Top Tips For Designing The Best Digital Menu For Restaurants

Best Practices For Digital Menu Boards

Digital menu boards are becoming increasingly common in restaurants, cafes, pubs and other food service businesses - with many restaurants having replaced the physical menu altogether. A digital menu board can be more than just displaying prices and food choices. They can also display the location’s hours, specials, coupons, and more. Learn about the importance of adding a call to action button with the text “order now” so that your customers don’t have to place their order using a phone or in person.

What is a digital menu board?

A digital menu board is an electronic display that shows digital content, typically images and videos. Digital menu boards are commonly used in restaurants, bars, and cafes to display information about food and drink items. Many digital menu boards also allow customers to place orders directly from the board. Digital menu boards can be static, meaning they display the same content all day, or they can be dynamic, meaning they can change throughout the day to show different content at different times. Some digital menu boards also allow businesses to interact with customers through interactive features such as quizzes and games.

Digital menu boards are becoming increasingly popular in the restaurant industry. Many restaurants are now using them to display their food and drink offerings. However, there are many benefits to using digital menu boards, including the ability to easily update prices and specials and the ability to add visual interest to your restaurant.

There are a few things to remember when creating your digital menu board. First, make sure that your menu is easy to read and understand. Use clear fonts and simple graphics that will be easy for your customers to digest. Secondly, don’t overload your menu with too much information. Stick to the essentials – your customers will appreciate a concise and straightforward menu. Finally, consider using animation or video on your digital menu board. This can help grab attention and make your restaurant stand out from the competition.

Digital Menu Boards

Digital menu boards are a great way to promote your restaurant’s specials and dishes. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your digital menu board:

Board Quality

Your digital menu board is only as good as the content it displays. That’s why it’s important to invest in high-quality, engaging content that will attract and retain customers.

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating content for your digital menu board:

1. Keep it concise

Your customers don’t have time to read long paragraphs of text on your menu board. Instead, keep your content short and sweet, and make sure it’s easy to scan.

2. Use strong visuals

In addition to being concise, your content should also be visually appealing. Use high-quality images and videos to grab attention and keep customers engaged.

3. Highlight your specials

Make sure your specials are prominently featured on your menu board so customers can easily see them. For example, you can use images, videos, or animation to make them stand out even more.

4. Update regularly

To keep customers coming back, you must keep your content fresh. Regularly update your menu board with new specials, promotions, and events to keep customers interested.

Board Size & Positioning

There are a few things to remember regarding board size and positioning. First, the boards should be large enough to be easily seen from a distance but not so large that they are overwhelming. Second, the boards should be positioned in a way that is easy for customers to see and navigate.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, the boards should be positioned to minimize distractions and allow customers to focus on the food and drink options. This means placing the boards in strategic locations throughout the restaurant, such as near the ordering counter or at eye level near the dining area. Following these best practices ensures that your digital menu boards are effective and appealing to customers.

Use Negative Space

Negative space is the empty area around the text and images on your menu board. And believe it or not, it’s just as important as the content itself. Too much negative space can make your menu board look cluttered and confusing, but too little can make it look cramped and overcrowded. The key is to find a balance.

Consistent Menu Items

As a restaurant owner, you want to ensure that your customers have a consistent experience when they visit your establishment. This means having the same menu items available each time they come in.

While switching things up and offering new items regularly may be tempting, this can lead to confusion and frustration for your customers. They may come in expecting their favorite dish only to find that it’s no longer available.

To avoid this issue, it’s best to keep your menu items consistent. This way, your customers will always know what to expect when they visit your restaurant. They’ll appreciate the predictability and will be more likely to return.

Adding Images to the Menu Boards

Assuming you have your menu items and pricing set up in a digital format, adding images to your menu boards is relatively easy. The first step is to determine which images you want to use. For example, do you want pictures of the food items? Or do you want to use generic photos representing the cuisine you’re serving? Once you’ve decided on the style of images you want to use, it’s time to start sourcing them.

There are a few different ways to go about this. For example, you can hire a professional photographer to take pictures of your food, or you can search for stock photos online. If you’re on a budget, there are also free stock photo websites that you can use. Make sure the images are high-resolution and look good on your menu boards.

Once you have your images, it’s time to add them to your menu boards. Using digital signage software is usually as simple as uploading the image files into the software and then placing them where you want them on the screen. So, for example, if you’re working with static menu boards, you’ll need to print out the images and then glue or tape them onto the board. Then, whichever method you use, ensure the images’ placement is consistent across all your menu boards so customers can easily find what they’re looking for.

Content Strategy

Now that you have some tips for designing your digital menu board let’s talk about content strategy and content creation. First and foremost, it’s important to remember that your menu should be easy to read. That means using clear font choices and plenty of white space to break up text blocks. You’ll also want to keep items grouped together logically so customers can find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

Planning Your Content

One of the best things about digital menu boards is that they’re very easy to update. You can change your content on the fly to reflect seasonal specials, new items, or any other changes. However, this also means it’s essential to plan your content to know what you want to showcase and when.

One way to do this is to create a content calendar. This can be as simple as a spreadsheet with columns for each day of the week and rows for each menu item. Or, if you want something a little more visual, there are plenty of online tools and templates that you can use. Once you have your calendar set up, all you need to do is fill in the blanks with your planned content.

Creating Engaging Content

Digital menu boards offer much flexibility regarding content, so you can get creative with how you engage your customers. In addition to featuring photos or videos of your food, consider adding QR codes that link to recipes or nutrition information. You could also include customer reviews or testimonials. And remember, calls to action! Encourage customers to follow you on social media or sign up for your email list. The possibilities are endless!

Conclusion

Digital menu boards offer many advantages over traditional static menus, including greater flexibility, easier updates, and increased engagement. However, it’s important to plan your content in advance and create engaging visuals to get the most out of your digital menu board.

By following these best practices, you’ll be sure to make a positive impression on your customers and help boost your business!

Contact Easy Signage for all your digital menu board needs!

At Easy Signage, we specialize in digital menu board signage that is both attractive and easy to read. We understand the importance of creating a cohesive and appealing digital presence, and our team of experts will work with you to create the perfect solution for your business.

We’ll work with you to create a custom layout that highlights your unique brand identity. And our team of designers will develop an easy-to-navigate interface that makes it simple for customers to find the information they need. With our help, you can take your digital menu board to the next level.

Contact us today to learn more about our digital menu board solutions.