A restaurant menu board is not only a list of what is available in the restaurant but also a tool that can be used to persuade the customers, dictate how they order their foods, and even improve the experience they are bound to have. No matter if you are a proprietor of a fast-food restaurant or a coffee shop, a fine and professionally designed menu board can work wonders for you. In this guide, we will discuss restaurant menu board, types of boards, guidelines for designing them and how to use it to boost up your sales.

The Importance of a Well-Designed Menu Board

It is an important element since it informs the customers through a visual means for them to make their orders quickly. A poorly designed menu board is a disaster in the making, it confuses guests, slows down the service, and can discourage customers from placing an order. However, a menu board that is well formatted and designed well has the following benefits:

•       To enhance customer satisfaction the options on the menu should be well arranged for easy selections.

•       Some of the benefits include improving your restaurant’s theme color and logo.

•       Some of the strategies include placing high-margin products and using attractive packaging.

•       Reduce the time taken by the staff to explain the various meals on the menu to the clients.

Types of Restaurant Menu Boards

1. Traditional Chalkboard Menu

Especially for cafés, bakeries or any casual dining outlets, chalkboard menus are a popular option due to their artistry. They are easy to update and modify, but the handwritten notes may not be easily readable or appealing if one is not good at drawing.

2. Static Printed Menu Boards

These are pre-printed boards that are simply displayed on the walls or stands of the restaurant or any other place that is selling food. They are durable and give a professional outlook to the menu but are not very flexible since any change on the menu means reprinting.

3. Digital Menu Boards

Digital menus are on screens, thus are easily changeable and the content could be presented creatively. Digital menu boards are very popular in the fast-food chains and restaurants of the modern world. They can include animations, videos, and rotating promotions and, therefore, are rather captivating.

4. LED Backlit Menu Boards

These signs are highly visible during night and therefore can be used in drive-thru as well as in areas with low lighting. LED menu boards are modern and eye-catching and do not pose a problem in terms of readability.

5. Tabletop and Countertop Menu Boards

For small businesses, the best way of displaying the special meals, offers or the combos is through table or countertop menu boards. They are especially suitable for advertising to the customers when they are placing their orders or eating.

Best Practices for Designing an Effective Menu Board

1. Keep It Simple and Organized

Do not overload the menu, it is better to divide it into sections (appetizers, main courses, desserts, drinks, etc.). It is recommended to use bullets and columns and spaces to make the text easily readable. A crowded digital signage software can cause confusion for the customers and takes much time in making a decision.

2. Prioritize High-Margin Items

The high-margin products should be positioned in places that will attract the attention of the customer, for instance at eye level or in a special category. Make boxes, bold texts or images to be seen easily by the naked eye.

3. Use Legible Fonts and Colors

Use clear fonts and contrasting colors which do not cause eye fatigue among the readers. Do not use fancy font styles and make sure that the text size is adequate for the distance from which the screen is to be viewed.

4. Incorporate High-Quality Images

When applying images, they should be clear and of high quality well taken. Low quality images make the food look unappetizing and may discourage the customers from making an order.

5. Keep Pricing Clear and Transparent

Customers prefer fixed prices that have no additional charges added to them. Ensure that the prices are well displayed in such a way that clients do not have any difficulty in identifying them and this avoids a lot of time spent when the client is at the counter.

6. Update Regularly

If a restaurant continues to use old and worn-out menu designs, it will not create a good impression on the customers. Ensure you change the content of your menu board often especially when there is a change in the season, new foods or offers available.

7. Consider Digital Integration

When using digital menu boards, it is also possible to include other links such as QR codes that lead to the online menus, offers, or membership. This can help in increasing the patronage and loyalty of customers in a business.

How to Leverage Menu Boards for Maximum Sales

1. Highlight Bestsellers and Specials

Using a ‘Chef’s Special’ or ‘Customer Favorite’ list can help steer the customers towards making their decision and thus boost the sales of certain dishes.

2. Promote Combo Deals and Upsells

Promote the use of meals that can be bundled together, additional items, and other related products through the menu board.

3. Utilize Psychological Pricing

Pricing strategies such as elimination of currencies, pricing slightly below the round numbers, and use of package prices are some of the ways that may affect the buying behavior of consumers.

4. Test and Optimize

Try experimenting with the layout, the color and the position of the items and see what is most effective. Collect information from the customers and study the sales performance to improve on the menu board.

Conclusion

A menu board is an important component of your business plan that defines the overall image and affects the customer and sales. Whether you decide to use a conventional blackboard or a newfangled smartboard or an LED board, it is important that the board is designed and located optimally. Hence, it is crucial to maintain cleanliness, proper layout, and timely updates to ensure that more customers can be attracted, increased service delivery, and ultimately increased sales. Take time and effort to design your menu board that suits your brand and at the same time, would make your customers eager for more.