When restaurants are considered, online presence and ranking are significant factors. The internet has been a beneficial tool that assists in restaurants promotion and lets customers know about the offers available. The restaurant should possess a flawless web design, with a functional and concise site that offers complete information about the website. There are few practices to be followed in order to optimize the site of the website. By this way additional customers are obtained and also the ranking is enhanced. Let’s run through a few tips about SEO for restaurants.
Tips to do Local SEO for Restaurants:
1. User-friendly site:
Ranking in Google is determined by the usability factor of the website. When customers are able to get their requirement on restaurant websites, then they would spend more time on the site and hence average time for visitors is increased. The other aspect is a user-friendly site also reduces the bounce rate. Search engines consider these two aspects when evaluating websites.
It is always suggested to employ simple hierarchies when any website is designed. It would be great if the user’s thoughts are predicted while designing. Links are to be named with clear-cut names and to be placed where the visitor expects.
All pages should possess a navigation menu, in a commonplace found in other sites. Finally, the employment of breadcrumbs, as it is important to represent the users with the location.
2. Claiming business on Google:
It is important for restaurant owners to claim the listing on Google’s “Google my business”. This is a significant aspect as it enhances restaurant SEO. There would definitely be an upsurge in the restaurant business by getting listed in Google’s “Google my business”.
There are many Google features in this category of listing such as local finder, local pack, as well as Google map. These are a few important parameters that help in enhanced online visibility. By this way, an additional number of local customers can be reached.
3. URL’s to be search engine friendly:
The URL can be mentioned as the characters in the link that describes the web source. Users type the URL in the address bar. It would be beneficial if the URL of the restaurant has keywords utilized in titles. This is to be mainly considered for sites developed on CMS platforms, for example, Joomla or WordPress.
These platforms generate links in an automatic manner. The URL’s should be drafted in a way the users finds easy.
4. Website and content optimization:
The content and the website should be optimized for better restaurant SEO. High quality and appropriate content are necessary to rank high in Google search results. It is suggested to avoid keyword stuffing and draft contents for customers rather than for search engines.
Content should be focused on the customer about what they require. It is significant to employ the usage of H2tags, appropriate URL and titles.
5. Schema usage:
The website content should be one that the robots can understand hence it is great to make use of Schema along with microdata. The true fact is that search engines are looking forward and researching more about business, they look for the food category served, the operational hours of the restaurant, contact details, review from customers, blogs posts, etc.
The website should be coded in an appropriate way where the schema is well understood and employed. By this way, search engines find it easier.
6. The right keywords are important:
Keywords are the phrases or words that are typed by users on search engines. These keywords are aspects that the users are looking for. Hence it is important to concentrate on keywords for the website. The keywords should be aimed geographically and also associated with the cuisines being served.
The beneficial part of a keyword is that there are more chances for the website to be retrieved when appropriate keywords are used. The right keyword that best describes the restaurant would are chances to enhance restaurant SEO by means of keywords.
In order to assist with keywords, there are tools such as keyword planner, Google Adwords so that famed keywords can be investigated.
7. Use local Google+ and Google places:
A Google place is an excellent feature that needs to be used for restaurants to e visible in Google search. By using this feature the restaurant is also represented in Google maps for the physical location. This feature is useful as customers are able to know the restaurant’s contact details for ordering, hours of operation and also to find the address of the restaurant.
Communication is made possible with customers with the help of Google+ and also reviews are responded. It is also a perfect way to communicate with customers and keep them updated regarding any new offers. Hence Google + list is important to be initiated.
8. Descriptive SEO titles:
The crucial part of any webpage is the title. The title is the one that Google displays in its search results. Descriptive and short titles are suggested. It would be beneficial if the title includes restaurant type, food type as well as location. The title and content should be in coordination.
9. SEO meta descriptions:
There are few texts displayed under the title that are two of text or small sentences called Meta descriptions. Apart from the title, this is the second most important aspect of a webpage. Similar to the title, the Meta description should also be accompanying the content. Remember that the content published on the website should be one that’s appealing to customers.
10. Images:
It is mandatory to optimize the images on the website. This can be done for professionally shot food pictures that are large in size. It would be better not to include images greater than 150KB as it may lead to slower page load and result in the customer concluding the page. There should be a link between size and quality. The image can also be made descriptive with some keywords.
After the picture is uploaded on the page, make sure to add Alt tag on the HTML page. This is a beneficial aspect for text-based web browsers as they read through the alt attribute and avoid graphic content.
11. Social media:
There are ample social media platforms being used these days such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. When any social media network is considered it possesses links, contact details, and address. Under the local business, the restaurant should be mentioned. This would assist the local members to find the restaurant easier and also on facebook.
Social media profiles are a great way to discuss and share contents. It is important to concentrate on appropriate and relevant content so that users are engaged and would like and share the same. By this way, more followers and fans can be obtained.
12. Gain reviews:
Take the advantage of a review site like Yelp, Google+ and ask your customers for a genuine review. Move the conversation in a friendly aspect and respond to both good and bad reviews. Also, remember that reviews are left by customers for restaurants to improve. The customers should be comfortable with the site to write reviews.
13. Apply on-page SEO practices:
It is advised to follow on-page SEO practices and not to skip the same. Indexing is important so that the search engine is aware of the restaurant and on-page is mandatory to possess an appropriate classification for the content. There is a complete SEO strategy but these two are the key to be followed. The XML site map, robots.txt is checked to make sure the pages are indexed and Google search console is to be set to hunt for errors.
When discussing on-page it is mandatory to have keyword specific, and unique page Meta description tags, title tags as well as URL.
14. Mobile friendly:
After the release of smartphones, almost all searches and bookings are done through mobiles. Google analytics data shows that about two-thirds of traffic is from devices such as tablets and mobiles. Hence optimizing for mobile is important and when not optimized the page would miss the opportunity to be listed on the first page of search results.
15. Images more than text:
Google is more interested to see videos and images more than text. Restaurant business people can make an update of videos and photos. Also, there can be a timely update of photos, videos and also events of the restaurant online. By this way Google gains fresh content it requires without much effort.
16. Heading tag:
Headings and sub-heads of the pages are considered as heading tags. Their range is usually from <H1> to <H6>. When the number goes higher than the heading becomes less important. Hence the heading tags should be in an organized hierarchy with the pages. Inspect element is a function that can be used to check the organization of heading tags.
17. Enhanced snippet:
There are three elements in the search engine results and they are description, URL and the title. The information block thus represented is called the snippet. More details about the restaurant can be provided to search engines by employing Schema.org.
By this way, there are chances where Google can enrich the snippets and turn into a rich snippet.
18. Geo-tags on images:
More customers can be landed on your restaurant page, by means of Geo-tags. Images such as location-based images, menu visuals that are eye-catching, happy customers can be uploaded on Picasa, Flickr, and other sites too. The tags of the image are to be filled with keyword rich data and location.
By this way, there are chances to get to the top of search results. Geo-tagging is very simple and easy and enhances SEO.
19. Do not conclude with Google:
It is advised to make business appropriate with search results. A smart way is to know other modes by which users are hunting for recommendations in the same niche. Yelp and Trip advisor are recommended sites in which business pages can be built. These are specialized websites as they rank higher in Google search results. There are also other sites such as Zomato to be thought of for restaurant niche people.
20. Good presentation:
Smart marketing tricks are important to be used on My business page. Appreciated insights and professional aspects of the business must be mentioned so that the customers are impressed and choose you amongst the competition. All good aspects of the restaurant such as terrace dining, special pancake, herbal drink, etc. are to be mentioned.
This can be represented in the form of videos, photos, and images. Customers find media accompanied page to be more impressive than the usual one.
21. Conversations:
Though there may be more traffic on the restaurant’s website, it is important to concentrate on conversations too. In order to book a table, contact details, or find any menu, it should be done with just a click. These aspects are important for improving SEO. Also, each page needs to have a clear CTA. Potential sales will be lost if the browses the page and leaves it.
22. Online citations:
In order to gain good exposure and relevant traffic, citations are important. It would be beneficial if businesses are listed on top business listings. Also, there are few citation firms that work with the restaurants. Listing can be claimed by updating information, interacting with reviewers and also by adding desired images.
23. Result monitoring:
To monitor the SEO results it would be beneficial to make use of some good tools. The start can be by setting Google analytics tool on the site. This is great as it helps in monitoring the number of visitors gained on the website. To make sure that the SEO strategy is working, the organic search setting is to be concentrated on.
There are also tools like Unamo SEO that helps in analyzing and enhancing websites and also delivers progress.
Conclusion:
To make sure that the restaurant is successful and to gain more customers online visibility is important. By following the mentioned tips the restaurant is sure to gain enhanced exposure and rank higher in SEO results.