There are many guidelines out there to help make your website rank higher in search results – and it all depends on a scoring process Google holds behind lock and key. In this article, we will talk about the core strategies SEO experts use to optimise websites. Here are some best tricks that may work for your restaurant.
1. Make a Roadmap for Keyword Planning
The first step a restaurant should take is building its SEO roadmap with keyword planning.
What is keyword planning?
Keyword planning involves identifying the target search terms related to your restaurant’s website. These can be single words but can also include two, three, or more related words.
Then you can use free keyword planning tools to help you brainstorm other related keywords. With this tool you can prioritise certain keywords over other ones, based on how many people are looking for that term.
Below are some keyword planning tools that are free or give free trials:
- Google Keyword Planner
- SEMrush
- Dragon Metrics
Break down your targets into three categories: high-intent broad restaurant terms, niche keywords and branded keywords.
- High-intent broad restaurant terms are very broad and valuable keywords.
- Niche keywords define what your restaurant uniquely offers.
- Branded keywords are optimised for the name of your restaurant. It’s common for Yelp or other review sites to hold the first position on Google, rather than the restaurant’s own website.
Then list all potential customers visiting your restaurant. This can help you identify their needs and search for keywords specific to this particular demographic area.
Planning early can help your restaurant build a foundation of keywords that drives real value to your business, aiming for long-term growth and success.
2. Optimise for Local SEO
Local SEO refers to the process of boosting your online presence to attract more customers from relevant local searches. Listing your restaurant on all directories, restaurant review sites, and social media platforms with the same, standardised company information is an effective way to optimise these results.
Begin listing your business information on pages such as:
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- TripAdvisor
- Yellow Pages
All of these help establish your brand presence and identity, and also indicates to Google that your restaurant is a reputable business. It acts as a defense against your main competitors in a local market as your restaurant can appear before theirs in search engine results.
3. Get Customer Reviews
Studies show that having reviews in search results increases the CTR (click-through rate) for those pages, which means more traffic and more potential customers. Reviews also work as an indicator for Google during ranking local search results – Google shows the highest rated restaurants in local search results. It can also show your restaurant’s rating right on the search results page, helping you gain more customers.
4. Obtain Link Building
If you have a marketing team, you can go beyond reviews and try improving your search optimisation through link building.
What is link building?
Link building is the process through which you can get other websites to link back to your restaurant website. This demonstrates trust from that website, and signals to Google that your website has authority.
The more links you can get from other reputable sites, the more you’ll appear in searches for the target keywords.
5. Make it Mobile-Friendly
Most people use their mobile device to browse the internet these days. So how does this affect your restaurant’s website?
The mobile view of your website is arguably more important than your desktop view. Any site that is not mobile-friendly lowers its chance to appear high in searches.
So how do you ensure your site is mobile friendly? Ensure that the content on each page fits the screen size of the user’s device. You may wish to consult a UX expert.
6. Test Your Website’s Online Ordering System
Now that online ordering is very popular, many restaurants have added an online ordering system on their website. It’s important to ensure the process is easy, otherwise customers may abandon their orders.
Whilst this can mean a loss of revenue for businesses, it can also affect your search results. Google keeps track of when customers leave a webpage. The search engine prioritises websites that have lower bounce rates.
This is a case where user testing may be helpful. User testing will allow you to know the order process is smooth without glitches or bugs.
7. Include a Blog
Most restaurants have only a few pages on their website – a homepage, About Us, menu, upcoming events, contact details, and review page. But, you can include a blog page!
If you have a marketing team and want to invest more time and effort into search optimisation, consider adding a blog to your website. This can improve search rankings, drive more traffic, and develop your customer base.
Conclusion
This guide will help you create a strong foundation for your restaurant SEO, driving new revenue and brand awareness. Be ready to welcome more customers through your doors!
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