The food and beverage industry will always be popular. Yes, there have been some fluctuations in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it always bounces back. And with so much competition, finding ways to get ahead of your rivals and attract as many customers to your restaurant (and website) as possible is becoming increasingly difficult.
With that in mind, here are some local SEO tips for small businesses trying to outshine the competition in the F&B industry.
Let’s tuck in…
What is local SEO?
Local SEO is a form of search engine optimization that is dedicated to increasing your online visibility within your local community. This remains one of the best digital marketing methods for small businesses today.
For example, when someone types ‘Best Pizza joint in New York City’ or ’24-hour burgers near me’ into Google, they’ll be presented with a ‘Map Pack’ at the top of the SERP (search engine results page).
This Map Pack will feature various restaurants and their GMB profiles, with on premise pictures, product / service details, opening times, customer reviews, a map location, and more.
If your restaurant is present in these results for the most relevant keywords, you’ll significantly increase your chances at attracting more customers to your bricks & mortar.
Local SEO tips for F&B
-
Conduct extensive keyword research: one critical aspect of your local SEO is of course choosing the appropriate keywords. You want to focus on broad restaurant terms with high-intent. These are the most likely to convert (e.g., “best dinner spot in New York City” or “pizza family deals near me”). The more research that goes into your focus keywords, the better positioned you will be to attract the more qualified traffic.
-
Claim and optimise your GMB profile: claim your Google My Business profile. This is essential if you wish to be present in the Map Pack when your prospective customers are typing your focus keywords into Google. Add all of the relevant details, including consistent NAP information (Name, Address, Phone Number), upload on premise photos, encourage customer reviews, and include accurate opening times (including holidays).
-
Optimise your website for local SEO: it’s not just your GMB profile that needs optimising, but your website as well. Include your focus keywords in your URLs, titles, meta descriptions, content, and service area pages. You must also make sure that your website is mobile responsive, given that 50% of mobile users will visit a business within 24-hours of conducting a local search.
-
Develop a strong backlink profile: you should aim to attract as many high-value links from industry-relevant websites as possible. If these can be from local businesses and directories, even better! A great way to achieve this is by being active in your local community, hosting regular events, being ‘news-worthy’, and creating high-value, local-centric content.
-
Regularly engage on social media: being active and engaging your local community on social media is another effective way to bolster your local SEO efforts. A strong social presence correlates with the key pillars of SEO: relevance and authority.
Final thoughts
Local SEO, when done well, can be incredibly valuable for businesses in the food and beverage industry. If you have been struggling to establish your restaurant and keep losing business to your competitors, investing in your local SEO can be an absolute game changer.
For the best results, we recommend hiring a professional agency that offers SEO services in New York City. That way you can stay focused on managing your restaurant and looking after your customers, while the pros take care of the many SEO requirements in the background.
No comments yet