Menu basics

When you change your menu in Checkle the data gets synced to your website via our embed (if installed on your site), any platform that has structured data, and any platform that allows a 'menu URL' attribute inserted on the profile.

The 2 most important platforms to have your menu always up to date are:

• Your website (immediately reflects your changes)

• Google Business Profile (reflects your changes within 1 hour)

When you make changes to your structured menu in Checkle, each of these platforms reflect changes within 1hour. 

We strongly recommend creating your menus in the structured format. 

If you do not want to type in all of your structured menu data, that is understandable! Our team can do it for you. 

Turn in a 'Menu Request Update' and the Checkle team will do it for you. 

The biggest reason is because this is the format that Google accepts. This is most likely where your menu is being viewed the most. 

Here are some other important reasons:

1. Improved Data Accessibility

• Structured Menus: Allow for easy access and manipulation of individual items (e.g., prices, descriptions, availability).

• Files (e.g., PDFs): Require manual extraction and editing, which is more time-consuming and prone to errors.

2. Faster Updates

• Structured Menus: Can be updated in real-time with minimal effort, syncing changes instantly across platforms.

• Files: Need to be edited, re-uploaded, and manually redistributed, delaying updates.

3. Enhanced User Experience

• Structured Menus: Provide a seamless and interactive experience for customers viewing your menu on their phones. The structured menu experience allows the menu to fit the screen size no matter whatever device type they are on. 

• Files: Often need to be downloaded or viewed in a separate window, which can frustrate users and deter them from engaging further.

4. Better SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Structured Menus: The data is indexed by search engines, making menu items and details easier to find in search results.

• Files: Are not crawlable or indexed in the same way, limiting their visibility in search engine results.

5. Cross-Platform Compatibility

• Structured Menus: Can be formatted and displayed uniformly across multiple platforms.

• Files: May not display well on all devices or platforms, leading to inconsistent user experiences.

6. Enhanced Customer Engagement

• Structured Menus: Allow features like clickable links (e.g., “Order Now” or “Reserve Table”), improving customer interaction.

• Files: Lack interactive elements, limiting their functionality.

7. Reduced Risk of Errors

• Structured Menus: Changes can be validated instantly, ensuring accuracy across platforms.

• Files: Manual updates increase the risk of errors or discrepancies.

8. Platform Requirements

• Some platforms, such as Google, prefer or require structured data for features like menu previews or item highlights. 

• Uploading static files may limit the menu’s display options on these platforms.