8 Ways to Use Google My Business Posts to Boost Local SEO for Restaurants

Seeking to spice up your restaurant’s local SEO through Google My Business? We’ve gathered eight expert tips from SEO consultants and marketing specialists. From telling your food’s farm-to-table story to highlighting events with local keyword posts, discover how to boost your online presence and attract more diners.

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Tell Your Food’s Farm-to-Table Story

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out. I’m Adam Haworth, the Founder and Chief Strategist at Contactora. I’m excited to share my thoughts and insights on your recent inquiry. You can find my detailed response below.

I have a different take on boosting local search engine optimization through Google My Business posts. An effective tactic is telling the story of where your food comes from, from the farm all the way to the table. By crafting a narrative about how your ingredients are grown and how they make your dishes so tasty, you can connect with potential customers on a more personal level.

This not only makes your brand seem more human, but also plays into how more and more eaters want to know the history of their food. Plus, including nice photos and neighborhood keywords in these stories can improve how easy it is for folks around here to find you and see why your menu fits this area’s values. Keep in mind most places don’t use posts on GMB much, so this gives you an edge over the competition.

If you have any more questions or need additional information, feel free to get in touch. I’m here to help.

Best regards,

Adam Haworth

Founder & Chief Strategist

Adam Haworth, Founder & Chief Strategist, Contactora

Showcase Daily Specials with Keywords

As someone who loves writing about restaurant success, here’s my top tip to enhance your GMB listing: Highlight your daily specials (with mouthwatering photos), seasonal menus, or events on a regular basis in your GMB posts. Don’t forget to include your top keywords in the description section before publishing the posts. However, make sure you refrain from keyword stuffing.

Manav Mathur, Editor, Favouritetable

Craft Mini-Stories with Local Keywords

Sure, here’s a nugget of wisdom from the trenches of boutique marketing: When using Google My Business posts to boost local SEO for your restaurant, think of it as crafting a mini-story that locals can’t resist. Imagine you’re hosting a neighborhood block party every week. Share mouth-watering images of your daily specials or behind-the-scenes snapshots of your chef in action. But here’s the kicker: always include local keywords naturally in your posts. For example, instead of just saying ‘Check out our new pizza,’ say ‘Enjoy the best wood-fired pizza in [Your City].’ This not only makes your posts more engaging but also helps Google connect the dots between your restaurant and local search queries. It’s like giving Google a friendly nudge to say, ‘Hey, we’re right here, and we’re awesome!’

Lukasz Zelezny, SEO Consultant, SEO ANT LTD

Post Regular Updates with Local Keywords

Regularly posting updates and special offers on Google My Business is key to boosting local SEO for restaurants. Include local keywords and enticing images of your dishes. For example, a post about “fresh seafood specials at our downtown location” can attract local searches and increase engagement, driving more foot traffic and online reservations. This consistency helps improve your restaurant’s visibility in local search results.

Yoyao Hsueh, Founder, Topical Maps

Create Event Posts for Special Offers

I’ve been working with local SEO strategies for over a decade, and one technique we’ve found to be incredibly effective for restaurants is using Google My Business (GMB) posts to highlight special events and promotions. These posts are particularly valuable because they can catch potential customers who are already close to making a decision.

One specific tip for boosting local SEO with GMB posts is to create “Event” posts for daily specials or limited-time offers. For example, if your restaurant in Riverside, CA, has a Taco Tuesday deal, create an Event post with an eye-catching image and the details of the promotion. Include a clear call-to-action button like “Call Now” or “Get Offer” to drive immediate responses. These posts will appear in Google search results when potential customers look up your restaurant or relevant search terms like “tacos near me.”

We tested this approach with several clients and saw tremendous engagement. One of our clients, who runs an Italian restaurant, saw a 35% increase in bookings for their weekend specials after regularly posting event-based GMB posts. The posts not only heightened their online visibility but also converted more searchers into diners by providing timely and relevant information right when the user was looking for dining options.

Adding high-quality images and concise, compelling text in your GMB posts can also increase click-through rates. Another client, a small bakery, improved their local search presence significantly by posting daily photos of freshly baked goods, which drove a 20% increase in foot traffic within just a couple of months.

Kevin Watts, President & Founder, Raincross

Incorporate Serving Areas and Menus

Hi, I wish there was just ONE tip for boosting ranking. However, SEO is a process where each part has to function to achieve ideal results. 

Now, to boost local SEO for restaurants, go with these tips.

1) Mention your serving areas/locations. Please note this is not your address. For instance, let’s say your restaurant provides catering service, so you’d have to mention all the areas you serve. 

2) Add and update your menu and special offers on Google Maps (or other platforms). Once again, this menu will be in text form, not the photos. 

3) Integrate the booking/delivery system. If your restaurant has a mobile app, integrate that or delivery apps like UberEats. So, when a customer wants to book or place an order, they’ll be transferred to the desired mobile app. 

4) Focus on reviews (positive ones, of course). The more positive reviews your GBP has, the more Google will push your business to the top.

Rahul Vij, Co Founder, WebSpero Solutions

Optimize Posts with Long-Tail Keywords

Try to use promotional posts for special offers, events, and menu items to keep customers up to date on what is trending in your business, and use local, long-tail keywords throughout these posts. These posts make your restaurant stand out, and optimizing them with local, long-tail keywords helps them rank better in SERPs. It is important to include images in these posts as well, especially if a dish is being highlighted or a new menu item is being introduced. We suggest planning a posting schedule to keep the profile active and engaging, and delivering an equal mix of content to keep your audience excited.

Lisa Frank, Marketing Specialist, AM Industrial Group

Highlight Events with Local Keyword Posts

To boost local SEO for restaurants using Google My Business (GMB) posts, focus on regularly updating your GMB profile with engaging and relevant content. A specific tip is to use posts to highlight special events, promotions, or new menu items. Incorporate local keywords naturally within these posts to enhance local relevance.

For example, if your restaurant is in Chicago, you might write: “Join us this weekend for a special Chicago-style pizza night with live music!”

Additionally, include high-quality images and a call-to-action (CTA) such as “Reserve your table now” or “Order online today.” Regularly updating your GMB posts keeps your profile active and engaging, which Google rewards with higher local search rankings. This practice not only attracts more customers but also signals to Google that your business is active and relevant, improving your overall local SEO performance.

Nafi Sinmaz, CEO, DBManagers

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