DoorDash has become one of the most popular platforms for restaurants to reach customers through food delivery. Whether you’re a small local eatery or a chain restaurant, maximizing your sales on DoorDash requires a strategic approach. If you’re looking to boost your restaurant’s visibility and increase orders on DoorDash, here are some proven tips and strategies to help you stand out.

1. Optimize Your DoorDash Menu

Your menu is the first point of contact with potential customers. A well-optimized menu can make a significant difference in attracting orders.

Menu Descriptions and Photos

• Detailed Descriptions: Provide clear and appealing descriptions of your dishes. Highlight special ingredients, cooking methods, or any dietary options (gluten-free, vegan, etc.).
• High-Quality Photos: High-resolution images of your most popular items can entice customers to place orders. Dishes with photos generally see higher sales than those without.

Category Organization

Make your menu easy to navigate by grouping items into categories (e.g., appetizers, mains, desserts). This helps customers find what they’re looking for quickly and encourages them to order more items.

2. Leverage DoorDash Promotions and Discounts

DoorDash offers various promotional tools that can help restaurants attract more customers. Utilize these tools to gain a competitive advantage.

Offer Discounts and Free Delivery

• First-Time Discounts: Consider offering a discount for first-time customers to encourage them to try your restaurant.
• Free Delivery: Offering free delivery during off-peak hours or on large orders can incentivize customers to choose your restaurant over others.

Participate in DashPass

DashPass is DoorDash’s subscription service, offering free delivery and other perks to members. By enrolling your restaurant in DashPass, you can increase your visibility among subscribers and attract loyal customers.

Boost Promotions

Boost is DoorDash’s paid marketing feature that allows you to promote your restaurant in higher positions on the app. Paying for boosted visibility can be a smart investment, especially during peak times or when launching new menu items.

3. Encourage Positive Reviews

Positive reviews play a crucial role in attracting new customers. High ratings and glowing reviews increase your credibility and help build trust with potential customers.

Provide Excellent Service

Ensure that your food is delivered fresh, hot, and packaged correctly. Consistency in quality will naturally result in positive reviews.

Ask for Feedback

Politely ask satisfied customers to leave reviews after receiving their orders. While you can’t directly solicit reviews on DoorDash, you can include a friendly note in the delivery packaging encouraging customers to share their experience.

Respond to Reviews

Take the time to respond to both positive and negative reviews. Addressing complaints or thanking customers for their feedback shows that you care about their experience and are willing to improve.

4. Improve Delivery Speed and Accuracy

DoorDash ranks restaurants based on various factors, including delivery speed and accuracy. The faster and more accurately your orders are prepared, the more likely you are to receive higher placement in search results.

Optimize Kitchen Efficiency

Streamline your kitchen operations to ensure orders are prepared quickly, especially during busy periods. Make sure your staff is well-trained to handle peak hours and that ingredients are prepped in advance.

Minimize Order Mistakes

Double-check every order to ensure that it’s accurate and that nothing is missing. Mistakes can lead to negative reviews and lost customers.

5. Utilize DoorDash Analytics

DoorDash provides restaurants with access to valuable analytics, which can be used to track performance and make data-driven decisions.

Identify Best-Selling Items

Analyze which items are the most popular and which are underperforming. Highlight top-sellers or create promotions around them to encourage more orders.

Adjust Pricing

Use data to adjust pricing based on demand. For instance, if certain items are high in demand, you may consider increasing their price slightly, or offering combo deals to increase order value.

Monitor Customer Trends

DoorDash analytics can help you spot trends in customer preferences, such as dietary requirements, peak ordering times, or seasonal preferences. Use this data to tailor your menu or promotional offers.

6. Offer Combo Deals and Family Meals

Customers are often looking for value, especially during group or family orders. Offering combo deals, such as a main dish with sides and drinks, or family-sized portions, can help increase your average order value.

Meal Bundles

Create meal bundles that offer a discounted price when multiple items are purchased together. This is particularly effective for larger groups or families looking to share a meal.

Upselling

Offer add-ons such as drinks, sides, or desserts at the checkout stage. A well-placed suggestion for a complementary item can easily increase your average order size.

7. Engage in Local Marketing

Boost your restaurant’s visibility outside of the DoorDash platform by engaging in local marketing efforts. The more you build your brand locally, the more likely customers will look for you on DoorDash.

Social Media Promotion

Promote your restaurant’s presence on DoorDash through your social media channels. Let customers know they can find your menu on DoorDash, and offer exclusive deals for those who order through the platform.

Collaborate with Local Influencers

Partner with local influencers or food bloggers to promote your restaurant. They can review your food and share it with their audience, driving traffic to your DoorDash listing.

Host Local Events

Hosting or participating in local community events can help get your name out there. Hand out flyers, include a DoorDash promotion code, and let attendees know they can order your food online.

8. Offer Special Menus for Peak Times

Special menus tailored to peak times or holidays can drive additional orders. For example, creating a limited-time menu for the Super Bowl or offering holiday-specific items can boost sales.

Seasonal and Holiday Specials

Offer limited-time dishes or deals around holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Valentine’s Day. This creates a sense of urgency and can draw in more orders from customers looking for something festive.

Peak Time Promotions

During lunch or dinner hours, offer time-sensitive deals to encourage customers to order during these busy periods. For instance, a “Lunch Special” with discounted items can help drive orders during slower hours.

9. Ensure Competitive Pricing

Price is one of the most important factors for customers when choosing where to order from. Make sure your prices are competitive with other local restaurants on DoorDash while ensuring you’re still making a profit.

Market Research

Research your competition on DoorDash and set your prices accordingly. If similar restaurants are offering lower prices, consider offering deals or discounts to stay competitive.

Value for Money

Customers are more likely to return if they feel they’re getting good value for their money. Even if your prices are slightly higher, offering generous portions or including extra sides can increase customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Boosting your sales on DoorDash requires a combination of optimizing your menu, providing excellent service, and utilizing promotions to attract new customers. By following these tips and strategies, you can increase your visibility on the platform, gain repeat customers, and see a significant increase in orders. Keep refining your approach based on performance analytics, and you’ll continue to grow your restaurant’s presence on DoorDash.