What is Conversion Rate?

What is Conversion Rate?

Measure What Drives Online Orders and Reservations SEO Glossary for Restaurant Owners

Conversion rate is the percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action — such as placing an online order, booking a table, or calling your restaurant directly.

For restaurants, tracking your conversion rate is crucial to understanding how well your website turns visitors into paying customers. It helps identify what’s working, where you’re losing potential diners, and how to improve your online marketing efforts.

Why Conversion Rate Matters for Restaurants

Your website isn’t just an online brochure — it’s a tool designed to generate business. A high conversion rate means more people who visit your site end up ordering food, making a reservation, or contacting your restaurant.

Improving your conversion rate helps you:

  • Get more reservations or online orders without increasing ad spend
  • Maximize the return on your marketing efforts
  • Reduce dependence on costly third-party apps
  • Understand customer behavior and fine-tune your website

Conversion rate optimization (CRO) ensures your website is doing its job — turning interest into action.

Key Conversion Points for Restaurants

Typical conversion actions restaurant owners should track include:

  • Online Orders: Direct orders placed through your website or integrated ordering system.
  • Reservation Bookings: Table reservations made online or through a booking platform.
  • Phone Calls: Click-to-call actions from mobile users browsing your site.
  • Menu Views: Potential customers who check your menu — often a strong buying signal.
  • Email Sign-Ups: Customers joining your email list for promotions or events.

Each of these actions directly supports your restaurant’s bottom line.

How Conversion Rate Impacts Your Restaurant’s Profitability

Your conversion rate tells you how effective your website is at turning visitors into paying customers. If 100 people visit your site and 5 place an order, your conversion rate is 5%.

Optimizing your conversion rate means:

  • More direct online orders
  • Increased table bookings
  • Higher revenue per website visitor

It also helps reduce the cost per acquisition when running paid advertising campaigns like Google Ads or social media promotions.

Example of Conversion Rate in Action

A local customer searches for “best Thai food near me” and clicks on your website. Clear menu options, mouth-watering photos, and a simple ordering button lead them to place a $40 takeout order.

That visitor just converted. By tracking and improving moments like this, you generate more sales without needing to increase website traffic.

Tips to Improve Your Restaurant’s Conversion Rate

  • Simplify Online Ordering: Reduce clicks and make it easy to check out.
  • Use High-Quality Photos: Showcase your food, ambiance, and specials.
  • Display Contact Info Prominently: Add a click-to-call button for mobile visitors.
  • Highlight Reviews & Testimonials: Build trust and encourage action.
  • Speed Up Your Website: A slow website drives potential customers away.

For more information on conversion rates, visit the Search Engine Journal.

Related Terms:

What are Backlinks

Local SEO

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