Why is Local SEO important for restaurants?

In today's digital age, search engine optimisation (SEO) has become a crucial element in the marketing strategy of any business. SEO is the process of enhancing your business' visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs), thereby increasing the quantity and quality of your website traffic.

But did you know that there is a specific type of SEO that can significantly benefit your local restaurant business?

This is known as local SEO for restaurants and, in this blog post, we will delve into why local SEO is vital and how it can help boost your restaurant’s business.

Understanding Local SEO for Restaurants

Before we dive into the importance of local SEO for restaurants, let's first understand what it entails. Local SEO refers to optimising your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches.

These searches take place on Google and other search engines. For instance, when people search for "best Italian restaurant near me" or "seafood restaurant in [city name]", you'd want your restaurant to appear in the top results.

Why is Local SEO important for my restaurant?

46% of all Google queries contain local search intent, meaning they include a specific location or 'near me', with search interest in “restaurant near me” queries having doubled in the past 5 years.

And what's more, over half of all “Near Me” searches lead to offline conversions, in other words, enquiries and reservations, so if you're not ranking locally on Google you're missing out.

How can Local SEO benefit my restaurant?

Here are some of the ways Local SEO can benefit your restaurant...

Increased Visibility

The primary reason why local SEO is crucial for restaurants lies in its ability to increase visibility. When potential customers are searching for a place to dine, they often turn to search engines like Google.

By optimising your restaurant's website and online presence with local keywords, you can ensure that your establishment appears in these searches, making it easier for customers to find you.

Enhanced Online Reputation

Online reputation plays a significant role in attracting customers to any business, including restaurants. Positive reviews and ratings on platforms like Google My Business can significantly influence a customer’s decision-making process.

By focusing on local SEO strategies such as managing online reviews and ratings, you can enhance your online reputation and attract more customers.

Competitive Advantage

In the highly competitive restaurant industry, local SEO can provide you with a significant advantage. By appearing in the top local search results, you can stand out from your competitors and become the go-to choice for diners in your area.

Increased Website Traffic and Physical Visits

Local SEO not only helps drive more traffic to your website but can also increase physical visits to your restaurant. When your restaurant appears in local search results, customers can easily find your location, hours of operation, and contact information.

HIGHER Conversion Rates

Localised SEO by its very nature is focused on capturing those micro moments where a potential customer is searching Google very specifically for what you offer, where you offer it. Because these searches are so high in intent, with a customer ready to buy, they’re way more likely to click through and make an enquiry, booking or order with you.

In short, local SEO for your restaurant can lead to an increase in foot traffic and ultimately, more business and revenue by driving enquiries and reservations and increasing those all-important 'bums on seats' that will improve your profitability!

How can I optimise my restaurant’s Local SEO?

Now that we understand why it’s crucial for restaurants, we asked LocalMark’s founder and resident local search marketing expert James for some strategies to improve the local SEO for a restaurant:

1. Google Business Profile optimisation

“Claiming and optimising your Google Business Profile is a must. Ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date, including your address, contact details, operating hours, and menu.”

2. Improve your online reputation

“Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Yelp, Google and Faccebook. Respond promptly and professionally to negative reviews as well. Improving your online reputation will not only help improve your local search ranking, but also provide the social proof that prospective customers need to make those bookings.”

3. Incorporate local keywords on your website

“Incorporate local keywords into your website content, meta descriptions, titles, etc., to improve visibility on local searches. Making sure you regularly add interesting, relevant and keyword-rich content to your website in the form of news, events and so on, can be really helpful too.”

4. Mobile Optimisation

“Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly as most local searches are made from mobile devices, and Google now indexes purely on a mobile-first basis. Improving your technical SEO is an essential foundational step to ranking your restaurant locally.”

5. Ensure you’re listed in local directories

“Ensure your local restaurant is listed in all the major local business directories - Yelp, Yell, Thomson Local and others including Facebook and Bing - with consistent Name, Address and Phone Number (or “NAP”) details across all of them.”

6. Consider some paid search

“Last but not least, especially if your business is new - or you’re yet to appear for any local searches on Google - consider some Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising on Google to support your local SEO efforts. This can help inform your longer term SEO strategy, while driving some immediate bookings and enquiries.”

In summary…

Investing time and resources into local SEO for restaurants can significantly benefit your business by increasing visibility, enhancing online reputation, driving more traffic (both online and physical), and providing a competitive edge. With the right strategies in place, your local restaurant could see a substantial increase in customer base and revenue growth.

Remember that SEO is not a one-time task but requires consistent effort for long-term success.

Who are you and what is this?

This post is one of many aimed at helping to support local business owners, managers and franchisees to grow. It's been lovingly researched and written by the expert team behind LocalMark, a London UK-based local SEO service that helps connect UK trade, service & retail businesses with nearby customers.

If you found this helpful and could benefit from more of the same, be sure to share, follow us on social media (links below) and sign up for our local business growth newsletter. Of course if you'd like help exploring the opportunities of local search for your business, schedule a free local search marketing consultation with one of our experts.