Implementing local SEO for restaurants can be an effective strategy to market your restaurant business online.
Search engine optimization helps promote business products and services to local customers at the exact time they’re searching for them. Here’s a brief guide on how to use local SEO for restaurants.
What Is Local SEO?
When local customers are searching for your type of restaurant, they need to be able to find you. Local SEO is the practice of sharing content and data, so search engines can effectively determine what you’re offering to local customers.
Local SEO helps increase your restaurant’s visibility to local customers. It’s the ideal marketing method for reaching people that search for your specific type of restaurant. Millions of customers use local search every day to find the best local businesses for their needs. Local SEO is an imperative practice to use with your restaurant.
Nearly 72% of consumers who perform a local search visit a store within 5 miles of their current location. This is important because it offers a very targeted online marketing approach.
Customers routinely turn to search engines to find information about local restaurants. But, some people search the internet without a particular destination in mind. Therefore, it’s important to associate specific terms with your restaurant in hopes of grabbing a customer’s attention. So make sure to highlight your unique dishes!
Using Maps For Search
Additionally, 86% of people look up a location using a map app. This is important because Google Maps has evolved into an essential component for local SEO.
Google My Business recently rolled out an update allowing businesses to add additional URLs and links to their listings. Restaurants can now add links to their online ordering page, update their restaurant’s bio, and showcase photos of their dishes. These extra links allow restaurants to differentiate themselves from competitors.
Implementing Local SEO For Restaurants
Local SEO (as described by these SEO experts) is implemented best to ensure businesses get higher rankings in local search by…” NAP consistency, local citations, and reviews:
First, make sure your NAP details (name, address, phone number) are consistent everywhere across web. The details on your business pages need to match up exactly with your website.
Second, get citations: listings in reputable local directories, outlets like trade magazines, local newspapers, industry blogs, etc.
Third, make sure you gather online reviews from your customers to show that you are a reputable business.
Aumcore provides a great step-by-step guide on how to get off the ground with local SEO. If you really want to dig into more SEO tactics, here are some tools that you can also use to get started.
But most importantly – either head over to Google My Business or use NetWaiter’s free Google Connect tool to make sure your restaurant’s information is updated so that local customers can find you when searching on Google.
For more information on how to leverage the power of SEO within the restaurant industry, we recommend reading How Restaurant Search Has Evolved.
Activate Your NetWaiter Site
If you want to attract more local customers and keep them informed about your restaurant, check out NetWaiter’s restaurant platform and network. You can search for, and activate, your NetWaiter site and app here:
