For the Final Project I am planning on developing a website for a new restaurant. In order to help define the project further, I am focusing on a small, approximately sixty seat bistro, located in a suburb of a metropolitan area. The bistro will serve classic fare of French inspiration, focusing on fresh ingredients and from-scratch preparations. The main considerations of the development and purpose of the restaurant’s website are discussed below.
Audience
The primary function of the website will be for marketing purposes. The website will be listed as a point of information included with all other marketing venues (print, radio, etc..). I will attempt to provide a positive experience with the website that will entice the potential customer into dining at the bistro. I will also attempt to convey the bistro’s main ideologies, provide a feel for the bistro’s atmosphere and showcase the seasonal menus.
The typical website user will be researching the bistro in order to make a dining decision, or after being intrigued by other marketing materials, including those for special events. The primary market consists of individuals interested in upscale casual dining, typically professionals looking for quality food in a comfortable atmosphere. It is hoped that future enhancements could be made to the website in order to allow online reservations and newsletter registration, as well as other unique marketing materials such as slideshows and special event videos.
Content
For this project I have imagined a restaurant that has only been open for a short time and is attempting to convey information regarding it’s special events, seasonal menus, and overall atmosphere. Most content will need to be created for this project, including menu examples, a reviews and accolades section, special events calendar, a possible photo gallery, as well as contact and reservation information. Brief section descriptions are listed below.
- Menu examples and photo gallery - these sections will help to whet the appetite of the potential diner. The menu items and photos will convey quality and just how delicious the food is.
- Review and accolades - this section will attempt to convey the enjoyable experiences reviewers have had, as well as give potential diners positive expectations.
- Special events calendar - the events listing will give the diner a general overview of the types of events held at the bistro, with specific information about upcoming events.
- Future enhancements - while not necessary in the beginning, these items would help to bring users back to the website, furthering name recognition and possibly repeat dining.
Communication
As discussed above, the website will attempt to communicate the quality of the dining experience, the comfortableness of the bistro’s atmosphere, and information regarding the fun and creative special events. Primary goals include: inexpensive and effective marketing, name / brand recognition, creation of customer loyalty, and community outreach.
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