Guide to Setting Up Online Orders for Your Small Business
Serving your customers virtually, in a post-COVID world, has never been more imperative to the survival of small businesses. And with more and more customers seeking contactless and virtual methods of payment, not adapting to the new normal is hurting your prospects for growth.
If you’re the proud owner of a brick-and-mortar store, this article is about setting up systems to allow your customers, new and returning, to purchase from you virtually without the pain of visiting the physical location.
Before you set up an online ordering system to implement into your online presence, it’s important to understand what we’re looking for.
Your online ordering system needs to be customizable
Ideally, our online ordering systems should merely act as an extension of your company or brand. When your online presence is too detached from your physical location’s tone and sentiment, it can scare potential customers away.
The best online ordering systems provide you with customizable options. This includes additions of your business name and logo to the interface and form fill-outs, as well as automated communication to ensure your customer knows the transaction has come through (receipt emails and thank-you notes).
![A Guide to Setting Up Online Orders for Your Small Business](https://jgmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ONLINE-ORDERS-1.jpeg)
Your online ordering system needs to be easy to use
The least attractive feature of an online ordering system is a confusing interface. Your customers want the same seamless experience online as in real life, at your physical location.
An attractive and easy-to-use website with a smooth ordering process simply amplifies your business. You’ll get repeat customers, increasing the return-on-investment of your order systems. Don’t settle for clunky systems filled with gaps. Find your favorite brands or online stores and find out what they use.
Your online ordering system should collect important data
The ability to collect customer data can help you gain crucial insights about your small business. This includes the age and other demographics of your customers, best-selling products, and more.
With these data points, you can do the following:
- Identify where you should focus your efforts on the marketing side of your business.
- Know what products you need to keep in stock and when.
- Create offers and promotions based upon what your customers like and interact with the most.
Data equals improved customer experience.
Choosing the right online ordering system
Something important to note: setting up these systems is relatively simple, because any reputable software that you end up choosing will walk you through the process in 10 minutes or less. The crucial decision to make is which software you’ll be choosing and why.
We’ll begin by covering three excellent software services for restaurant owners. These cost-effective and easy-to-use programs will allow restaurant owners to set up online orders for their customers with ease.
1. ChowNow
ChowNow allows you to set up order placements from your website, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and so on, and can even help you create a mobile app for your business. Personalized app equals customer-centric experiences, tailored and branded to your business. This in turn means repeat customers and a great experience!
Customers are especially likely to use their mobile devices or social media to place their orders. ChowNow is an option if you want to get really savvy.
With credit card processing included for online orders, menu creation, offers, and discount possibilities, ChowNow can be purchased for $119 per month.
ChowNow is special because you get that crucial data about your customer’s favorite products, demographics, and more.
2. Ordering.co
Ordering.co is one of the best programs on the market for restaurant ordering systems.
The software offers an automated customer support experience with an ordering website and app that aid customers with automated help in real time, so you can keep on top of customer concerns and complaints without hassle.
The key ingredient to Ordering.co is the ease of access, ease of use, and customization for small businesses. Taking less than an hour to set up, you can start a free trial today at https://www.ordering.co/en-us/.
3. GloriaFood (a free alternative)
GloriaFood is an open-source application (meaning free to use!) and was the first of its kind to ensure restaurant owners could create an online ordering system free of charge.
With that said, advanced options like credit card processing are part of the premium plans – meaning that for a fully functional POS, you’ll be looking to dish out some cash to see GloriaFood’s full potential. But for what it gives you free of charge, it’s a pretty great place to start.
Online ordering systems for other businesses
As the sole contender for this article as the best online ordering system for all businesses with physical products, services, and brick-and-mortar locations, Shopify allows you, within less than a day, to set up a fully functional ordering system for any product possible, with a very soft learning curve for small business owners who may not be so clued up on tech.
Shopify allows you to create a fully fledged storefront for your business, enables customers to submit orders, tracks your accounting, and encourages customers to leave reviews of your products.
On top of that, credit card payment processing is incredibly easy for businesses with the use of Shopify payments.
Shopify Payments lets Shopify users accept card payments without having to integrate third parties. Fees are 30¢ for every online card transaction, plus 2.9% to 2.4% depending on your plan. In-person transaction fees are 2.7% to 2.4%.
Ultimately, Shopify will allow you to have absolutely control over your entire small business’s online presence, without the hassle of hiring consultants, web designers, or accountants. Products, purchases, and payments all in one place.
Setting up online ordering systems with WordPress
By a far stretch, WPForms is the best solution for setting up an online ordering system if you already have an established WordPress website.
Adding online orders
Once you’ve got your WordPress website set up, you can easily add an online form so that customers can order products online, particularly food or physical products from the physical locations. Now there are multiple ways to do this with WordPress.
First, you’ll need to install and activate the WPForms plugin, set up your orders and allow customers to purchase products through your website. Super easy for small businesses. You can check out the most useful video on the matter below:
Embed Code: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/lQKOYkHOYtE” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
So why set up an online ordering system?
Why go through the fuss of setting up online payments and orders for your customers? To wrap up this article, we’ve detailed below the key selling points of an online ordering system for your small business.
1. Safer and healthier
To reopen, businesses need to set up shop to meet health and safety regulations. Owners must maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and using contactless ordering and payment methods ensures safety of all customers.
Shifting to an online ordering system for businesses means your customers can order and pay from the safety of their home. Remember: irrespective of rule changes, not everyone is going to be comfortable with public appearances for some time.
2. More data and less margin for error
One of the advantages of online food ordering for customers is that it ensures prices are totally secure, consistent, and less room for error when it comes to data for the customer, product information, and customer expectations. Never miss a beat.
There’ll be less chance of incorrect charging, less time wasted sorting out mistakes, and fewer apologies given to customers.
3. And finally, more customers!
As the new normal gets truly rolling, online ordering and payments are becoming more accepted and crucially, expected by your customer. If your menu and payment system is hassle-free and easy to use online, your regular customers will be recommending you to their friends, and sharing on social media, and letting people know how seamless the experience was.
Don’t get left behind: online ordering systems are pivotal for the survival of today’s small businesses.
Do you want to integrate online ordering to your website and not sure where to start? Connect with us today to learn about our hands-free solutions setup by our in-house team.
Recent Posts
Connect with Us
Send Us A Message
Have a Topic You Want Us To Talk About?
LATEST BLOGS
Stay up to date with the latest marketing tips, trends and news
Understanding Google Analytics for Beginners
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand how people interact with your website. With the right setup and a basic understanding, you can track important metrics and make data-driven decisions to improve your site’s performance. For beginners, grasping the fundamental con...
Easy Steps to Create Engaging Content
Creating engaging content is essential for capturing the attention of your audience and keeping them interested in your message. When we produce content that resonates with people, it helps build trust, loyalty, and even drives more traffic to our website. The goal is to create something that you...
How Local SEO Can Drive More Customers
Local SEO is a powerful tool for businesses looking to attract more customers. Many people search for local services and products online, making it essential to have a strong local online presence. By focusing on local SEO, you can ensure that your business appears in relevant searches, leading t...
Understanding Social Media Algorithms
Social media algorithms play a huge role in deciding what content we see on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These algorithms are like secret recipes that determine which posts appear in our feeds. By understanding how these algorithms work, we can create content that reaches more...
Enhance Your Site with User-Friendly Design Tips
In the digital world, user experience is king. A well-designed website not only reflects our brand’s professionalism but also facilitates the engagement that we strive for with our audience. We understand that every element of a website, from layout to load time, plays a crucial role in its...
How to Measure Your Digital Marketing Success
Measuring digital marketing success is crucial for understanding how well our campaigns are performing. We put effort, time, and resources into our marketing strategies, so it’s important to know if they’re working. By measuring success, we can see what’s effective, what needs improvement, ...
How to Create Captivating Digital Content That Converts
Creating captivating digital content that converts is essential for thriving in today’s online marketplace. As we delve into this topic, it’s vital to understand that content does more than just fill up web pages—it engages readers, converts them into leads, and even retains them as...
Leveraging AI Tools for Enhanced Content Creation
In the fast-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead means leveraging the latest technology. At Jameson Grace Marketing, Inc., we recognize the transformative role of artificial intelligence in redefining content creation. AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it integrates deeply ...
Email Marketing Secrets for Increasing Customer Engagement
Email marketing remains a core strategy for digital marketers seeking to build meaningful connections with their audience. As we navigate through the vast array of digital marketing tools available in 2024, the importance of personal yet powerful communication through email cannot be overstated. ...
The Role of Chatbots in Enhancing User Experience
As digital marketers passionate about delivering top-notch online experiences, we know that staying ahead means leveraging the latest tools and technologies. One such tool that has significantly reshaped the interaction landscape is the chatbot. These AI-driven assistants are not just novelties; ...