Table of Content
Modern LED menu boards are dynamic sales tools. Restaurants that install digital menu boards achieve an average 3.7× return on investment within 18 months.
That’s because the displays actively engage customers with bright visuals, flexible content, and timely promotions that result in faster decisions, bigger orders, and an improved guest experience.
Fortunately, by leveraging a few inside LED menu board design best practices, restaurant operators can successfully realize these advantages in their venues. Keep reading to learn how!
Why LED Menu Boards Outperform Traditional Static Menus
Traditional signage can feel reliable; print it, and you’re set for months, right? Unfortunately, “set for months” is precisely the problem. Once it’s printed, it’s locked in. If you need to respond quickly to changes, you’re out of luck. Compare that to a digital menu board, which you can update in seconds—no pricey reprints, no headaches swapping out signs across multiple locations.
Real-Time Content Control Across Multiple Locations
With entertainment venue menu displays, updating your menu is as fast as updating a social media post. Prices, items, or promos can be changed from a central point and rolled out to all locations in seconds.
For example, Megaplex Theatres, a movie theater chain with 15 locations, found that a change that used to take a designer a week to manually update on static posters, now appears on 800+ screens by the next morning after a single update to their sales system.
What does this all mean for you? Less waste, easier management, and a more consistent brand presence. Guests in each of your venues will see the same high-quality, up-to-date menu. And if you notice a spike in demand for a particular product, then showcasing it across all locations becomes a matter of a few clicks.
Boost Impulse Purchases with Motion & Video
We’re visual creatures. Movement catches our attention. That’s why static signs, no matter how bold, can’t match the magnetic pull of short video clips or subtle animations. LED board menus can display looping footage of, say, a new milkshake or a steaming slice of pizza, triggering cravings people didn’t realize they had.
Industry data suggests that digital boards can lead to an increase in unplanned purchases of up to 80%. It could be as simple as a customer intending to grab only a soda suddenly noticing a rotating image of hot, crispy fries and deciding to add them. Even minimal motion, such as “Chef’s Special,” can steer eyes toward your star items and entice more people to give them a try.
Reduce Wait Times and Increase Order Accuracy
Aside from selling more, digital signage for food service helps your operation run smoother. Digital displays make menus easier to read and understand quickly, which means customers spend less time puzzling over options in line. In one industry survey, 74% of restaurant owners said digital signage reduced perceived wait times for guests.
Many operators have also integrated LED boards directly with their point-of-sale systems to improve order accuracy. For instance, McDonald's ANZ found that using digital boards in the drive-thru (plus an order confirmation screen) boosted accuracy by 15%. When customers can see images or clearly legible listings of their selected items, they’re less likely to order something by mistake, and you avoid messy remakes and refunds.
Where LED Menu Boards Shine in Entertainment and Food Venues
Food Courts: If an item sells out at lunchtime, you can instantly swap in a new special instead of disappointing customers. Food court digital signage also lets vendors easily daypart their offerings (breakfast vs. lunch menus) and promote combo deals to capture busy shoppers.
Cafés & Snack Bars: If you run a small bakery, pizzeria, or coffee bar, you know how quickly your menu can change. Cafe LED menus give you the flexibility to highlight a new latte flavor one week and pivot to a pumpkin spice theme the next, all while keeping your overall menu layout consistent with your brand.
Cinemas & Theaters: If a new superhero movie is premiering, you might tie in the character to a special snack bundle. Fans get excited, and your concession revenue jumps. Some theaters integrating digital boards with their online ordering systems have seen millions in additional concession sales per year.
And when lines start getting long on blockbuster weekends, the ability to quickly adjust combos or highlight faster-to-serve items can keep throughput high and customers happy.
Bowling Alleys & Arcades: Because these venues cater heavily to groups and families, the potential for cross-promotion is huge. You can flash a message reminding parents that “Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays!” or let party hosts know about an upcoming discount on private lane rentals. It’s an easy, visually appealing way to communicate everything you have to offer beyond just a standard menu list.
Designing LED Menus That Drive Sales
Layout Hierarchy
Structure your menu with distinct sections (e.g. categories like Mains, Sides, Drinks) and use sizing/position to indicate importance. The most profitable or popular items should be given prominence – larger images or placed at eye-level – while less important info (like extras or minor add-ons) can be smaller. This way, customers’ eyes are naturally drawn to the items you want to sell most.
Dayparting Strategy
Dayparting is one of the biggest perks of a digital menu. Instead of showing your entire lineup 24/7, you can schedule it to change based on the time of day or the type of crowd you expect. For instance:
- Breakfast: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Afternoon Snacks/Happy Hour: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Dinner: 5 p.m. to close
This ensures your screen isn’t jammed with irrelevant items, which simplifies choices and speeds up ordering. You can also push specific promos at peak times (like discounted coffee during a mid-afternoon slump).
Cross-Promotions and Upselling
If you want to increase the average check size, suggest relevant add-ons. For example, if someone is about to buy a burger, display a quick prompt for fries or a side salad. If you run a bowling alley that also offers discounted game cards, your menu can flash a reminder like, “Add a $10 arcade card for just $8!”
Proven Results: How LED Menu Boards Drive Revenue
- Sales Lift Percentage: Restaurants typically see a 3–5% increase in sales after switching to digital boards. For a venue doing $1M annually, that’s an additional $30,000.
- Higher Ticket Averages and Attachment Rates: Digital menus nudge customers toward combos, sides, and high-ticket items, contributing to higher order value. Many operators report higher sales of featured items.
- ROI and Payback Period: Operators often recoup their investment in 12–18 months. After that, the boards continue generating profits with minimal ongoing costs, thanks to upsells and better promotions.
Real also: The Real Cost of Digital Menu Boards with Look's Insights
How Look Digital Signage Supports Your LED Menu Strategy
Transitioning to a network of LED menu boards might sound like a big leap, especially if you have multiple venues or a lot of staff. That’s where a platform Look cloud-based software steps in to simplify the process. It’s designed to help you manage your digital menus across all locations so you can quickly implement the best practices that lead to higher sales.
Here is how:
Advanced Layout Designer: Look DS provides a drag-and-drop builder with professional templates tailored for menu boards. Swap in your images, text, and colors to match your branding. Your menus will look sleek, consistent, and on-brand.
Convenient Scheduling & Dayparting: You can set up different menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night and have them automatically switch at set times.
Real-Time Monitoring (Proof-of-Play): Ever worry if all screens are updated correctly? Look DS offers live status monitoring and screenshots of what’s playing. If a screen in one location goes offline, you’ll know immediately and can fix it before it impacts sales.
Offline Playback Reliability: If your internet goes down, your menus keep running, thanks to cached content. You won’t end up with a blank screen during your dinner rush. Once the connection’s back, the system automatically syncs any missed updates.
Multi-User Access & Control: If different team members or franchisees need to manage content, you can set roles and permissions. That way, your marketing lead can handle design while local managers can tweak limited-time offers without messing up the overall branding.
Third-Party Integrations & Automation: Want your menu changes to sync with your point-of-sale or inventory system so that items automatically disappear when sold out? Or maybe you like using a Google Sheet for price updates? Look DS connects easily with third-party apps and POS systems using Zapier or direct APIs.
Get Started With LED Menu Boards Today
If you’re responsible for driving sales in a restaurant, café, or concession stand within an entertainment venue, digital menu boards might just be your new best friend. They bring you the ability to pivot in real time, highlight profitable add-ons, reduce wait times, and ultimately make more money while keeping guests happier.
Ready to modernize your menu boards? Book a free demo with Look Digital Signage and sign up for free!
