EasyMenus Feature Tutorials - Complete Guide

# Feature Tutorials

Complete guides for every EasyMenus feature. Learn how to customize menus, generate QR codes, track analytics, and optimize your digital presence.

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## Menu Management

### Creating & Editing Menus

#### Add a New Menu

**When to use:** Running multiple menus (lunch, dinner, drinks, seasonal)

1. Go to **Menu Editor**
2. Click **"+ Create Menu"** (top right)
3. Enter menu name (e.g., "Summer Menu 2025")
4. Choose template (Modern, Classic, Minimal, etc.)
5. Click "Create"

**Pro tip:** Keep menus organized by:
- Time of day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Season (Spring Menu, Holiday Menu)
- Type (Food Menu, Drinks Menu, Desserts)

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#### Add Menu Categories

**Categories organize your menu** (Appetizers, Main Courses, Desserts, etc.)

1. Open Menu Editor
2. Click **"+ Add Category"**
3. Enter category name
4. Drag to reorder categories
5. Click "Save"

**Best practices:**
- Use 4-8 categories (not too many)
- Order by meal progression (apps → mains → desserts)
- Keep category names short and clear

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#### Add Menu Items

**Two ways to add items:**

**Method 1: Manual Entry**
1. Select category
2. Click **"+ Add Item"**
3. Fill in details:
- Item name (required)
- Price (required)
- Description (recommended)
- Dietary tags (optional)
4. Upload photo (optional but recommended)
5. Click "Save"

**Method 2: Bulk Import**
1. Download CSV template
2. Fill in item details in Excel/Sheets
3. Upload CSV file
4. Review and confirm
5. All items added at once

**Pro tip:** Start manual, switch to bulk import once you're comfortable.

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### Menu Item Details

#### Writing Effective Descriptions

**Bad description:**
"Burger with fries"

**Good description:**
"8oz Angus beef burger, aged cheddar, caramelized onions, house sauce. Served with hand-cut fries."

**Why it's better:**
- Specific details (8oz, Angus, aged cheddar)
- Sensory words (caramelized, hand-cut)
- Tells customer exactly what they're getting

**Formula:**
[Main ingredient] + [Key details] + [Preparation method] + [What comes with it]

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#### Pricing Display

**Options:**
- Standard: £12.50
- Range: £10-15 (for variable items)
- Market price: "MP" or "Ask server"
- Hidden: No price shown (wine lists sometimes)

**Change price:**
1. Click item in Menu Editor
2. Click "Edit"
3. Update price field
4. Click "Save"
5. Price updates immediately (no republishing needed)

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#### Dietary Tags & Allergens

**Add dietary information:**
1. Edit menu item
2. Scroll to "Dietary Information"
3. Check applicable boxes:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
- Halal
- Kosher
4. Add allergen warnings in "Allergen Info" field
5. Save

**Why this matters:**
- Customers can filter menu by dietary needs
- Reduces "does this have dairy?" questions to staff
- Legal compliance in many jurisdictions
- Improves customer experience

**Screenshot reference:** Menu Editor showing dietary tags section

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### Menu Photos

#### Upload Item Photos

**Recommended specs:**
- Format: JPG or PNG
- Size: 800×600px minimum
- File size: Under 2MB each
- Lighting: Natural, well-lit
- Background: Simple, uncluttered

**How to upload:**
1. Edit menu item
2. Click "Upload Photo" or drag & drop
3. Crop if needed (automatic square crop)
4. Save

**Pro tip:** Take photos in natural daylight near a window. No flash. Simple white plate. Smartphone camera is fine.

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#### Photo Best Practices

**Do:**
- Use consistent style across all photos
- Show actual portion sizes
- Highlight key ingredients
- Use natural lighting
- Keep backgrounds simple

**Don't:**
- Use stock photos (customers notice)
- Over-edit or use heavy filters
- Show unrealistic portions
- Include people's hands/faces
- Use flash (creates harsh shadows)

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### Menu Organization

#### Reorder Items

**Drag and drop:**
1. Menu Editor → Hover over item
2. Click and hold the "handle" icon (⋮⋮)
3. Drag item up or down
4. Release to drop in new position
5. Auto-saves

**Pro tip:** Put high-margin items in top 3 positions of each category. Customers tend to scan top items first.

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#### Highlight Special Items

**Make items stand out:**
1. Edit menu item
2. Toggle **"Featured"** or **"Special"**
3. Item gets visual badge ("Chef's Special", "Popular", "New")
4. Appears in special section at top of menu

**Use for:**
- Daily specials
- Seasonal items
- High-margin dishes
- New additions you want to test

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##QR Code Generation

### Create QR Codes

#### Basic QR Code

**Screenshot reference:** QR Code Generator interface

1. Go to **QR Codes** section
2. Select menu from dropdown
3. QR code generates automatically
4. Preview shows how it looks when scanned

**That's it.** QR code is ready to download and print.

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#### Customize QR Code Style

**Style options:**
- **Square** (default, most reliable for scanning)
- **Rounded** (modern look, slightly less reliable)

**Color presets:**
- Classic Black (recommended for best scanning)
- Ocean Blue
- Forest Green
- Warm Orange
- Easymenus Red
- Dark Mode

**Custom colors:**
- Choose any color for QR code
- Choose background color
- Ensure high contrast for scanning reliability

**Pro tip:** Test colored QR codes on different phones before printing. Black is most reliable.

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#### QR Code Sizes

**Download sizes:**
- **Small** (300×300px): Business cards, receipts
- **Medium** (600×600px): Table tents, menu cards
- **Large** (1200×1200px): Window posters, A4 prints
- **Extra Large** (2400×2400px): Banners, large format

**Recommendation:**
- Tables: Medium
- Windows: Large
- Website: Small or Medium
- Print advertising: Large or Extra Large

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### Download & Print

#### Download Formats

**PNG** (most common)
- Best for: Printing, websites, social media
- Resolution: High quality
- Use when: General purpose printing

**SVG** (scalable vector)
- Best for: Professional design, large format
- Resolution: Infinite (scales without pixelation)
- Use when: Working with graphic designer

**PDF** (print-ready)
- Best for: Immediate printing
- Resolution: Print-ready 300 DPI
- Use when: Sending directly to printer

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#### Print QR Codes

**DIY printing:**
1. Download Medium or Large PNG
2. Open in any program (Word, Pages, etc.)
3. Print on cardstock
4. Cut to size
5. Optional: Laminate for durability

**Professional printing:**
1. Download Large PNG or PDF
2. Upload to print service (Vistaprint, Moo, etc.)
3. Choose product:
- Table tents (tri-fold)
- Stickers (vinyl, weatherproof)
- Posters (A4, A3, A2)
- Acrylic stands
4. Order and wait for delivery

**Cost comparison:**
- DIY: £0.10-0.30 per QR code
- Professional: £0.50-3.00 per QR code

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### Multiple QR Codes

#### When You Need Multiple Codes

**Different menus:**
- Food menu QR code
- Drinks menu QR code
- Dessert menu QR code

**Different locations:**
- Table QR codes
- Bar QR codes
- Takeaway counter QR code
- Window display QR code

**Tracking different sources:**
- Social media QR code (trackable)
- Print ad QR code (track effectiveness)
- Business card QR code

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#### Create Location-Specific Codes

1. QR Codes → Click **"+ New QR Code"**
2. Select menu
3. Add label: "Front Window", "Table 5", "Bar", etc.
4. Customize design if needed
5. Download

**Pro tip:** Label each QR code file clearly when downloading:
- easymenus_table_qr.png
- easymenus_window_qr.png
- easymenus_bar_qr.png

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## Analytics Dashboard

**Screenshot reference:** Analytics Dashboard showing metrics

### Understanding Your Analytics

#### Key Metrics Explained

**Total Views**
- How many times customers opened your menu
- Counts: Unique device opens (not refreshes)
- Goal: Increasing trend over time

**Popular Items**
- Which menu items get clicked/viewed most
- Ranked by view count
- Use to: Identify best sellers, optimize menu placement

**Click-Through Rate**
- Percentage of viewers who engage with menu
- Industry average: 325%
- Below 200%: Menu may be confusing or slow
- Above 400%: Strong engagement

**Avg Session Time**
- How long customers spend viewing menu
- Industry average: 1m 30s - 2m
- Under 1m: Menu may be overwhelming
- Over 3m: Good browsing, high engagement

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### View Analytics Data

**Default view: Last 7 days**

**Change time range:**
- Last 7 days
- Last 30 days
- Last 3 months
- Custom date range

**Filter by:**
- All menus (if you have multiple)
- Specific menu
- Device type (mobile, tablet, desktop)

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### Traffic Insights

#### Website Traffic Chart

**What it shows:**
- Daily menu views over time
- Peak days and times
- Trends (growing, stable, declining)

**How to use it:**
- Identify busiest days (Fri-Sun typically highest)
- Spot unusual spikes (review event, social media post)
- Track growth month-over-month

**Screenshot reference:** Website Traffic chart showing views over time

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#### Peak Times Analysis

**When customers view menus:**
- Breakfast: 7-10am
- Lunch: 11am-2pm
- Dinner: 5-9pm

**Use this to:**
- Schedule menu updates during slow times
- Staff appropriately for peak
- Time social media posts before peaks

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### Popular Items Tracking

#### Most Viewed Items

**What it tells you:**
- Which dishes customers are most interested in
- Items getting clicked but not ordered (investigate why)
- Items nobody clicks (consider removing or repositioning)

**Actions to take:**

**Highly viewed, highly ordered:**
- Success! Keep prominent
- Consider raising price slightly
- Create similar items

**Highly viewed, rarely ordered:**
- Price too high? Lower it or create "lite" version
- Description unclear? Improve it
- Photo unappealing? Retake

**Never viewed:**
- Hidden in menu? Move to top of category
- Poor description? Rewrite with sensory words
- Wrong category? Move it
- Just not appealing? Remove it

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### Export Analytics Data

**Download reports:**
1. Analytics → Click **"Export Data"**
2. Choose date range
3. Choose format:
- CSV (for Excel analysis)
- PDF (for presentation)
4. Download

**Use exported data for:**
- Monthly performance reviews
- Menu optimization decisions
- Trend analysis over time
- Reporting to partners/investors

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## Advanced Features

### Multi-Language Support

#### Enable Auto-Translation

**Free feature, works automatically:**
1. Customer opens menu on their phone
2. Menu detects phone's language setting
3. Displays menu in that language automatically

**Supported languages:** 40+
- Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Japanese, Korean
- Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Polish, Dutch
- And more

**No setup required.** Just works.

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#### Set Primary Language

Your menu's primary language (the one you write in):
1. Settings → **Menu Language**
2. Select your language
3. All menu content should be in this language
4. Auto-translation works from this base

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### Allergen Filters

#### Enable Customer Filtering

When enabled, customers can filter menu by dietary needs:
1. Menu Editor → **Settings**
2. Toggle **"Enable Dietary Filters"** ON
3. Save

**Customer experience:**
- "Filter" button appears on menu
- Customer selects preferences (vegan, gluten-free, etc.)
- Menu shows only compatible items
- "Clear filters" option available

**Requirements:**
- Must add dietary tags to menu items first
- At least 30% of menu tagged for best experience

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### Menu Scheduling *(Pro Plan)*

#### Schedule Menu Changes

**Automatically switch menus:**
1. Menu Editor → Click **"Schedule"**
2. Select start date/time
3. Select end date/time
4. Menu activates/deactivates automatically

**Use cases:**
- Breakfast menu (6am-11am) → Lunch menu (11am-5pm) → Dinner menu (5pm-10pm)
- Happy hour menu (5pm-7pm, weekdays only)
- Weekend brunch menu (Sat-Sun, 9am-2pm)
- Seasonal menus (Summer menu May 1 - August 31)

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### Real-Time Inventory *(Pro Plan)*

#### Hide Sold-Out Items Instantly

**During service:**
1. Open Menu Editor on phone
2. Find sold-out item
3. Toggle **"Visible"** OFF
4. Item disappears from customer menus immediately

**When item restocked:**
1. Toggle **"Visible"** ON
2. Item reappears immediately

**No republishing needed.** Changes are instant.

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## Tips & Tricks

### Menu Optimization

**Quick wins:**
1. Add photos to top 5 items in each category
2. Write detailed descriptions for high-margin items
3. Reorder categories: appetizers → mains → desserts → drinks
4. Enable dietary filters if you haven't
5. Review analytics weekly, adjust based on data

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### Common Mistakes to Avoid

**❌ Don't:**
- Use ALL CAPS in item names (looks aggressive)
- Write vague descriptions ("delicious pasta")
- Forget to add prices (customers leave)
- Upload tiny photos (look pixelated)
- Never update menu (goes stale)

**✓ Do:**
- Use sentence case ("Margherita Pizza")
- Write specific descriptions with sensory words
- Price everything clearly
- Use high-quality photos (smartphone is fine)
- Update menu at least monthly

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## Need More Help?

**Feature-specific questions:**
- [QR Code won't scan →](/help/troubleshooting#qr-codes)
- [Analytics not tracking →](/help/troubleshooting#analytics)
- [Photos not uploading →](/help/troubleshooting#photos)

**Advanced tutorials:**
- [Best Practices →](/help/best-practices)
- [Integration Guides →](/help/integrations)
- [Video Tutorials →](/help/videos)

**Still stuck?**
[Contact Support →](/contact)

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## Version Control
- Version: 1.0
- Date: 29 October 2025
- Format: Feature tutorials and how-to guides
- Covers: Menu management, QR codes, Analytics, Advanced features
- Target audience: Current EasyMenus users learning features