Attract More Customers to Your Restaurant on Google My Business
Have you started a Google My Business (GMB) page for your restaurant yet? If not, then you are missing out!
Google My Business is one of the best social platforms available online for restaurants. An optimized GMB profile will show up at the top of local Google searches. And since people frequently use Google to find local eateries, this type of exposure is more valuable than ever.
But what if you have started a GMB page for your restaurant and aren’t sure how to optimize it? No worries! In this post, we will help guide you through six simple steps you can take to optimize your profile.
Step 1: Fill Out Your Business Info
Start by filling out the basic information about your business. You can do this in the Info section of your GMB profile. Your restaurant’s location, hours, and contact information will all show up prominently in search results, so make sure they are accurate. You can also include links to your restaurant’s website and menu.
Overall, the more business information you can fill out in your profile, the better. Google looks on profiles with a lot of information more favorably and displays them higher in search results.
Step 2: Request and Monitor Reviews
The most successful Google My Business listings also have a plethora of customer reviews. Of course, reviews are especially relevant for local restaurants since word of mouth often attracts new customers.
The best way to start accumulating reviews on your GMB page is to ask your customers to leave them. One way you could do it is by making handouts to give out with each order at your restaurant. The handouts should feature quick instructions for how to leave a GMB review.
Sample Instructions for Leaving a GMB Review
Here is a simple step by step guide to help customers leave a GMB review for your restaurant. Feel free to repurpose these instructions for your own handout.
- Open Google and search for the name of the restaurant.
- On the right side of the screen you should see the restaurant’s Google My Business listing.
- Scroll down the page until you see the section featuring reviews.
- Click “Write a review.”
- In the window that opens, leave a star rating, write a review, and leave a picture to accompany your review if you want.
- Once you have completed your review, press “Post.”
Be sure to Respond to Reviews
It’s a good idea to respond to every review you receive, good or bad. Google looks favorably on those businesses that are willing to respond to bad reviews, and it also looks good to prospective customers.
The best way to respond to bad reviews is graciously and with a willingness to try to make things right. This will show your customers that your business is willing to go the extra mile for their satisfaction.
Step 3: Add Pictures and Video
People searching for your restaurant on Google My Business will want to get an idea of your business’s atmosphere. So be sure to upload high quality photos and videos of your location.
Try to display shots that show people dining there and having a good time. Images of an empty dining room won’t do much other than show people that you have a building. People want to know what dining at your place is like, so use your pics and videos give them an idea!
Of course, you should also post appetizing photos of the food you serve. You could also post quick videos of your chefs creating the food. Just keep in mind that GMB has a maximum video file size of 100 MB. So, make your videos short and to the point.
Step 4: Write a Business Description
Recently, Google My Business reintroduced business descriptions as part of their platform. In the space of 750 characters, these descriptions allow business owners to explain what their company is all about in their own words.
This addition is especially good news for restaurant owners because it gives them space to explain what sets their restaurant apart.
For best results, keep your business description simple and honest. Tell your company’s story and explain why your food outpaces that of your competitors. Try to work in key words and phrases that you want your restaurant to show up for in searches. For example, if your Chinese restaurant specializes in fast delivery, try to work in the phrase “Chinese restaurant with fast delivery.”
Above all, be sure to only include the most important information in your business description. Remember, you only have 750 characters—and only the first 250 of those will show up in search results—so make them count!
Step 5: Add Your Menu
As we mentioned before, you can include a link to your restaurant’s menu in the info section of GMB. But beyond that, you can also add your menu directly to your Google My Business listing! The advantage of doing this is that people will be able to view your complete menu directly in their mobile search results.
The option to add a menu is available in the Info section of GMB. When you click it, you will be prompted to manually type in each item on your menu, which can be a bit tedious. One way to make this process a bit easier is to copy and paste each item from the menu on your website. Just make sure that all the information, including prices and quantities of food, is accurate as you enter it. And remember to update your menu should anything change in the future.
Step 6: Keep Your Customers Updated with Posts
Once you’ve completely filled out your GMB profile, don’t just let it sit there and rot! Instead, use the Posts feature to keep people updated on what’s happening at your restaurant.
Posts are status updates your restaurant can send out. They will show up in the Google search results along with the rest of the information in your listing.
To create a post, simply click on the “Posts” tab on GMB and then click “Write your post.” You will be able to write a description of up to 300 words, add a photo or video, and add a button, which can include a link to another page along with a call to action.
To stay relevant, your business should send out at least one post a week. Posts can be about anything from special events to limited-time discounts to fun behind the scenes looks at your restaurant. Don’t be afraid to get creative and give people a good idea of what your restaurant is all about!