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Will requiring online customers to register their email address turn away business?
I have an online restaurant menu for both pickup and delivery. I am wondering if most people are adverse to registering an online account before they can purchase. For customers that place an order for pickup at the restaurant, I need a name, email and phone number. For delivery, I need the same but the delivery address anyways.

Asked by jkiene
Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2008  |  Found in Sales & Marketing


More answers by Kim T. Gordon
Answer by Kim T. Gordon
There's a rule of thumb that the longer the form, the less likely people are to fill it out. But in your case, you're asking for the information in order to serve the customers' needs. I suggest you tell customers that if they register once they won't have to put in their delivery information each time they order. Promise to save them time--increase convenience--and most will be happy to comply. It's unlikely customers will believe you really need their email addresses, except perhaps for future promotion, so to obtain this you might offer a reward, such as a coupon for first time registrations.
Kim Gordon is the owner of National Marketing Federation and is a multifaceted marketing expert, speaker, author and media spokesperson. Her latest book is Maximum Marketing, Minimum Dollars.


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