Marketing

Google My Business: a guide for restaurants

30 de January de 2024 por Marianne Ternes

Promoting your restaurant online is essential to gain visibility, build greater credibility and attract more customers.

One of the main tools for this is Google My Business. There you can register a Business Profile so your brand shows up in the search results of the world's largest search engine.

So, want to know how to get your restaurant on Google? Keep reading this article to check out our step by step!

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business – now called Google Business Profile – , is a free tool provided by Google to help businesses promote their services.

There you can create a profile so people find your restaurant when they run a search on Search or on Maps.

This profile can be customized with your logo, a cover image, Photos of the dishes and of the venue. You can also include information such as address, opening hours, contact phone, a link to your website and social media, among others.

In addition, there are several other features that are useful for restaurants, such as:

Customer reviews
Direct messages
Menu
Online Orders
Publishing offers and events
Service options (delivery, take away, drive-thru etc.)

By creating a profile for your business, you secure your brand's space on Google. That's essential to strengthen your digital presence and win customers. Below, learn more about the advantages of setting up a Google My Business.

Why create a Google My Business for restaurants?

When you're looking for a restaurant for dinner, where do you search?

Your first answer was probably “On Google” – and that's why it's crucial that your establishment is present in the results of that search engine, which is the most used in the world.

But there are several other advantages to having a Business Profile for your restaurant. Among them:

Reliable information

If you keep your Business Profile always up to date, people will be able to find any information about your restaurant easily.

This way, you'll be helping your potential customer know, for example, what the opening hours are, whether you do delivery and what the menu items are. That creates a positive first impression and provides a great experience even before they visit your restaurant.

Grabs attention and wins new customers

Registering your restaurant on Google ensures your brand has a strong digital presence and stands out in local searches.

If you know how to use the features available, your profile will be like a virtual storefront for your business, with a logo, images of the venue and the dishes, and reviews. All of that attracts anyone looking for a place to have lunch or dinner.

Especially in cities that receive a lot of tourists, having your business show up in Google search results is essential to win over that audience.

Gains greater credibility and trust

Having a Google My Business is also an excellent way to legitimize your restaurant and gain credibility.

Besides offering reliable information, the Business Profile is also a space to receive customer reviews, where they can tell how the experience was and make recommendations. You can also interact, answer questions and provide additional information.

That's very valuable, since, based on these opinions, new customers may feel more confident and decide to visit your establishment.

How to create a Business Profile for your restaurant

Now that you know what Google My Business is and what the advantages of creating your Business Profile are, see a complete step by step with tips for making the most of this tool.

1 – Sign up for Business Profile

Go to Google Business Profile and click “Manage now”.

You'll be taken to the setup page. Follow the instructions, entering the basic business information requested, such as:

Business Name
Your business type (Online Retail, Physical Store or Local Services)
Your website and phone
Business Category (Restaurant)
Address
Location on Maps
Delivery Area
Hours of operation
Services Offered
Business description
Menu Photos
Photos of the dishes

Include all of your restaurant's details and aim to make your listing as complete as possible. You can add or edit any of this information whenever you want.

2 – Verify your profile

To publish your information and add your restaurant to the map, Google requires verification. It can be done by phone, text message, email, or video. Choose the option that works best for you and follow the instructions to complete the process.

Once you finish the process, you'll receive a notification. You may need to wait a few days for Google to review your verification before your information appears on Google.

3 – Access the management dashboard

To view your Business Profile and access the management dashboard, just search Google for “My Business”. At the top of the results, a menu will appear with all the available features:

Edit Profile: Update and add new business information.
Read Reviews: Check the reviews submitted by customers.
Messages: Enable a chat so customers can send messages, which can be viewed in Search or on Maps.
Photos: Add photos of your venue and your dishes.
Menu: Create a complete menu and add a photo of it.
Food delivery: Turn on the feature to accept delivery orders and add a link to your ordering page.
Waitlist: Turn on the feature so customers can join the waitlist.
Bookings: Turn on the reservation feature so customers can book a table.
Questions and Answers: Answer your audience's questions.
Add Update: Publish announcements, promotions, and events.
Request Reviews: Share a link with customers so they can review your business on Google.
Performance: Analyze how your audience interacts with your Business Profile.
Advertise: Create ads for your Business Profile on Google Ads.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enrich your restaurant's profile on Google and engage with your audience. Below, check out some tips for getting great results with Google My Business!

Tips to get the most out of Google My Business

Once you've set up your profile, don't forget it's there! Keep the information up to date at all times and make the most of every feature. Here are some ideas:

Add eye-catching photos and videos

Include high-quality photos of your space, dishes, team, and any special events. Appealing images can catch customers' attention and encourage them to visit your restaurant.

Also, remember to refresh your images regularly so they reflect your venue's current atmosphere.

Request reviews

You can send a link by email or WhatsApp asking your customers to leave a review. You can offer a reward, such as loyalty program points or a discount on their next visit.

This will help increase the number of reviews on your profile, which is great for building credibility, as we saw earlier.

And of course, whenever you receive a review, reply to the customer and thank them for the feedback. If they point out something to improve, make the change right away.

Make your menu shine

There are two ways to make your menu available on Google My Business: uploading an image of the menu or creating a detailed menu with photos and information for each item.

So take advantage of this space and provide all the information about your menu so potential customers can easily access it and see what you offer. And of course: don't forget to keep it up to date.

Learn more: Digital Menu: everything you need to know

Publish offers and events

This feature is often overlooked, but it's an excellent way to publicize what's happening at your restaurant. These posts appear on your profile and can draw customers' attention, keeping them informed about the latest news.

The tool lets you upload an image (a photo or flyer, for example), set the period for the offer or event, and add a description and a button with a link. You and your customers will be able to share the post.

Analyze performance and gather ideas for improvement

Set up a routine to analyze your Google My Business performance and gather ideas for improvement.

You can see how your audience interacts with your profile, find out how they got there, review menu visits, and check other data that helps you better understand who your customers are.

From there, you can spot opportunities and areas for improvement, and create actions to further boost your restaurant's results.

Get ready to offer your customers the best experience

Once you've followed this step-by-step guide and applied our Google My Business tips, all that's left is being ready to welcome new customers and deliver outstanding service.

To do that, having a restaurant platform like EPOC is essential. With it, you speed up service and simplify your business management. Want to see how it works in practice? Then Talk to one of our consultants.