How you can use Google Reviews to increase your restaurant’s revenue
How you can use Google reviews to boost your restaurant’s visibility, reputation, and revenue
These days, the success of a restaurant extends beyond the quality of its food and the ambiance of its dining space. Online reviews, particularly those on Google, have become a cornerstone of restaurant marketing and customer engagement. Using Google Reviews can significantly boost your restaurant’s visibility, reputation, and revenue. Here’s a comprehensive guide for restaurant owners to make the most of this powerful tool.
Why Google Reviews Matter for Restaurants
Boosting Online Visibility
Google Reviews are directly tied to Google’s search and map algorithms. A restaurant with a high rating and numerous reviews is more likely to appear in local search results and on Google Maps. This increased visibility can drive foot traffic and online orders.
Building Credibility
Potential customers often rely on reviews to decide where to dine. A strong presence on Google Reviews signals trustworthiness and quality, encouraging more diners to choose your restaurant over competitors.
Understanding Customer Feedback
Reviews provide unfiltered insights into what your customers love and where there’s room for improvement. This feedback is invaluable for enhancing your offerings and customer experience.
Driving Revenue
Studies show that businesses with higher ratings and more reviews tend to generate more revenue. A one-star increase in your average rating could translate into a significant boost in sales.
Strategies to Leverage Google Reviews Effectively
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Click here to claim your Google business profile
Before you can start leveraging Google Reviews, ensure your Google Business Profile is claimed and fully optimized. Include:
- Accurate contact information (address, phone number, and website).
- High-quality photos of your restaurant and dishes.
- Up-to-date business hours.
Optimization helps customers find accurate information and increases the likelihood of positive reviews.
Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews
- Ask Directly: Train your staff to politely ask satisfied diners to leave a review.
- Provide Reminders: Include a request for reviews on receipts, menus, or signage at the checkout.
- Use Digital Channels: Share links to your Google Reviews page via email, social media, on your QR code menu or on your website.
Make the Process Easy
Simplify the review process for your customers by:
- Creating a direct link to your Google Reviews page.
- Using QR codes on menus or tables that take customers straight to the review page.
Respond to Reviews
- Acknowledge Positive Reviews: Thank customers for their feedback and show appreciation for their support.
- Address Negative Reviews: Respond promptly, professionally, and empathetically. Apologize for the experience and offer to resolve the issue offline.
- Engage Neutral Reviews: Use them as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Showcase Reviews
Highlight glowing reviews in your marketing efforts. Use them on:
- Your website’s homepage.
- Social media posts and stories.
- Printed materials like menus or flyers.
Monitor Trends and Insights
Regularly analyze reviews to identify recurring themes, such as frequently praised dishes or common complaints. Use these insights to:
- Adjust your menu or services.
- Train your staff to enhance customer interactions.
Handle negative reviews the right way
Negative reviews are inevitable, but how you handle them can make all the difference.
Stay Calm and Professional
Avoid reacting emotionally. Take a step back, assess the situation, and respond with a level-headed approach.
Acknowledge the Issue
Validate the customer’s concerns and apologize sincerely for their negative experience.
Provide a Solution
Offer a solution, such as a replacement meal, discount, or invitation to return for a better experience. This demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction.
Learn and Improve
Use the feedback to identify areas of improvement and implement changes to prevent similar issues in the future.
Read our guide to handling negative reviews
How to Incentivize Reviews Without Violating Guidelines
Google strictly prohibits offering incentives in exchange for reviews, but there are ethical ways to encourage feedback:
Encourage Honest Feedback
Instead of directly incentivizing reviews, restaurants can focus on encouraging honest and organic feedback. For instance, placing subtle reminders on menus, receipts, or table tents that say, “We’d love to hear your thoughts!” invites patrons to share their experiences without pressure or bias.
Offer Non-Monetary Incentives
If incentives are allowed, focus on non-monetary options that do not tie directly to the review itself. Hosting events like “Customer Appreciation Nights” or creating a loyalty program where guests earn rewards for actions such as visiting frequently, following the restaurant on social media, or sharing experiences (but not specifically for reviews)
Engage With Reviews
Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, shows customers that their opinions matter. Thank patrons for their feedback and address any concerns professionally. Active engagement not only builds trust but also encourages others to share their experiences.
Create Memorable Moments
Going the extra mile—such as offering complimentary birthday desserts or surprising guests with a personal touch—creates memorable moments that customers often feel compelled to share. While this isn’t a direct incentive for a review, it fosters goodwill and organic testimonials.
Using Reviews to Boost Local SEO
Google Reviews are a key factor in local search engine optimization (SEO). Here’s how to use them effectively:
Increase Review Volume
More reviews signal to Google that your restaurant is popular and relevant.
Maintain a High Rating
Strive for consistent, positive feedback to boost your average rating.
Respond to Reviews
Engaging with reviewers shows Google that you’re an active and attentive business owner.
Incorporate Keywords
When responding to reviews, naturally include relevant keywords, such as your restaurant’s cuisine type or location.
Tools and Technologies to Manage Google Reviews
Review Management Platforms
Tools like Birdeye, Podium, or Reputation.com can help you:
- Track and respond to reviews efficiently.
- Analyze trends across multiple platforms.
BirdEye
BirdEye is a review management platform that uses AI to help you manage and respond to reviews. Birdeye also helps you with review sentiment, translations and fake review identification
https://birdeye.com/review-management
Podium
Podium lets you manage your reviews as well as all customer interactions from multiple platforms—monitor, track feedback, and respond to all reviews and inquiries from one inbox.
https://www.podium.com/product/reviews
Reputation.com
Review.com lets you track review volume, quality, and sentiment at the brand, regional, or location level.
Review.comhttps://reputation.com/products/reviews-review-booster/
Manage your profile, respond to reviews, and update your information directly from the app.
How to manage your profile
To manage your Business Profile, you can:
- Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device
- Go to the “Business” tab
- Use the same Google Account that you use to sign in to your Business Profile
- Search for your business name
- If you are a manager or owner of the listing, you’ll see options to edit your profile
Customer Feedback Tools
Use platforms like SurveyMonkey, Typeform or Happy Menu Feedback to gather feedback before encouraging customers to leave reviews on Google.
Measuring Success
Track the impact of your Google Reviews strategy by monitoring:
Review Volume and Ratings: Observe changes in the number and quality of reviews.
Traffic and Sales: Use Google Analytics to track increases in website visits and reservations.
Customer Sentiment: Analyze feedback for shifts in customer satisfaction.
Lets wrap it up
Google Reviews have potential for restaurant owners looking to improve their online presence and customer relationships. By actively managing and leveraging reviews, you can attract new diners, retain loyal customers, and set your restaurant apart in a competitive industry. Implement these strategies today to harness the power of Google Reviews.
Natalie is a seasoned restaurant industry expert with over 10 years of experience in hospitality consulting. Having worked in roles ranging from manager to consultant, Natalie has a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of running a successful restaurant.
Why our QR restaurant menus?
From user experience to functionality, here are a few of the reasons our QR code menus are the best in the business.
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QR code menu FAQ
What is a QR code?
QR Code is short for Quick Response Code. A QR code (sometimes referred to as a 2D barcode) is similar to the barcodes you find on the products that you scan at checkout at your local supermarket. The biggest difference, besides how it looks, is that QR codes can store more information. Barcodes store basic product information like type, weight, and color. QR codes can store the same information as barcodes, and more. They can contain text, website links, geographic coordinates, and even images. QR codes, can be scanned by anyone using a phone.
What is a QR code restaurant menu?
A QR restaurant menu is a website that contains a menu for a restaurant. It is an online menu that can be accessed just like any other website. The QR part of it comes from the fact that people usually access it by scanning a QR code at the restaurant they are eating at. QR codes add convenience; instead of typing the website address of the menu, you just scan the code with your phone camera, and the menu opens up automatically.
Why does my restaurant need a QR code menu?
Just a few reasons your restaurant needs a QR menu are: hygiene, saving on printing costs, instant updates, customer experience, customer feedback, promotions, increased sales, increased table turnover, saving on staffing costs, customer data for marketing, and so on. If your restaurant does not have a QR code menu, you are leaving a lot on the table.
How to make a QR code menu?
Creating a QR code menu is easy and just takes a few minutes.
- Sign up for a Happy Menu free trial.
- Add your menu categories like “breakfast, lunch, drinks etc”.
- Add your menu items including their details like prices and descriptions, to the categories you have just created.
- Download the QR code we have created for you, print it, and put it on your tables or anywhere else you want your customers to access it.
QR code menu price?
We know our customers are small, independent businesses, so we try to keep our monthly fee as low as possible. We charge a very cost-effective $27 a month for QR restaurant menus. If you choose to turn on ordering, credit card processing fees and application fees are applied to orders. We use Stripe for processing payments. We chose Stripe because they give us the tools to build cutting-edge applications, and their pricing for credit card processing is competitive for our customer base. Compare their pricing to what your POS provider charges for online payments. Please refer to their fees here.
QR code menu example
We have created a qr code menu example. Click here to see it and play around with it. Sign up for a free trial if you would like to create your own QR menu and customize it the way you want.
How do QR code menus work?
QR code menus are online menus that are accessed when a QR code is scanned. Customers use their mobile phone to scan a QR code that is usually located on a restaurant table. When the QR code is scanned, the restaurant’s online menu appears on the customers phone.
How do you scan qr code menu?
QR code menu’s are easy to scan and only take a couple of seconds to open.
- Open your camera application on your phone.
- Point the camera at the QR code and the camera will automatically scan the code.
- Click the notification that appears to confirm you want to open the menu.
What types of QR code menus are available?
There are two types of PDF menus available. There is a PDF QR code menu, which is offered by some of our competitors, and an interactive QR code menu, which is what we offer. Both kinds of menus are accessed by scanning a QR code, but PDF QR code menus just show a PDF of a menu, and interactive QR code menus (the type Happy Menu provides) show an interactive menu website with all the advantages and benefits of an online menu. PDF QR code menus cannot be edited, have no interaction, no navigation, no filtering, etc. PDF QR code restaurant menus do not take advantage of most of the benefits that having an online menu provides.
Does my restaurant have to use table ordering?
No, you do not have to use the table-ordering feature. Some restaurants choose to use our QR menu for browsing only; their staff still come to the tables, take the orders, and run them through their POS system. If you do not wish to use table ordering, do not turn the feature on.
Which is best QR code menu generator?
Happy Menu is the number one restaurant QR code menu generator. Sign up for a free trial and you will be able to see why we are the best QR menu generator out there.
Do QR code menus increase order value?
According to a 2022 Deloitte Study, consumers spend an around 20% more when they order via QR code menus or online menus.
Do my customers have to install an app?
Happy Menu QR code menu’s are 100% web based. All your customers need is a phone, no special software to access your Qr code menu.
Can i still see my menu online without scanning the code?
Yes, your QR menu is a website with it’s own web address. You can link to it from your website, facebook, linktree etc.
QR code menus
Beautiful digital menus for small restaurants bars and cafes
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