It's electric!

If there is one piece of advice to all restaurant owners it would be to create an electronic version of your menu. Your customers will agree. They may like the elegance or artistic design of your regular menu but they'll love you for giving them alternate ways to get your menu. Also, if you had your email professionally printed, they can provide you with a copy of it electronically. Be sure to ask them for it!

I've called on hundreds of restaurants - many without a fax, email or website. My entire business is based on helping these restaurants step into the 20Th century (yes, it is the 21st century) but it takes baby steps. Let's just tackle the email controversy today.

If you have a computer:

1. Get an email address from Yahoo, Google, MSN or another free provider.
2. Put it on your menu(s). Encourage comments from your patrons. Yes, you will be solicited by a multitude of people but you can handle them with courtesy and professionalism and they'll appreciate you for it.
3. You can get an inexpensive, inbound fax service like myfax.com or fax.com but if you have email, many people have opted for it electronically.
4. This email address will allow you to email a copy of your menu to anyone who requests it and perhaps will keep you in touch with customers should you have special offers.

Not sure if you need to do this? Ask your staff: Do people call and ask for our website or menu? Do we fax many menus? How many fax orders do we get now? They may not even be sure but if they can say they get the questions - there is a demand for it.

Consider how much paper you'll save every quarter - cut down on your print costs. If you run out, you can print some relatively quickly.

Now, if you don't have a computer, there are still options. Restaurant owners have "shut down" when I start talking about technology because (and I quote) "I don't understand computers". Well, talk to someone who does know something about computers like your family and friends. Call me and I'll tell you what we can do to help.

In closing, there are inexpensive, easy ways to get your menu out there. Try some - it's inexpensive so there is little risk.