SEO for Restaurants: How to Outperform the Competition Online
Sections
- 1. Indexable Menu: Make your dishes visible to Google
- 2. Image Galleries: Extend the dwell time on your website
- 3. Plenty of Content: Tell your story
- 4. Regular New Content: Stay current and interesting
- 5. Be Careful with Comment Sections
- 6. Backlink Building: Connect with others
- 7. Presence on Platforms: Use social media and review sites
- 8. Monitor your SEO Success: Use free tools like Search Analytics
#1. Indexable Menu: Make your dishes visible to Google
Your menu is the centerpiece of your restaurant. However, if it’s only available as an image or PDF on your website, Google can’t read it. This means potential guests won’t find you when searching for specific dishes. The solution? Provide your menu as indexable text, for example in a table format. This way, Google recognizes what dishes you offer. So, if someone searches for “Steak in [your city]”, your restaurant appears in the search results.
#2. Image Galleries: Extend the dwell time on your website
Attractive images of your dishes and ambiance attract visitors and keep them on your website. An image gallery increases the dwell time of users, which Google evaluates positively. The longer a visitor stays on your page, the more relevant it appears to the search engine. So: Invest in professional photos and present them appealingly.
#3. Plenty of Content: Tell your story
People love stories. Use your website to talk about your origins, your background, and your passion for good food. Tell the story of how your restaurant was founded, the philosophy you follow, and what makes you unique. Accompany these stories with videos on your YouTube channel. Don’t forget to also publish the content in text form on your website – this benefits your SEO again.
#4. Regular New Content: Stay current and interesting
Currency is an important factor for SEO. Regularly create new content by reporting on your own promotions, specials, or events. You can also write about local events happening near you. This attracts visitors who are searching for these events and keeps you top of mind when they consider where to eat.
#5. Be Careful with Comment Sections
A comment section can promote interaction but also poses risks. If visitors use unwanted or negative keywords, this can impact your SEO negatively. Therefore, think carefully about offering this feature and moderate comments diligently.
#6. Backlink Building: Connect with others
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your page. They are an important part of SEO. For example:
- Link for Link: Cooperate with related businesses such as hotels or recreational offers. You link to them, they link to you.
- Collaborations with local businesses: Offer discounts to employees of nearby companies and receive a link on their website in return. Make sure these businesses have a good standing with Google to maximize the value of the backlinks.
#7. Presence on Platforms: Use social media and review sites
Having a profile on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube is a must today. Additionally, you should register on platforms like Trip Advisor. Regularly maintain your profiles and develop a content strategy to continuously deliver new content. Positive reviews and active profiles increase your visibility and attractiveness to potential guests.
#8. Monitor your SEO Success: Use free tools like Search Analytics
To ensure your SEO efforts are fruitful, regular monitoring is crucial. With free tools like Search Analytics, you can always understand which content and topics resonate well with your visitors and where there is still potential for improvement. These insights allow you to specifically adjust your strategy and continuously optimize your online presence.
