How to build a butchery website

13 Jan

Even traditional businesses like butcheries need an online presence to stay competitive and grow. A well-designed butchery website can do more than showcase your products. Here’s everything you need to know to build a website for your butchery that works as hard as you do.

Why have a website?

Before diving into the technical aspects, its important to consider the purpose of your website and how it can compliment your physical store:

You can sell your products online - a website offers an easy way for customers to purchase meat cuts, bundles or specialty items.
You can obtain pre-orders for larger orders or seasonal meats such as Christmas hams. This will help improve product ordering and make a more predictable cashflow.
Promote your home-kill services - if this is a service you offer, you can educate customers about your process, pricing and how to book either through your website, email form or simply providing a contact phone number.
A website builds trust. Showcase your butchery's expertise, quality and local sourcing.

Essentials for your butchery website:

Here are the must-have features to ensure your website meets your customer needs:

Pages you need:

Home Page

Your website’s first impression should:

Showcase your top-selling products, home-kill services, or specials.
Highlight your unique selling points, like locally sourced meats or sustainable practices.
Include a clear call-to-action (e.g., “Shop Now” or “Book Home-Kill Services”).

Shop Page

An online storefront where customers can browse products:

Use categories (e.g., beef, lamb, pork, chicken) to organize products.
Include product details like cut type, weight, and price.
Add filters for quick searching, such as “organic” or “family packs.”

Product Pages

Each product should have its own page with:

High-quality images from multiple angles.
A detailed description (e.g., “Grass-fed, 1kg pack, perfect for BBQs”).
Pricing and stock availability.

Home-Kill Services Page

If this is a service you offer, this page should:

Explain how your home-kill services work, including regulations and processes.
Include an inquiry form for bookings.
Outline the areas you serve and pricing information.

About Us Page

Tell your story to build trust:

Share your history, values, and expertise.
Highlight your commitment to quality and local sourcing.

Contact Page

Make it easy for customers to reach you:

Include your phone number, email, physical address and a contact form.
Add a map if you have a physical store.

FAQ Page

Address common questions about:

Delivery times and pickup options.
How home-kill services work.
Payment methods and refund policies.

Blog

This is optional but a method we recommended to all of our clients to help them get more visitors to their website and increase the sales potential. Blogs can improve your SEO by increasing the presence of various keywords used in your customers search terms in Google which increases the likelihood of appearing in their search results.

A blog is a great place to post recipes, cooking tips, and news about your butchery. Blog posts give you more things to share on social media and are a great free marketing method to work on to help more customers find you online.

Pages you don’t need:

Avoid cluttering your site with unnecessary pages that confuse visitors. Skip pages like:

“Team Bios” unless it adds significant value.
Overly detailed service breakdowns that might overwhelm customers.
Generic pages like “Mission Statement” unless it’s part of your About Us content.

Key features/integrations to include:

To make your website functional and user-friendly, ensure it includes these features:

E-Commerce Features

Shopping Cart: Let customers view and edit their selections.
Secure Checkout: Offer multiple payment options, including credit cards and Afterpay/Klarna.
Delivery & Pickup Options: Let customers choose how they receive their order.

Booking System for Home-Kill Services

Include a form where customers can provide details (e.g., animal type, preferred date).
Automate confirmation emails for inquiries.

Product Filtering and Search

Make it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for, whether it’s BBQ packs or organic cuts.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Build credibility by displaying reviews from satisfied customers.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Over 50% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Ensure your site looks great and works seamlessly on all screens.

Loyalty or Subscription Options

Consider offering a subscription service for recurring meat deliveries or loyalty rewards for repeat customers.

Social Media Integration

Link your Instagram or Facebook to showcase new products and behind-the-scenes content.

SEO considerations for butchery websites

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial for helping customers find you online. If you want help optimising your website with SEO - get in touch with us.

Use keywords like “fresh meat delivery [location],” “home-kill services near me,” and “local butcher [location].”
Add alt text to your images for accessibility and SEO.
Blog posts can drive free traffic to your website — for example, “How to choose the perfect meat cut for any occasion” or individual blog posts to share your families favourite recipes, organised by a “recipe” category and a ‘tag’ for the cut of meat.

Streamlining your day-to-day operations

Integrate tools to save time and improve customer experience:

Inventory management: Track stock levels to avoid overselling.
Order notifications: Receive alerts for new orders or enquiries.
Automated emails: Send order confirmations, delivery updates and follow-ups to customers how to click-and-collect their order instore or with the status of their order.

Bullseye Social Media Templates Pack - *perfect for butchery businesses*

Promoting your website

Once your site is live, promote it to your community:

Social media marketing: Share mouth-watering photos, behind-the-scenes videos and customer reviews. Get a social media templates pack to speed up the process.
Local SEO: Get listed on Google My Business.
Email marketing: Send newsletters about specials, recipes or upcoming events.
Collaborations: Partner with local businesses like restaurants or food bloggers to boost visibility.

Crafting the perfect butchery website doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and strategy, you’ll soon be running a thriving online store that complements your in-person sales.