What Cafe & Bistro Owners Need to Know About Local SEO

As a business owner, you have most likely heard of search engine optimization (SEO), but have you heard of local SEO?

Local SEO is a strategy you can employ to help your restaurant show up in local search results. This is most important for restaurant owners because your target is people in your local geographic area.

Let’s look at what café and bistro owners need to know about local SEO. 

Leverage Your Google Business Profile

If you don’t currently have a Google business page for your restaurant, you need to do this as soon as possible as it’s vital for your local SEO. It’s key to maximizing visibility for your café or bistro. 

Having a Google Business Profile also ensures that you’ll show up on Google Maps and search results. If you have a profile, you may show up three times on search engine results pages. First, if you’re using Google Ads, your ad shows up. Next, you may show up in organic search results, and you may show up in the Google Maps section.  

Consider this the trifecta for local SEO. Google Ads dominate the top spaces, and your Google Business Profile gains local traction, while your organic search drives traffic to your website.  

Keep your profile updated and post several times a week to stay prevalent in local SEO.

Get Listed in the Local Pack

The Google Local Pack shows up on Google search engine results pages. You’ll notice these three businesses accompanied by a map and even a photo (taken from your Google Business Profile). Usually, these are at the top or near the top of the page and relate to the search term used.

It’s a great place to be for your café or bistro when hungry customers are looking for a place to eat.

When it comes to getting listed here, you want to be aware of three things Google is looking for: 

1. Relevance – this is how relevant your café or bistro is to what people are searching for. It’s important that you have keywords on your website that are location-specific. Also, keep your website updated with the newest hours, location, menu, etc.
2. Distance – this is how far from your business is from where the person searching is located.
3. Prominence – this brings your reputation into play and shows how important Google thinks you are. You want to focus on getting positive Google reviews and large numbers of them.

The Local Pack takes up a lot of real estate on search engine results pages, which is why you want to aim for these spots. It attracts foot traffic as well as guiding people to your phone, location, and menu. (tweet this)

To get into one of these spots, it’s important to create a Google Business Profile and keep it up to date, as we mentioned earlier.

In addition, you want to add local keywords to your website. Consider a keyword like “best Italian food” or “best hamburgers in Atlanta.” Try to tie what you’re known for to your location. You can use a keyword tool to help you. 

Improve Your Local Ranking Signals

To improve your local SEO and gain traction in the Local Pack, here are a few more tips to get more people in your doors and clicking through to your website. 

• Optimize your Google Business Profile. Yes, we’ve said it, but it must be up to date with your latest menu, hours, phone number, and more. You also want to post to it like you would other social platforms. And finally, make sure it’s verified.
• Start a review campaign. Ask your customers to give you a review. If you get a negative review, respond with empathy and kindness. Respond to every review you get.
• Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are the same everywhere online. Check your social media platforms and other business listings to make sure your NAP matches your website and Google Business Profile.
• Get relevant backlinks. Ask local influencers and businesses in your town to link back to you. This tells Google your restaurant matters. Think local distributors, the Chamber of Commerce, and even local events you sponsor for backlinks.
• Use analytics to see how well you’re performing.
• Keep your website fresh with regular new content. Leverage your blog.

Work on Your Keywords

SEO is never done, which also holds true for local SEO. You want to use keyword tools and research to ensure you have the most relevant keywords for Google searches. (tweet this)

Consider longtail keywords as well. These are phrases with three or more words. For example, this might be “Indian restaurants in Dallas.” Longtail keywords will bring you better leads for your restaurant.

 Think about what words customers might use to search for a restaurant like yours and make sure they are on your website.  

As Google crawls your website, it looks for keywords. So, you want to use your keywords not only in your body copy but in your page titles, heading tags, and meta descriptions.  

Do be careful, though, and stay away from keyword stuffing as this will hurt your search engine rankings. The keywords should naturally flow in your content.

Use Content as a Tool

Google loves fresh content, and this is a great way to enhance your local SEO. Concentrate on blogs, infographics, videos, and other downloadable content.

When coming up with topics, they should be things your website visitors would find interesting and engaging. For example, write a blog and shoot a video showing how you make certain dishes. This creates relationships and keeps people on your website and, ultimately, in your restaurant or ordering online.

Final Thoughts

With nearly half of all Google searches having local intent, it’s never been more important to focus on your SEO.

Local search plays a huge role in how new diners find your café and bistro. So, check out your Google Business Profile and make sure it’s optimized. Create a keyword strategy and a content strategy, and make a plan for getting more reviews.

With these tips, you’re on your way to improving your local SEO.

Is your website ready to help you succeed with search engine optimization? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online orders and reservations. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Louis Hansel and Mihai Moisa on Unsplash

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