portobellos and italian! i like it already! :) :welcome one thing you want to do is make sure you have consistent navigation on each of your pages. with a restaurant style site you should probably have a link from every page to every page. it will make it easier for the surfer.
Hi!! Welcome! :) Like the above stated, I definantly agree you need pictures... not really of everything, but definantly of your most appitizing looking food... Put the navigation on every page... I'd suggest also splitting the food menu up into seperate pages (like you have the beer vs deserts) ... with a navigation on each page that shouldn't be a problem... Is your menu purple and yellow? if it isn't .. change the colors to match the menu... Otherwise.. Looking good so far!
hate to repeat what everyone else here has already stated, but i will anyhow. Pictures can convey 1000 words!! navigation is also very important! if you haven't already, you may want to take a look at some of your competitors websites, and see what they are doing. it might help you get some ideas of what you like and dislike in the functionality of the website.. also, are you looking to do any Ecommerce on this site? ie.. the ability to place orders for takeout/ delivery etc?
Good question Feathers... I almost asked.. but figured .. take one step at a time... Are you going to be able to check email continuiously at the restaurant so you can take delivery orders, etc......
I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their input. I am going to look so smart at our weekly manager meetings. I do agree that our site needs pictures. I now have a few more questions/comments. 1. Where is a good place to get good pictures taken of our food, and how much does it generally cost. 2. I would love to take orders online, but I am not familiar with a good system for receiving orders like that. 3. I should have cleared this up before. Our current site is designed by a company that we advertise with. They give us the site for free. As a result, everyone that advertises with them has basically the same site, only different menus and logos. My boss really wants something a little more snazzy. Perhaps something like www.olivegarden.com or www.meltingpot.com Are these sites difficult to make? Thank you again for all of your help[/url]
1. You're best best.. and the least expensive way is to get a dig camera and do it yourself... go to the local fabric company or use neat table cloths (that are used in your restaurant...) put your best chef to work.. and take about 20+ pics of each meal you want to show off.. all different angles and play with lighting... 2. See your PM .. I can help you.. 3. See your PM .. I can DEFINANTLY help you! LOL Andrea
you could probably take your own pics if you have a digital camera..
i definitely suggest getting a digital camera! they are pretty cheap and you can take the pictures yourself. improving the overall quality of the design of the website shouldn't be a huge problem. you need some additional graphics and a basic navigation system. an ordering system is not tough to install. you can slap up a free OSCommerce ecommerce engine with an SSL cert for not too much money. there are definitely people (like myself) who love ordering online.
I am so glad that I signed up for this forum. I have finally found one that people actually respond! Will any digital camera do? Any suggestions? I want to begin on the site soon. I have worked with Front Page quite a bit for my ebay listings...but other than that...I hear mixed reviews about web publishing with it. In addition to the ecommerce. I would like to have a way for people to sign up to receive our new montly newsletter. (That I haven't created yet) I hope I haven't offered more to my boss than I can provide. I guess you should know what you are doing before you start making promises. :)
No, You havn't promised your boss anything you can't fulfill... The cam... Totally depends on your budget ... The cam we recommend/use .. Sony Mavica .. but there are higher res ones out now.. they change continuously ... You want a cam that has a remote, high resolution, flash and a large pic capacity, memory stick. eCommerce, Credit Cards, Ordering Online, Snazzy Website, and Mailing lists can be done very easily.. 3 of the above with one program... There are soooo many ways you can do it.. I will send you a PM with some specific questions that shouldn't be publically displayed.. Tell me those, and I can probably get you (with work on your part of course) moving within a week on the ability to take orders and more online....
i'm a big fan of the "Sony Mavica" series of cameras. they are quite cool and of course, nowadays, you can have the pictures printed off on photographic films so it will double as a normal camera. again, for a newsletter, there are many free scripts available which can be installed quite easily and integrated into your page.
Did you get my PM This time Jason?? If not.. let me know again... I got yours....
Everything you have in your list is definitely do-able.