How Your Restaurant Can Improve Local SEO

How your restaurant can boost its local SEO get more local customers

Updated on: December 12, 2024

Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a vital strategy for restaurants looking to attract nearby customers. With more than 75% of people using search engines to find local businesses, optimizing your online presence for local search is not just important – it’s essential. Here’s how your restaurant can effectively boost its local SEO and draw in more patrons from your community.

Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the cornerstone of local SEO. A well-optimized profile ensures your restaurant appears in Google’s local pack, map searches, and knowledge panel.

Claim Your Profile

If you haven’t already, claim your Google Business Profile.

To claim a Google Business Profile, you can:

Search for your business on Google Maps or business.google.com
Select the correct business profile
Click Claim this business
Click Manage now
Choose a verification method, such as phone, text, email, video recording, or live video call
Follow the on-screen instructions to verify and claim your profile

If you’re trying to claim a profile that already belongs to someone else, you can:

Request ownership from the current profile owner
Click Request access and fill out the form
Click Submit

Accurate Information

Ensure that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms.

Add Photos

Upload high-quality images of your menu, dishes, interior, and exterior to attract potential customers.

Post Regular Updates

Share events, specials, or new menu items to keep your profile active.

Manage Reviews

Respond promptly to reviews, whether they are positive or negative, to show you value customer feedback. Tools like Birdeye, Podium, or Reputation.com can help you analyze trends across multiple platforms and track as well as respond to reviews efficiently.

Create Location-Specific Content

Here are some ideas for location-specific content for a restaurant blog to attract and engage local customers:

Local Food Trends and Ingredients

Write about popular food trends in your area, such as seasonal dishes or locally sourced ingredients.
Highlight partnerships with local farmers or suppliers.

Neighborhood Events and Festivals Ingredients

Create posts about upcoming events, festivals, or celebrations happening nearby.
Suggest how your restaurant complements these events (e.g., pre-event dining or special offers for attendees).

Local Attractions and Activities

Write guides on attractions near your restaurant, such as parks, museums, or landmarks, and pair them with meal recommendations.
Promote your location as a stop for visitors exploring the area.

Spotlight on Local Customers

Feature interviews or stories about loyal customers or community members.
Share their favorite dishes and why they love your restaurant.

Celebrate Local Holidays or Traditions

Blog about unique local holidays or traditions and how your restaurant participates.
Offer themed menus or discounts tied to these celebrations.

Collaborations with Local Businesses

Highlight partnerships with nearby businesses, such as bakeries, breweries, or craft stores.
Share how these collaborations enhance your offerings or events.

Local Dining Culture

Write about what makes your city\u2019s dining scene special.
Compare your restaurant\u2019s offerings to what locals or visitors typically expect.

“Hidden Gem” Status

Share the story of your restaurant as a hidden gem in the area, including insider tips for the best times to visit or unique menu items.

Local History and Your Restaurant’s Role

Write about the history of your restaurant\u2019s location or building.
Share how it fits into the community\u2019s narrative.

Best Spots for Specific Experiences

Share the story of your restaurant as a hidden gem in the area, including insider tips for the best times to visit or unique menu items.
Create “Top 5” or “Top 10” posts, like:
– Best spots for date night in [City/Neighborhood].
– Best places to enjoy a late-night snack in [Area].
– Top family-friendly restaurants near [Local Attraction].

Seasonal Content

Blog about seasonal changes in your menu, focusing on the ingredients or traditions relevant to the area.
Discuss how your restaurant adapts to local seasonal preferences.

Day in the Life of Your Location

Showcase a typical day in your neighborhood and how your restaurant fits into the flow of local life.

Local Sports Teams and Events

Blog about how your restaurant supports local teams (e.g., hosting game-day watch parties or offering team-themed dishes).

Dining and Travel Guides

Create “Dining in [City/Neighborhood]” guides for tourists.
Include your restaurant and suggest other complementary places to visit.

Local Testimonials

Share reviews and testimonials from local customers and why they recommend your restaurant.

Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords

Your website plays a critical role in your local SEO strategy. Optimize it with relevant keywords that your target audience is likely to search for.

Location-Specific Keywords

Include keywords such as “Italian restaurant in [City]” or “best brunch near [Neighborhood].”

Meta Tags

Use location-based keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, and headers.

Content Creation

Publish blog posts or articles about local events, food trends, or neighborhood guides.

Mobile Optimization

Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of local searches occur on mobile devices.

Leverage Online Reviews and Ratings

Online reviews significantly impact a restaurant’s visibility and reputation. High ratings can improve your local search rankings and attract more customers.

Encourage Reviews

Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other relevant platforms.

Respond Professionally

Thank reviewers for positive feedback and address negative reviews constructively.

Highlight Reviews

Showcase positive reviews on your website and social media.

Get Listed in Local Directories

Consistency in online citations boosts your restaurant’s credibility and search rankings.

Local Listings

Add your restaurant to directories like Yelp, OpenTable, and local food blogs.

Consistent NAP Information

Ensure your NAP details are identical across all listings.

Industry-Specific Directories

Explore niche directories specific to your cuisine or restaurant type.

Utilize Local Schema Markup

Schema markup is a code you can add to your website to help search engines better understand your business.

Add Schema Markup

Use local business schema to highlight your location, opening hours, and menu. Here is more information on Schema how to Add Schema Markup

Test with Tools

Use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to ensure your schema markup is correctly implemented.

Rich Results

Schema can help your restaurant appear with rich snippets in search results, such as star ratings, hours, and pricing.

Use Geotargeted Social Media Strategies

Social media platforms are excellent for reaching local audiences and complementing your SEO efforts.

Targeted Ads

Run location-based ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Google.

Hashtags

Use local hashtags to increase visibility, such as #[City]Eats or #[Neighborhood]Foodies.

Engagement

Interact with local influencers and collaborate on promotions or reviews.

Focus on Mobile SEO

Many local searches are conducted on mobile devices, making mobile optimization crucial.

Fast Loading Speed

Optimize your site’s loading speed for mobile users.

Responsive Design

Ensure your website is easy to navigate on smaller screens.

Click-to-Call Buttons

Add features like click-to-call or map integration for convenience.

Host and Sponsor Local Events

Engaging with your community can improve your local presence both online and offline.

Collaborate with Local Businesses

Partner with nearby businesses for events or promotions.

Charity Events

Host fundraisers or sponsor local charities to build goodwill and attract media coverage.

Promote Events Online

Share event details on your website, social media, and local directories.

Monitor and Analyze Performance

Regularly tracking your local SEO efforts helps you refine your strategy.

Google Analytics

Monitor traffic and user behavior on your website.

Google Business Insights

Review how customers find and interact with your Google Business Profile.

SEO Tools

SEMrush, Moz, or BrightLocal to track local keyword rankings and performance.

Boosting local SEO is an ongoing process that requires attention to detail and consistent effort. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, leveraging online reviews, creating locally relevant content, and engaging with your community, your restaurant can increase its visibility, attract more local customers, and build a loyal customer base. Start implementing these strategies today to ensure your restaurant thrives in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Natalie

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.

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.