QR Codes & Call to Action Techniques for Digital Signage
This article was originally posted in 2015 and updated for 2024.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, the restaurant industry is rapidly embracing technology to enhance the dining experience. Digital menu boards and QR code menus are at the forefront of this transformation.
These innovative tools are not just about displaying menus; they are about engaging customers, streamlining operations, and creating a seamless dining experience.
As technology continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly important for restaurants to adopt these solutions to stay competitive and meet the expectations of modern diners.
Advantages of Digital Menu Boards
Digital menu boards are designed to captivate and engage customers with high-resolution images and videos that bring menu items to life. These vibrant visuals attract attention and can significantly influence customers’ food choices by showcasing dishes in an appetizing manner.
The ability to present appealing images and videos makes digital menu boards a powerful tool for enticing customers and boosting sales.
One of the biggest advantages of digital menu boards is the ease with which menus can be updated. Unlike traditional static menus, digital boards allow for quick and effortless changes.
Whether it’s updating prices, adding new items, or creating special promotions for different times of the day, digital menu boards offer unparalleled flexibility and convenience. This adaptability ensures that your menu is always current and relevant to your customers’ preferences and needs.
Interactive menu boards engage customers dynamically, providing clear and organized information about menu items, prices, and nutritional information. These boards help customers make informed decisions, enhancing their overall dining experience. The interactive elements can also make the dining experience more enjoyable and memorable, encouraging repeat visits and customer loyalty.
Benefits of QR Code Menus
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hygiene and safety have become paramount concerns. QR code menus offer a contactless dining solution, reducing the need for physical contact with shared surfaces like printed menus. This not only enhances safety but also provides peace of mind to customers who are concerned about cleanliness.
QR code menus simplify the dining process by allowing customers to access the menu directly on their smartphones. This convenience speeds up the ordering process, reducing wait times and improving overall efficiency. Customers can browse the menu, place their order, and even make modifications at their own pace, greatly enhancing their dining experience.
Furthermore, digital menus in restaurants can be seamlessly integrated with digital payment systems. This integration streamlines the payment process, allowing customers to pay directly through their smartphones. The result is a smoother, faster, and more convenient dining experience, providing added value to both customers and restaurant operators.
Implementing QR Code Menus
Generating QR codes for menus is a straightforward process, thanks to numerous tools and platforms available for creating and managing them. Restaurants can customize these codes to link directly to their digital menus, providing a seamless transition from code scanning to menu browsing. This customization ensures that customers can easily access the most up-to-date menu offerings with just a quick scan.
Ensuring that digital menus are mobile-friendly is a key aspect of implementing QR code menus. Responsive design is crucial for optimizing menus for smartphones, which includes using legible fonts, clear images, and intuitive navigation.
These elements enhance the user experience, making it easy for customers to browse, select, and order their desired items directly from their mobile devices.
Introducing QR code menus requires educating both customers and staff. Customers need to be informed about how to use QR codes to access menus, while staff should be trained to assist customers with scanning codes and navigating the digital menus.
Clear instructions and friendly support can make the transition smooth and successful, ensuring that everyone can take full advantage of this technology.
Call to Action
This is the juncture at which business owners need to connect with their customers, in order to influence them to take pre-determined actions. The actions could be purchasing additional items, filling out a survey, sharing information on social media, texting etc.
So in comes digital signage as an experience provider. Watching TV and using computers has trained us to look at screens for information so digital signage is a natural choice for reaching customers. Compared to other mediums, digital signage draws your customers to your message very easily. It gives them this “WOW” fun experience that they wouldn’t otherwise have on their desktops, mobile devices, or static posters.
Getting your customers to pay attention to the content on your screens is one thing. Getting them to take action is another. This is the most important step. First you want to get the attention of your audience and to communicate specific messages to them. Then you want the audience to react in a certain way. This is the call to action: scan a QR code, send a text, fill out a survey, share information on social media etc. Asking them to take action will help you to figure out if your messages are working.
The best calls to action are the ones with the lowest barrier to response. It must be clear, concise and easily digested. Because you want to encourage participation, the consumer must be able to understand and act upon the call to action in a matter of seconds. It must also be easily executed and measurable. Ease of use and a level of consumer interaction that can be measured are key to successful digital signage campaigns.
More Tips for Call to Action
Things to consider:
- Make the text simple. Avoid big or complex words as these can put a limit on the number of people who can actually read your signs.
- Use trigger words like Save, Money, Easy, New, Proven, You, Guaranteed etc. to awaken a need from your audience.
- Use commands and tell your audience exactly what you want them to do.
Remember, digital signage without a call to action is just entertainment.
Every time you design content, ask yourself if you can include a QR code, URL or some other type of call to action that can further your message and engage your audience. And last, stay away from any content that you can’t control.
Embracing the Future of Restaurant Technology
The integration of digital menu boards and QR code menus represents a significant advancement in restaurant technology. These tools not only improve the visual appeal of menus but also enhance the overall dining experience by offering convenience, speed, and safety. As the restaurant industry continues to evolve, adopting these technologies can provide a competitive edge and meet the changing demands of customers.
Statistics Supporting the Shift
- Increased Efficiency: A study by Fast Casual found that restaurants using digital menu boards experienced a 10% increase in sales due to the dynamic and appealing presentation of menu items.
- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Research by QSR Magazine indicates that 67% of diners prefer restaurants that offer digital menus for their convenience and ease of use.
- Hygiene and Safety: According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, 80% of customers are more likely to dine at restaurants that provide contactless dining solutions like QR code menus.
The future of dining is digital. By implementing digital menu boards and QR code menus, restaurants can enhance their visual appeal, streamline operations, and provide a safer and more engaging dining experience. These technologies are not just trends but essential tools that can drive success in the competitive restaurant industry. Embrace the change, and take your restaurant to the next level with these innovative solutions.
