Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

Interesting piece of news from NYT today...

Mobile Upgrades for Restaurants Through OpenTable - NYTimes.com

More competition for the little guy doing mobile sites for sure, but OpenTable has it's downsides too and according to this piece, not every restaurant love 'em.

Read that second article carefully and learn about the negatives of using OT so you can explain to business owners why a "free mobile website" may come with a high price after all.

Steve

P.S. After reading that article written by a restaurant owner, I can't imagine why anyone would ever want to open a restaurant as an investment.

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

Thanks for the share Steve. It is only going to get tougher for the little guy or new guy trying to sell only mobile sites. It's not just programs like this, but the fact that traditional website designers (atleast in my area) are starting to offer mobile sites.

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

Very useful information. Thank you!

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

My first response to any restaurant that tells me that they're thinking of having OT develop their mobile site would be, "And just how much control do want OpenTable to have over your business??? You're already paying through the nose for their fees, and giving away your most valuable asset; your customer list... It would be MUCH more beneficial for us to develop your mobile site with a 'tap to call' button and let your customers call you to make their own reservations. You won't pay OpenTable a dime for that reservation and that customer belongs to YOU."

Given that, it shouldn't be that difficult to persuade an owner or manager away from the "free" upgrade.



John

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

Excellent points. I actually have a few restaurant clients, and can't say I've heard many positive remarks about OpenTable.

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

The smaller mom and pop restaurants will not want to get involved with a company like Open Table. Even with this merger there is still plenty of restaurants who need mobile websites that want nothing to do with OT. Think pubs/bars and smaller operations for penetration into the restaurant industry with mobile.

Restaurants are just 1 niche of very many that you can offer your mobile website design services.

Re: Duda mobile + OpenTable = 25k free mobile websites
 

Steve, thanks for the share.

The more I hear about such developments in the mobile/web industry, the more ideas come to my mind. I believe we, as the warrior community, can and will create better alternatives to those big players and provide much more value to the local/offline community in the long term.