10 Key Features Every Catering Business Website Needs to Succeed
From the team at Marketivist — Orlando’s digital partner for small business success
If you run a small business catering business in Orlando, your website is one of your most powerful marketing tools. It’s the first impression for potential clients, your 24/7 salesperson, and often the final step before someone decides to book you. At Marketivist, we’ve helped dozens of Orlando-based businesses build websites that do more than look pretty—they drive real, measurable results.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to revamp your existing site, here are 10 essential features your catering website must have to grow your brand and generate leads.
Mouth-Watering Visuals
Food is a sensory experience—so your website should evoke taste, smell, and anticipation. High-quality, professionally shot photos of your food, buffet layouts, and past events help tell your story visually.
💡 Pro tip: Include a photo gallery that allows visitors to browse by event type—like weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Bonus points for adding short video clips that show the vibe and energy of your service in action.
2. Service Area and Event Types
Be crystal clear about the kinds of events you cater and where you serve. Do you handle weddings across Central Florida? Do you specialize in corporate luncheons in downtown Orlando? Spell it out.
📍 SEO boost: Using keywords like “Orlando catering business” and specifying neighborhoods (e.g., Winter Park, Lake Nona, etc.) can help your site appear in local searches.
3. Detailed Menu Pages
This is where you truly shine. Organize your menus by categories—such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, or specialty menus (vegan, gluten-free, themed, etc.). Consider including sample pricing or packages to give prospects a starting point.
We came across this local catering company: El Puente. El Puente has good imagery and a nice gallery, but it fails to easily show the users the type of catering services that it offers. The main navigation bar includes 3 options - HOME | Gallery | Story. The first change we would make here is changing the Gallery menu to a dropdown to include the Menu options - Each menu should describe the offering and include some base pricing based on the number of people.
Appetizers
Pasta Bar
Taco Bar
Burger Bar
Charcuteries
Private Chef
📋 Pro tip: Allow users to download PDF versions of your menu to share with decision-makers like brides, corporate planners, or HR managers.
4. Testimonials and Reviews
Positive word-of-mouth is golden in the catering industry. Display reviews prominently throughout your site—on your homepage, service pages, and a dedicated testimonials section.
🗣️ Advanced idea: Use video testimonials or client-submitted event photos alongside their reviews to build emotional credibility and trust.
5. Clear Contact Information
Visitors shouldn’t have to dig to find your phone number or email. Place your contact details in the header, footer, and on a dedicated Contact page. Add a contact form with essential fields—name, email, event date, location, number of guests, and message.
📞 Why it matters: When someone wants to book a caterer, ease and speed can be deal-breakers. Make that first interaction seamless.
6. Online Quote or Booking Form
Capture warm leads while they’re hot. A detailed quote form helps you pre-qualify leads while making it convenient for the client. Include fields like event type, estimated guest count, location, preferred cuisine, and budget range.
⚙️ Marketivist tip: Set up auto-response emails to thank the user and give them a timeframe for a follow-up—this builds confidence and reduces drop-offs.
7. Testimonials and Reviews
Positive word-of-mouth is golden in the catering industry. Display reviews prominently throughout your site—on your homepage, service pages, and a dedicated testimonials section.
🗣️ Advanced idea: Use video testimonials or client-submitted event photos alongside their reviews to build emotional credibility and trust.
8. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Even the best website won’t help your Orlando catering business if no one can find it. That’s where SEO comes in. Every page on your site should be optimized for keywords like “small business catering in Orlando” or “wedding catering Orlando.”
🔍 SEO essentials:
Use location-based keywords in headlines and subheaders
Optimize image alt text with relevant phrases
Include schema markup for local businesses
Ensure fast load speeds and clean internal linking
In the example above we can see the top results for the search ‘paellas orlando.’ This is a high intend result that will certainly generate qualified leads. In order to rank for these important terms your website must be properly optimized and follow SEO best practices
At Marketivist, we offer SEO services tailored for small businesses that want to compete locally without blowing their budgets.
9. Social Media Integration
Orlando’s event scene thrives on visuals—and your catering business is likely already posting on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Embed your Instagram feed directly into your homepage or footer to keep your site content fresh and engaging.
📲 Engagement tip: Use social proof by displaying comments, likes, or reposts from happy customers to boost your brand credibility.
10. Blog or Resource Section
Publishing fresh content not only helps with SEO, but it also establishes your authority in the industry. Use your blog to educate and engage:
Event planning checklists
Seasonal menu tips
Spotlights on local venues or vendors you’ve partnered with
Stories from past events
📈 Pro tip: Share these posts across your social channels and email newsletters to maximize reach. Even one blog per month can help build long-term visibility and customer trust.
Final Thoughts: Your Website Is Your Most Valuable Sales Tool
Your catering website isn’t just there to “look good.” It should educate, build trust, and convert visitors into leads. If you’re running a small business catering business in Orlando, it’s time to ask: is your website doing all that?
At Marketivist, we specialize in building performance-driven websites for small businesses—especially in food, hospitality, and service-based industries. We bring together branding, SEO, UX design, and conversion strategy to help you grow faster and smarter.
📞 Ready to Take Your Website to the Next Level?
Let’s talk! Whether you need a full site redesign, SEO help, or just a strategy session to see where you stand, Marketivist is here to help your Orlando catering business grow.
👉 Schedule a free consultation
👉 Or shoot us a message to learn more about our small business marketing packages.
