The biggest shift in the way restaurants and food businesses operate has finally come. We never saw the importance of holding on to a solid online presence until we all got affected by this pandemic. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. As entrepreneurs, we must take the high road of creativity, not only to survive as a business, but also to continue an intimate connection with our patrons through our food.

With the mandates to minimize the workforce in establishments and completely cut the dine-in experience to make way for delivery services or drive-throughs, the only way for us to stay relevant is to go to the internet.

I’m sure a lot of restaurant owners used to never really care about the intricacies and the benefits of getting their business and services online. If you’re one of them and you’re now stuck because you don’t know how to start, here’s what you need to know.

Some ways to transition will cost you a little extra while some will virtually cost you nothing to start. Let’s begin by discussing the most expensive method first down to the cheapest. Just to get this out of the way, I prefer the cheapest method of course because of its practicality. So if you want to learn more about it, read on until the end.

Now is probably a good time to get developers to make an App for your restaurant. Big chains are most likely to do this initially but it wouldn’t hurt if you have one if you can afford it. This gets really expensive because you have to cover the cost for developers who will code your program and pay for the use and the maintenance of servers where you’ll upload and store your app’s data and your customers’ personal information. Having this is useful because it can allow your customer to feel your brand’s exclusive features in the app. You’ll also be able to send them notifications of promos easily. Businesses do it mostly to wow their customers with the experience they get when using the app. It connects your brand to your consumers the way you want to. And of course, it’s just so convenient for your fans to have your app ready to be tapped when they crave a dish or 2.

If an app is too much work and expense for you, try having a website built! It’s way cheaper than having an app made. The cost will depend on your web developer’s rates and the host server’s conditions. It pretty much does the same thing an app can except for the convenience of having the app around and be readily clickable. In the case of having a website, people still have to type your URL and open up a browser to navigate through it. But it does provide a unique experience for your consumer and an avenue for them to conveniently place orders.

Last but not least on this list of ways to transition online is SOCIAL MEDIA. It’s free and everyone’s eyes are probably glued to them mostly these days! Whether you go on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Tik-Tok, you can always create an account and post photos of what you’re selling. Look around you! Your friends might have beaten you to it by selling things as simple as cakes and homecooked meals. The main disadvantage of this though is the often-inconvenient placing of orders. Even if you couple the process with a form they can fill out and submit, the chances you will encounter customers who can’t follow instructions is still high. However, if you’re the type who’s patient and you don’t mind this trade off for having a free method of moving your business online, then this one is the right path for you!

I’ve always believed this since the pandemic struck the world. That the best way to survive this as a business is to get the entrepreneurial mindset engaged. Get creative with the way you transition your business because even if the disease changed our social behavior, our cravings for delicious food and experience from our trusted brands are here to stay.