2021. A quiet, calm time. Marketing is already boiling — both at work and in my head. But I wanted something new. Something useful. So I decided: I’m going to start learning how to build websites.
Why? Well, retirement will happen someday (probably). And to avoid getting bored during that very retirement, I need another trade up my sleeve. And what could be better than building little websites from the comfort of home?
The first steps — a total nightmare. Everything is too complicated. Few courses exist, even fewer are actually understandable, and those are aimed at IT specialists. But the interest didn’t fade. Six months later, I already knew what domains, subdomains, themes, child themes, SMTP setup, banner carousels, and other assorted magic were.
A year later — my first proper website. For whom? For the nearest shashlyk spot.
How did that happen?
I’m sitting at home, craving shashlyk. I find the closest place on Yandex Maps with a 5-star rating. No website, though. I decide to go check it out. The shashlyk turned out to be absolutely killer. But brand awareness? Nonexistent.
For some reason, I felt inspired (the shashlyk was magical): “Let me make them a website. For practice. And, of course, for the shashlyk.”
What happened next:
Made the website (crooked, wonky, with errors — first pancake is always a lump, I’m being honest).
Packaged it into a local brand.
Designed a logo and visual identity.
Launched ads, set up Yandex.Business.
Started responding to reviews on the maps.
The results after 3 years:
Delivery orders grew almost 4 times. The owner was even able to raise prices.
Restaurant foot traffic skyrocketed almost 2.7 times.
The restaurant has had a “Good Place” sticker from Yandex for 3 years straight.
The rating on Yandex Maps — a solid 5 stars.
For me — a permanent 70% discount on the entire menu.
The website lives on its own: 200 unique users per month.
I’ve offered many times to redo the site properly, make it nice, set up online orders, polish the visuals. But the owner resists. He says: “I like it just the way it is.”
Well then. If it works and brings value — it has the right to exist. Even if it looks absolutely cringey.
And me? I’m proud of it. This is my first website. And my shashlyk.
P.S. The website is still alive: shashlyk-bistro.ru. If you decide to order — don’t judge the design too harshly. It was made with love. And a hungry belly. 😄
