From Invisible to Unmissable: Google Maps Tips for Restaurant Owners
Want to make sure your restaurant gets noticed on Google Maps? This week, we’re uncovering the secrets behind how customers search for food online and sharing powerful tips to help you climb the Google Maps rankings.
What is Google Maps Ranking and Why Is It Important?
Google Maps ranking should be a top priority for F&B businesses looking to attract new customers and build their online presence.
According to recent study, 62% of customers discover restaurants on Google. Customers often search based on location and food type, with common phrases like “restaurants near me” or “food near [location].” For instance, a family with pets visiting East Coast Park might search for “pet-friendly family restaurant in East Coast” to find suitable dining options.
What Do Customers See When They Search Via “Near me” Terms?
When searching for food on Google, customers see several nearby locations on the map and the top three choices for their search. On mobile devices, the top three results (known as the “Google Map Pack”) take up most of the screen. If they click on “More places,” Google displays a list of restaurants that match their criteria and location.
According to Podium, the top three organic results receive nearly 75% of all clicks, with click rates decreasing as you go down the list.
Focusing on local SEO can significantly improve your organic traffic from nearby customers. Enhancing your Google Business listing and prioritizing Google Maps marketing will boost your ranking and conversion rates.
Power of an Optimized Google Business Listing
When we searched for “food near Suntec City” on Google, Xiang Xiang Hunan appeared as the top result.
This is no coincidence. Our in-depth analysis of the consumer journey at Xiang Xiang Hunan reveals the effectiveness of their optimized Google business listing. Their various outlets consistently rank highly for different search terms, thanks to strategic optimization efforts. You can read the full analysis of their digital dining experience and how they achieved these rankings here.
Google Maps Ranking Factors
1. Relevance: How well your business matches the user’s query.
2. Distance: How close you are to the search user.
3. Prominence: How well-known and well-liked your business is.
Lucky for you, relevance and prominence are factors you can improve to get your business higher up the search results list.
4 Simple Tips to Improve Your Google Maps Ranking
🌟 1. Keep Your Business Information Accurate and Up-to-Date
The Basics:
- Physical Address: Ensure customers can find you easily.
- Phone Number: Many customers prefer calling for inquiries or reservations.
- Business Hours: Nobody wants to arrive at a closed restaurant.
- Business Category: Clearly state what type of food and cuisine you offer. Attributes like “free Wi-Fi” or “dog-friendly” can attract specific customers.
- Business Description: Include keywords like your cuisine, environment, and food type. Keep it concise, ideally 250 words or less.
- Link to your website.
- Link to your menu.
- Link to your reservation and ordering platforms (Oddle can help you set this up automatically!).
📝 2. Get More Quality Reviews
Reviews play a crucial role in your ranking:
- Review Score: The more stars, the better. Most people demand at least 4.0 stars and above.
- Review Quantity: The more reviews you have, the better.
- Keywords in Review Text: Reviews containing relevant keywords help your listing rank higher. For example, if you specialize in seafood with a signature Chilli Crab dish, reviews mentioning “Chilli Crab” or “Best Chilli Crab” boost your ranking for those terms.
Encourage customers to leave reviews by:
- Offering a free item upon review. Xiang Xiang Hunan successfully implemented this for all its outlets, receiving thousands of reviews within a month of their outlet opening. Check out our in-depth analysis of their restaurant experience.
- Using Oddle’s Survey feature, you can prompt customers to complete a survey after dining, rewarding them with a free item on their next visit. Initially, Oddle Survey asks for a rating; if it’s positive, the customer is encouraged to share their review on Google. This process boosts the number of high-rated reviews on your Google listing. To find out more about Oddle Survey and how you can utilise it to maximise your Google listing, reach out to us here.
↩️ 3. Respond to Reviews, Both Positive and Negative
Replying to reviews shows that you value customer feedback, which Google appreciates. It also helps increase customer retention. Personalize each response to better engage with customers and include keywords of your restaurant:
“Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at [Restaurant Name], [Name]! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our [style of cuisines]. We hope to see you again soon and suggest you try our popular dish, the [Menu Item Name]!”
If you’re not able to personalize every response, even a simple thank you message can help:
“Thank you, [Name], for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed our ambiance and cuisine. Hope to see you again soon!”
Tip: We recommend responding to the reviewer within hours of their review rather than days.
🆕 4. Regular Updates
Google loves it when you update your listing with new photos or posts, indicating that you are an active business. Here are some ways to keep your listing updated:
- Upload new photos every couple of weeks. Customers are more likely to click through listings with images.
- Tip: Ensure your images are relevant and not just promotions or advertisements. Showcase your food, ambiance, and happy customers. Encourage your customers to upload pictures they took at your business too!
- Use posts to share promotions, updates, and events. We recommend updating whenever you have a new promotion. This improves your ranking and drives customer awareness of your latest offerings!
Summary
With most people checking Google Maps before choosing where to eat, it’s crucial that your restaurant stands out among hundreds of others. By optimizing your listing, you can drive more foot traffic, boost your revenue, and go from being just another spot on the map to the top choice for customers.
We regularly publish how-to guides and insights into the food delivery industry in Singapore. Check out our other articles below:
- Reviews play a crucial role in your ranking:
- Review Score: The more stars, the better. Most people demand at least 4.0 stars and above.
- Review Quantity: The more reviews you have, the better.
- Keywords in Review Text: Reviews containing relevant keywords help your listing rank higher. For example, if you specialize in seafood with a signature Chilli Crab dish, reviews mentioning “Chilli Crab” or “Best Chilli Crab” boost your ranking for those terms.