WebCitz started working with this client in 2012
- Client: Yoder's Kitchen
- Platform: Joomla
- Industry: Food & Beverage
- Services: Digital Marketing, Maintenance / Support, Web Development, Web Hosting
The Challenge
For a restaurant rooted in tradition, the website needed to feel authentic without being technologically dated. Their primary needs included:
- Menu Accessibility: A way to showcase their extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus – along with their famous bakery items – that was easy for customers to read on any device.
- Local “Destinational” SEO: Arthur, IL, attracts significant tourism. The site needed to rank for visitors looking for “Amish dining” or “Arthur restaurants” before they even arrived in town.
- Brand Voice: Content that conveyed the warmth, community, and “from-scratch” philosophy that defines the Yoder’s experience.
The WebCitz Solution
We provided a comprehensive launch and growth strategy that centered on the restaurant’s unique community standing:
- Custom Joomla Development: We built a bespoke Joomla site designed with a warm, inviting aesthetic. The structure was optimized for speed and mobile responsiveness, ensuring travelers could easily find directions and hours while on the road.
- Digital Menu Architecture: We moved beyond simple PDF menus. We built an interactive, web-based menu system that allowed the restaurant to highlight daily specials, buffet highlights, and their bakery’s signature pies.
- Content Writing & Storytelling: Our team wrote original copy for the site, focusing on the history of Yoder’s Kitchen and their commitment to traditional recipes. This helped build an emotional connection with diners before they ever tasted the food.
- Local SEO Strategy: We executed a local search campaign to ensure Yoder’s Kitchen appeared at the top of search results for the Arthur and Arcola areas. This was critical for capturing “stop-over” traffic from the nearby interstate.
- Managed Hosting & Maintenance: For the duration of our three-year partnership, we provided a secure, high-uptime hosting environment, ensuring the “open” sign was always visible on their digital storefront.
The Result
Between 2012 and 2015, WebCitz helped Yoder’s Kitchen establish a professional digital footprint that matched their local reputation. We successfully modernized their presentation and improved their visibility to tourists. While they eventually transitioned to a provider bundled with their local advertising, the digital foundation we built helped solidify their status as a premier dining destination in Illinois’ Amish country.
