Christian Peper

Gratis bestelopties voor afhalen voor lokale horeca in Nederland

Posted on 21 March 20203 April 2020 by Christian

Door de Coronacrisis zijn veel horecagelegenheden in Nederland hun afzetmarkt kwijtgeraakt en verliezen ze broodnodige omzet.

Gelukkig zijn er ook veel slimme ondernemers die samenwerken om gezamenlijk een online bestelmogelijkheid te maken waarop mensen – die thuiswerken – toch eens in de zoveel tijd een maaltijd kunnen bestellen en zo de lokale ondernemers deze spannende tijd helpen doorkomen.

takeout window — Raam voor het ophalen van takeout en to-go bestellingen

Voor veel ondernemers is het moeilijk om een online bestelmogelijkheid te creëren op hun website omdat ze hiervoor de kennis niet hebben. De onderstaande diensten zijn gratis te gebruiken tijdens de nationale quarantaine en in enkele uren te realiseren. Daarna hoeft de ondernemer alleen nog maar zijn klanten te informeren via hun gebruikelijke kanalen: Facebook pagina’s, instagram, website, whatsapp of E-mail.

#supportyourlocalsNL
https://www.supportlocals.nl/

Andere lokale producenten werken gezamenlijk aan een heuse box met producten waar ze allemaal aan bijdragen. De box kan door mensen online besteld worden en wordt dan bezorgd. Op die manier zijn de lokale ondernemers in staat hun producten tóch af te zetten en verminderen ze de druk op de supermarkten die onder grote druk staan vanwege de bevoorraadingsproblemen en het hamstergedrag van mensen in de tijd van crisis.

https://delocals-utrecht.nl/ (Utrecht)
https://supportlocals010.myshopify.com/ (Rotterdam)

NOW Fonds

Steeds meer horecaondernemers zijn bezig met het opstarten van een bezorgdienst bij hun klanten en het mogelijk maken van het afhalen van maaltijden. Er is echter een direct verband tussen hoeveel omzet u nu nog maakt en de hoogte van de maatregel Noodfonds Overbrugging Werkgelegenheid (NOW), de voormalige uitkering werktijdverkorting.

‘Er zijn dus situaties denkbaar waar bezorgen en/of afhalen u geld gaat kosten in plaats van dat het u geld oplevert’.
Ad Bolleman

Dus het compenseren van omzetverlies door thuis te gaan bezorgen en producten af te leveren bij de mensen, kan er toe leiden dat uw omzetverlies daalt maar daardoor ook de compensatie uit het NOW fonds. Lees meer hierover bij Misset Horeca.

eScooter huren om bestellingen te bezorgen tijdens coronacrisis

Posted on 21 March 2020 by Christian

Ondernemers die tijdens de coronavirus crisis tijdelijk een eScooter willen gebruiken om hun producten te verspreiden kunnen tegen 0,50/km de scooter huren/lenen bij Felyx.com.

https://felyx.com/nl/nl/delivery

Op die manier kunnen lokale producten, al dan niet gezamenlijk, toch hun producten kwijt doordat ze met de scooter tijdelijk hun eigen personeel kunnen inzetten om bestellingen thuis bij de mensen af te leveren.

Bron: Misset Horeca

How To Post Updates To All Social Media Accounts And Google My Business

Posted on 11 January 202010 January 2020 by Christian

You’re probably familiar with the problem: you like to quickly post an update or photo to your personal or business Instagram, but then you spend a half copying that post over to all the other Social Media accounts you have. Facebook Pages, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, and so on. And last but not least, you really should not forget Google My Business (GMB).

GMB is your business profile on Google Maps and in Search. It’s where Google, if you are up to date and regularly refresh your content, retrieves semantic data about your company. It’s products, services, menus, opening hours, contact information and so on.

Businesses who are active on GMB have shown an increase in organic traffic from Google although how exactly remains a mystery. So it’s a shame that updating all of your channels (website, social, mailing lists) is so much work. Surely there must a tool that can help automate this? After all, they’re all services in the cloud so it should be easy to couple, link and integrate them all into a single dashboard/app where I can create my update with text, photos and/or video? Right?

Wrong. There are plenty of Social Media Scheduling tools out there, such as Hootsuite, Buffer, SocialPilot and so on. Sadly, these services cost money and to really get all their features you have to resort to an expensive albeit all powerful plan. But most of us don’t want to pay $250/month/user for these features, no matter how useful and beneficial to our business.

Check out Social Media Scheduling Tools: The Complete List (2020 Update)
https://blog.oneupapp.io/social-media-scheduling-tools/

However, if you are willing to sacrifice a little of your time in return for cheaper tools, you can easily tie two or three of these scheduling tools together to automatically update all the Social Media platform of your choice, including Google My Business, for little or no monthly fee. But you have to do it yourself and can’t work together in a team.

SocialPilot, $10/month, 10 profiles
- supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, Xing, VK
OneUp, $4/month, 3 profiles
- supports Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google My Business
Hootsuite, free, 3 profiles
- supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube
IFTTT, free, links Social Media accounts
- Free link between Instagram and WordPress
WordPress, free, 4 profiles
- free link between WordPress blog and Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr

Why do I list Tumblr, even though the platform is mostly dead? First of all Automattic has acquired Tumblr and will breath new life into it, I think. Second and most importantly, Tumblr has a fantastic mobile app that lets you create the most media rich posts/updates of all. Text or photo, yes, but audio, GIF or posting video natively that you didn’t record with the app but with your phone’s camera, that where Tumblr’s App really shines. So it’s my go-to app if I want to cross post media rich updates.

Power Up Your Social Media Channels

Now for an example, let’s say you want to use the Instagram app for updating your followers. You want to use Instagram, Facebook (Page) and your WordPress blog. Then…

Link Instagram to your Facebook Page. Free.
Link Instagram to your WordPress blog through IFTTT. Free.
Buy OneUp to feed your Facebook updates to your GMB profile. Only $4 per month.

Total cost: $4/month plus your WordPress plan – which could be free.

Brand New Colorful Website for BY AMI

Posted on 10 January 2020 by Christian

Marking the first year in operation, BY AMI has certainly had a dream start by any standard! The restaurant was all over the media and Instagram is full of the colorful dishes and InstaWalls that his friend Jeroen van der Wier has made inside the restaurant. You really have to see these 4 meter high paintings yourself to fully appreciate them.

Needless to say Ahmed wanted his website to more closely reflect the image and style of the restaurant, his dishes, drinks and InstaGram account.

So I made him a new website by switching to a new theme that puts his (blog) posts front and center to shamelessly show of his colors at first glance. At the same time, the redesign puts more emphasis on mobile-first paradigm through Google AMP, a high-speed mobile experience that is natively supported in WordPress, because more than half of BY AMI’s visitors find the restaurant by discovery rather than by name. This way, everyone wins.

Finally, showcasing BY AMI’s dinner arrangements and services in a way that lets Google add semantics to the search results, I added Structured Data from schema.org to the site. Now, Google’s search algorithm can intelligently add various data about baby showers, theater arrangements or business offers to present a user with more targeted search results.

If you’re inspired by this project and would like to know how I can help your website, get in touch with me and create your site on WordPress.com. I can jump in later and help you continue it and will finish it in no time!

New POS system for iZi ristorante italiano

Posted on 3 August 2019 by Christian

Very happy to report having set-up David from iZi ristorante italiano in St Maarten with a new cloud-based POS system from Lavu.com!

The new POS is software-as-a-service, which means he doesn’t need local servers anymore to record transactions. No Windows server to maintain. No software to update nor backup and restore. All data is safely in the cloud. In case of internet disruptions, the software has an offline mode that will record transactions and upload everything once the connection is restored.

Lavu POS 4.0

The expensive stand-alone (often Windows XP!) terminals that served as cash terminals or server stations can all go. The software runs as an app on iPads or iPad minis, that are easy to carry around by the waiters or set-up as a register using protective stands. The stands can also be securely bolted to counters or furniture to complicate stealing. But in case of (weather) damage, theft or malfunction, David just gets a new iPad, logs in with his Apple ID, downloads the app and after 10 minutes the new iPad is ready for business. He can then go claim the stolen equipment…

The result is a modern POS system that works alongside existing payment terminals from Sint Maarten banks for Maestro debit and credit cards. Apple Pay and Google Wallet can easily be added with a snap-on accessory on the iPad, when desired or needed.

Menus are easily created and added using the online Lavu control panel and price changes take literally 10 seconds. Waiters can stimulated to push certain menu items and receive a part from the profits. For instance, 5% of all Summerlicious menus they sell or 10% of the wine bottles but not wine by the glass.

Great course to sharpen your chef’s skills and become basic sommelier

Posted on 3 July 20193 August 2019 by Christian

The best thing I ever did was take a year long course at the Academy of gastronomy in * Michelin-starred restaurant de Echoput in Apeldoorn. Once a week, we’d gather from all corners of the Netherlands in a professional kitchen filled with marvelous kitchen appliances and learn about seasonal products, wine, techniques and each other’s experiences.

I’ve documented that year with my camera and made photographs of us as we progressed. This book gives you a great insight into the course as well as an overview of what topics are all covered.

If you’d like to become a better cook at home or you’ve always dreamed of getting your own restaurant, please consider taking this course. Peter Klosse is a master of flavors and has unique insight in cooking, plating and flavors. Theus de Kok was an executive chef here for 35+ years and there is nothing he cannot do or cook or recover (when you’ve managed to almost waste a fresh deer steak or salmon filet).

WordPress Implementation for Inspired Psychologists

Posted on 23 April 2019 by Christian

I’ve recently completed a WordPress implementation for two psychologists on Sint Maarten, who needed an experienced but fresh look to give advice on their proposed site map. While able to make the site themselves, there was already so much to do that they would be launching quicker with my help than they would be able to do by themselves.

My experience with creating websites and analytical skills also helped create their main menu and page content. This way, they just need to add content and be done with it.

The two friends and colleagues both share an “inspirational” love for their profession and I wanted to emphasise the no-nonsense approach of the two ladies. The language is very personal and direct and the site has ample opportunity to showcase their work with individuals as well as provide businesses with consultancy.

Building Native Mobile Apps for iOS and Android Without Code

Posted on 9 April 2019 by Christian

Most businesses have had websites for years if not decades. Designs and content changes all the time. Web Standards, Accessibility, foreign languages or multi-lingual sites. The work never stops. For last decade, mobile apps have added yet another channel by which to serve your customers.

Apple’s App Store started that movement in 2007 with the first iPhone and iOS apps are known to find a loyal following of customers. Google’s Play Store for Android apps have quickly become the leading (in numbers) platform but not for revenue generation. The fragmented Android landscape (the different versions that co-exist for customers and phone makers) makes it very difficult for developers to create stable apps that work for most if not all users and their mobile phones.

App generation, machine coded native iOS and Android apps, from a visual creator platform have existed as long as smartphones have. Capabilities vary but the power you get without ever touching a line of code is astonishing! That said, these generators are not suitable for all. A real developer is still needed for interfacing with remote systems, back-office servers or a diversity of applications that may exist in your enterprise.

That said, for 80% of the small business out there, these platforms for building mobile native iOS and Android apps serve a real purpose for an owner or general manager who’s tech-savvy enough not to require an administrator or developer and still reach his customer base.

User Interface in AppMachine — Creating an app in AppMachine

I have recently played around with 2 apps for some local customers here in Sint Maarten that each have unique needs and goals. I was impressed with the tools offered by AppMachine to scan an existing website. It creates a set of artifacts or “portfolio” of content that you can include in the default app or edit out (or adapt to suit your needs). Social media links, YouTube channels, contact information, these things are already crawled into the App for nothing right from the start.

Add a Product block with the top 10 selling items from a store or restaurant, a default delivery fee, include a CheckOut block with PayPal integration, et voila… you have an app that lets customers order your best selling products without a need for a phone call, order form or menu and payment integration means the order is already paid before it even leaves your venue.

Next, I’ll see how some other platforms for building mobile apps compare top AppMachine. I found a great description of the best platforms for building mobile apps on Mashable.

Buffalo Wings SXM

Posted on 26 March 2019 by Christian

It was a pleasure creating the website for the best place on St Maarten to get Buffalo Wings. Talking with Victor gave a lot of energy to help set-up a website where people can find menus, see photos of the dishes, get to know the product line that Buffalo Wings SXM has to offer and find a clear location and opening hours of the restaurant. This is a rare thing on St Maarten and something that more venues should do for their prospective visitors and guests.

Buffalo Wings
Restaurant | Bar | Sports

After having established himself as the go-to place for buffalo wings and creating 24 homemade sauces to match any style, flavor or texture you might be in the mood for, Victor is expanding his product line with delicious burgers, wraps, arepas and Venezuelan parilla. But he also wants to let people make their own famous buffalo wings by selling deep frozen, marinated, ready to cook wings and ribs for backyard or poolside birthday BBQs, family gatherings, company cookouts or beach picnics.

The website was set-up on WordPress.com for reliable hosting with high uptimes, automatic WordPress software upgrades, great security features, free SSL certificates with each domain and best-in-class antispam functions to fool contact form spammers.

I integrated Google My Business and Search Console, so that Victor has a good understanding of how people end up on the website or what they searched for to get there. This will help him create better focused social media ads and which promotions were successful and which not.

Google My Business
Google Search

Kalliopie Designs

Posted on 22 March 201922 March 2019 by Christian

When a friend needs your help, you go and help. So when my friend told me about her passion and hobby to make high-end custom hand and clutch bags for friends, family and customers but didn’t know how to update her website, I jumped in.

Kalli studied Arts and Design in Philly and started making bags right away. First for herself, you know how that goes, but soon all her friends wanted one too. Her trademark – signature – is the “Evil Eye” which is a Greek symbol.

The evil eye is a curse or legend believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury. Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called “evil eyes”
Wikipedia

She also has a cool “skull” design, which reminded me a lot of the Mexican symbol used for “Dia de las Muertos“, the day of the dead. Both are really well done and the quality of her products is superb. Too bad you can only make so many bags by yourself, but she’s looking to increase production. When that happens, the site is easily expanded to include a little shop.

Best thing about this site is that Kalli already had professional photos done with her bags and dresses by St Maarten’s celebrity fashion and art photographer Yotam Sandak using her gorgeous friend Natascha as a model. It is easy to take pictures, harder to take good photos but it’s very hard to make beautiful great photos of models and products. I recognized the level of skills immediately and making the portfolio section for the sites was a joy!

https://kalliopiedesigns.com/