Boost Your Online Orders with Wix Restaurant App: Tips for Success

A Vietnamese restaurant owner told me she was losing customers to chain restaurants with slick online ordering. Building a custom app seemed impossibly expensive. Third-party platforms like Uber Eats charged 30% commission—unsustainable margins.

Then she discovered Wix Restaurants. For $20 monthly, she built online ordering that kept 100% of revenue. Six months later, online orders represented 35% of sales.

Wix Restaurants offers powerful features at small business prices. Here's how to use it effectively.

Why Wix Restaurants Works

Unlike third-party platforms, Wix Restaurants integrates with your existing Wix website. Customers order directly from you—no commissions, no redirects to external platforms.

You control branding, menu, pricing, customer data. Build direct relationships instead of renting access through intermediaries.

Setting Up Your Digital Menu

Your menu is everything. A well-structured menu drives orders. A confusing one loses sales.

Clear Categories

Organize dishes logically: Appetizers, Soups, Main Courses, Desserts, Beverages. Or by cuisine style. Or dietary preference (Vegan, Gluten-Free).

Don't make customers hunt for items. Intuitive organization improves order values.

Appetizing Descriptions

Boring: "Pad Thai - $14"

Better: "Pad Thai - Rice noodles stir-fried with eggs, bean sprouts, peanuts, and your choice of chicken, shrimp, or tofu in tamarind sauce - $14"

Descriptions should mention key ingredients, cooking method, flavors. Help customers imagine the dish.

High-Quality Photos

Restaurants with food photos get 30-40% higher online orders than menu-only listings.

Photos don't need professional photographer—just good lighting, clean plating, and clear focus. Phone cameras work fine.

Prioritize photos for your top sellers and signature dishes first.

Dietary Tags and Filters

Tag dishes: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, spicy, nut-free. Customers with dietary restrictions appreciate easy filtering.

This inclusivity expands your customer base—people with restrictions often choose restaurants where they have clear options.

Pricing Strategy

Online orders have different economics than dine-in. Consider:

Delivery Fees

Delivery costs money—driver, gas, time. Either build cost into menu prices for delivery orders or charge explicit delivery fee.

Be transparent. Hidden costs at checkout cause cart abandonment.

Minimum Order Values

Set minimums for delivery to ensure profitability. $20-25 minimums are common for restaurants.

Pickup orders don't need minimums—you want to encourage this channel (no delivery costs).

Packaging Considerations

Quality packaging costs money but prevents disasters. Soggy fries, spilled soup, crushed items create negative reviews.

Factor packaging costs into pricing. Customers understand and accept slightly higher online prices when food arrives perfectly.

Optimizing Order Flow

Estimated Wait Times

Set realistic preparation times. Underestimating creates frustrated customers waiting longer than expected.

Better to overestimate slightly and delight customers when orders are ready early.

Order Management Notifications

Configure notifications for new orders to email, phone, tablet—whatever ensures you see orders immediately.

Missed orders are worst possible outcome. Enable multiple notification channels.

Order Status Updates

Send automatic updates: Order received, Being prepared, Ready for pickup/Out for delivery.

Customers appreciate knowing progress. Updates reduce "where's my food?" calls.

Delivery vs. Pickup

Encourage Pickup

Pickup orders are more profitable—no delivery costs, no driver coordination.

Incentivize pickup: "10% off pickup orders" or "Free spring rolls with pickup orders over $30."

In-House Delivery

If you offer delivery, determine service radius. Too large means long delivery times and cold food. Too small limits customer base.

For most restaurants, 5-7km radius balances accessibility and service quality.

Third-Party Delivery Integration

Wix integrates with delivery services if you don't want to manage drivers. But remember: these charge 15-30% commission.

Hybrid approach: offer pickup (most profitable), in-house delivery for nearby customers, third-party for customers outside your area.

Promotions and Loyalty

First-Time Customer Discounts

"15% off your first online order" encourages trial. Once customers experience convenient ordering, they return.

Order Minimum Incentives

"Free delivery on orders over $40" increases order values.

"Buy 2 entrees, get free appetizer" drives larger orders.

Loyalty Programs

Wix Restaurants supports simple loyalty: "Every 5 orders, get $10 off."

Loyalty programs dramatically improve customer lifetime value. A customer ordering once is less valuable than one ordering 20 times.

Marketing Your Online Ordering

Promote On-Site

Table tents, receipts, signage should advertise online ordering. Many dine-in customers would order online for convenience but don't know you offer it.

Include QR codes linking directly to online menu.

Social Media Announcement

Post regularly about online ordering availability. Share menu highlights, behind-the-scenes prep, special offers.

Run social media promotions: "This week only—Free dessert with online orders."

Email Marketing

Email your existing customer list announcing online ordering launch. Include direct link and first-order discount.

Send weekly or biweekly emails featuring specials, new menu items, promotions.

Google Business Profile

Add online ordering link to your Google profile. Many customers discover you through Google search—make ordering one click away.

Customer Data and Retargeting

Unlike third-party platforms, you own customer data with Wix Restaurants.

Build Email List

Collect emails during orders. Use them for marketing, promotions, menu updates.

Track Customer Behavior

See what sells, when people order, average order values. Use insights to optimize menu, pricing, promotions.

Retargeting

Email customers who haven't ordered recently: "We miss you! Here's 20% off to welcome you back."

Reactivating lapsed customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones.

Mobile Optimization

Most online orders happen on mobile devices. Your ordering experience must work flawlessly on phones.

Test on multiple devices. Can customers easily browse menu, customize orders, checkout? Any friction loses sales.

Wix templates are mobile-responsive, but always verify before launch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Complicated Menu Navigation

Too many categories, unclear organization, hidden items—all reduce orders. Simplicity wins.

Outdated Menu

Nothing frustrates customers more than ordering unavailable items. Keep menu current. Mark seasonal items clearly.

Poor Photos

Dark, blurry, unappetizing photos hurt sales. Invest in decent food photography—either learn basics or hire a photographer for one session.

No Customization Options

Customers want control: spice level, no onions, extra sauce, protein substitutions. Enable customization where practical.

Slow Order Confirmation

Customers should receive immediate confirmation. Delayed confirmations create uncertainty and support calls.

Technical Tips

Test Checkout Process

Place test orders regularly. Verify the entire flow works: browsing, adding to cart, customizing, checkout, payment, confirmation.

Payment Options

Offer multiple payment methods: credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay. More options = fewer abandoned carts.

Backup Systems

What happens if internet goes down or tablet dies? Have backup notification method and manual order recording process.

Measuring Success

Track these metrics:

• Online orders as percentage of total sales
• Average online order value vs. dine-in
• Repeat customer rate
• Most popular items (optimize based on demand)
• Peak ordering times (staff appropriately)
• Cart abandonment rate (if high, investigate friction points)

Scaling Online Orders

As online orders grow:

Dedicated Prep Station

High online order volume can disrupt kitchen flow. Consider dedicated station for online orders.

Packaging Efficiency

Standardize packaging systems. Time spent per order affects capacity.

Staff Training

Ensure all staff understand online order process, packaging standards, timing expectations.

Beyond Orders: Building Relationships

Online ordering isn't just transaction channel—it's relationship channel.

Include handwritten thank-you notes with orders. Send birthday discounts. Remember regular customers' preferences. These personal touches transform customers into advocates.

That Vietnamese restaurant? Online ordering revenue now exceeds dine-in. They've hired two additional prep cooks and expanded menu specifically for online customers.

The investment? $20 monthly for Wix Restaurants plus time setting it up properly.

Need Help Optimizing Your Online Ordering?

Setting up online ordering is straightforward, but optimizing it for maximum sales requires strategy. Our eCommerce workshops help restaurant owners build profitable online ordering systems.

Get in touch to discuss your restaurant's digital strategy.