Six places venues lose customers before they walk in
First impression
On a phone, can someone see what you serve, where you are and when you’re open within five seconds?
Menu and booking path
A menu that loads properly on a phone, and a booking or order button that works in a few taps.
Google and the map
Your Google listing, opening hours, photos, menu link and the searches that matter, like “brunch near me”.
Reviews and reputation
Your ratings, how you reply to reviews, and whether recent photos show the food, drinks and room at their best.
Regulars, events and functions
How you fill the quiet nights: function enquiries, events, newsletters and reasons for regulars to come back.
Ads, social and content
Whether your Instagram, Facebook and any ads are filling seats, or just filling time.
From first call to action plan in five business days
-
Day 1
Briefing
A 30-minute call before service about your crowd, your quiet times and what you want to sell more of.
-
Days 2 to 3
Mystery shop
I go through your venue online the way a customer does: search, check the menu and reviews, then try to book.
-
Day 4
Findings
What's going wrong and why, in plain English. Every issue ranked by impact and effort, with quick wins for this week.
-
Day 5
Action plan
A 90-day plan for the bigger fixes, talked through with you on a quick call.
Choose your assessment
Essentials
A focused check of how customers find you and book a table.
- Website, menu and booking path
- Google Business Profile and local search
- Reviews, photos and reputation
- Written findings with quick wins
- Summary 90-day action plan
Full Audit
The full check, including the areas most venues never look at.
- Everything in Essentials
- Events, functions and regulars
- Review of three local competitors
- Instagram, Facebook and ads review
- 60-minute review session
- Detailed 90-day action plan
Fee credit: engage Dove Digital to implement the recommendations within 30 days and the full audit fee comes off the project cost.
From knowing what to fix to getting it done
The check tells you what to fix. Then choose how much you hand over: fix the website and menu once, and leave the weekly work to me.
Strategy and fixes
Website optimisation
Turn more website visitors into bookings, orders and walk-ins.
- A mobile-friendly menu that’s easy to update
- Booking, ordering and function enquiries in a couple of taps
- Speed, mobile and accessibility fixes
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile set up properly
Social media strategy
A clear plan for where to show up and what to say.
- Which platforms are worth your time for your crowd
- Content built around the dishes, drinks and events you want to sell
- A posting rhythm your floor staff can actually keep up
- How to shoot food and drinks that look good on a phone
Content strategy
A plan for what to publish, where and why.
- Keyword research for your cuisine, venue type and suburb
- A plan for website, blog and email content
- A simple guide to your venue’s voice
- A 90-day content calendar
Ongoing management
We create and run it for you, on the strategy from your assessment. Pick any one, or all three.
Google Ads management
Show up when locals search for somewhere to eat or drink.
- Campaign setup and keywords for your venue type and suburb
- Ads for quiet nights, functions and events, shown only in your area
- Weekly bid, budget and keyword management
- Monthly report on bookings, enquiries and cost per booking, where tracking is available
Social media management
A busy, appetising feed without the time drain.
- Specials, events and new dishes posted on schedule
- A monthly calendar you approve in advance
- Comments and DMs watched, with booking and function enquiries passed straight to you
- Monthly performance report
Content creation and management
Fresh reasons to visit, every week.
- Food and drink photos, reels and event posts
- Function, event and menu pages that rank locally
- Newsletters for regulars who have opted in
- Everything approved by you before it goes live
Straight answers from someone who’s worked with venues
I’ve spent 25 years building digital products and services, for organisations including Fairfax, Yahoo, Ticketmaster, Qantas, BHP and Century Venues. I’ll tell you what’s costing you customers, what’s worth spending money on, and what can wait. All in jargon-free language.
I even own a bar in Melbourne, which is why I feel your pain.
Paul Hannigan, Founder, Dove Digital
Could AI take some of the admin off your plate?
Most venue owners are curious about AI but too flat out to try it. I set up practical tools for the admin that eats your afternoons, and you stay in control of everything that gets sent.
Everything is set up with customer privacy in mind, and in plain English.
Ask about AI on your free call“Paul took my business and turned it into a complete online system: the brand, the website, the marketing, ads and launch plan. He spent time to really understand my business and my customers and never lost sight of the person on the other side of the screen.”
Diana, Clinic Owner, Sydney
Questions You May Have
How much of my time does it take?+
The first call is free and takes 15 minutes. If you go ahead, allow 30 minutes for the briefing call, ideally before service. The Full Audit adds a 60-minute review session. I do the rest.
Will this work for my venue?+
Yes. Cafés, restaurants, bars and pubs all get chosen the same way: search, check the menu and reviews, then book or walk in. If you run functions or events, I also look at how easy it is to enquire and book them.
Do I have to hire you to make the changes?+
No. The findings and action plan are yours to keep, and your team or any developer can action them. If you'd like me to do it, the audit fee is credited.
Do you work with venues outside Sydney?+
Yes. The audit is done online, so it works anywhere in Australia.