Harness the power of your Google Business Profile to drive business to your restaurant.
If you’re like most restaurant owners, you probably claimed your Google Business Profile and added your logo. But are you really using it to its full potential to get more diners through your door?
Have you done more than add your logo, name, address, and phone number? Perhaps you added your hours, but you haven’t updated them in a while.
You can use your Google Business Profile as a powerful local marketing tool. In fact, it can dramatically affect your restaurant’s success. You just need to keep it up to date and optimized.
According to one source, your Google Business Profile (GBP) may often be your first and only chance to make a good impression.
People searching for restaurants may come across your profile before they ever see a link to your website. (tweet this) This is another reason to consider Google Business Profile power-ups.
This isn’t about vanity metrics like “views” or “impressions.” It’s about using Google’s built-in tools to attract hungry people nearby who are ready to eat. Let’s dig into the specific GBP power-ups that help you drive real diners and not just clicks.
Make Your First Impression Irresistible
Before people visit your website, they are searching for restaurants on Google. They’ll look at your photos on your GBP.
The quality of your photos may help them decide to dine with you, click to your website, or even keep scrolling. What can you do to make sure your GBP stands out? Here are some suggestions:
- Upload at least 20 to 30 high-quality images that showcase your food, drinks, interior, and exterior.
- Add short, vertical videos (10 to 20 seconds) of your dishes being plated, guests enjoying themselves, or your chef in action.
- Update seasonally. New menu? Fresh decor? New hours? Update your visuals right away. Google rewards active profiles, so post often.
- Geo-tag photos before uploading. This subtly signals to Google that your content is locally relevant and may boost your visibility in nearby searches.
Master Your Menu
You can add your full menu directly to your GBP. When you use the “Menu” tab properly, it does more than just display your dishes. It helps Google understand what your restaurant serves.
That matters because Google uses your menu data to match your restaurant with searchers. For instance, if someone nearby searches “best gluten-free pizza,” your restaurant can show up if it’s on your menu.
Here are some quick tips for your GBP menu:
- Use category headers (“Starters,” “Entrees,” “Cocktails”) for clarity.
- Write descriptive but concise item names. Avoid abbreviations that don’t make sense outside your own team.
- Include keywords diners actually search (for example, “wood-fired margherita pizza,” “vegan pad thai”).
- Update it regularly. Google flags outdated menus as unreliable.
If you use a website provider like Restaurant Engine, your site menu can automatically sync with your GBP, saving you a lot of time.
Harness the “Reserve” and “Order Online” Buttons
This is where clicks become conversions.
Google now integrates directly with most reservation and online ordering platforms. Once you connect yours, customers can book a table or order takeout right from your Google Business Profile.
Here’s why this is helpful for many of your customers:
- Less friction = more bookings. Extra clicks mean lost diners.
- Visibility in local packs. Restaurants with active “Reserve” or “Order” buttons tend to appear higher in search results.
- Trackable ROI. You can see which orders or reservations came straight from Google.
Make sure your connection is live through your POS or booking partner (like Toast, OpenTable, etc.). Then, test the connection monthly to avoid costly broken integrations.
Use Google Posts Like Other Social Channels
Most restaurants don’t realize their Google Business Profile comes with its own built-in social feed like Facebook or Instagram.
Under the “Posts” section, you can share updates and more. These posts appear right in your listing, alongside your photos and reviews.
It gives you credibility with Google and helps you reach potential diners. Here are some posting ideas:
- Daily or weekly specials
- Special events
- Limited-time offers.
- New menu launches.
- Happy hour announcements
- Holiday dining events
- Customer appreciation nights
Each post is visible for seven days. Use an enticing image, a short headline, and a call-to-action like “Book a Table” or “Order Now.”
Pro tip: You don’t have to post every day, but consistency shows that your restaurant is active and engaged.
Use every part of your Google Business Profile to get a leg up on the competition.
Respond to All Reviews
Yes, you’ve heard it from us before. It’s vital to take review management seriously.
Your Google reviews don’t just affect your reputation. Google’s algorithm considers your review quantity, quality, and response rate as ranking factors. Here are some suggestions:
- Respond to every review, good or bad. Google tracks responsiveness as a trust signal.
- Use relevant keywords in responses. For instance: “Thank you for loving our brunch menu!” helps Google associate your listing with “brunch.”
- Encourage new reviews by including a short link in your digital receipts or follow-up emails.
Restaurants with consistent, genuine responses appear trustworthy to Google as well as to potential diners deciding where to eat next.
Monitor Your Q&A Section
Did you know customers can ask public questions right on your profile, and anyone can answer them?
That means if you don’t stay on top of it, random people might be answering key questions about your restaurant for you. Take control by:
- Asking and answering your own FAQs. Go ahead and fill your Q&A section with common queries (“Do you take reservations?”, “Is there outdoor seating?”).
- Monitoring weekly. Set a reminder to check for new questions.
- Using it for SEO. Each question and answer adds searchable content to your listing.
Add “Attributes” to Match What Diners Care About Most
Google lets you tag your restaurant with specific “attributes” that appear directly in your listing, like “outdoor seating,” “live music,” “family-friendly,” or “dog-friendly patio.”
Many diners now filter search results by attributes. For instance, they may filter for “restaurants with outdoor seating” or “pet friendly.”
Make sure you keep your attributes updated.
Measure Real Results with Google Insights
All this effort doesn’t mean much if you’re not tracking what’s working. That’s where Google Business Profile Insights come in. Inside your dashboard, you can see:
- How many people found you via search vs. maps.
- What keywords they used.
- How many clicked “Call,” “Directions,” or “Visit Website.”
- How many booked or ordered directly.
Compare this data monthly to your POS or reservation metrics. Are diners coming from Google actually showing up? Are certain posts or photos leading to more calls? Use the answers to drive your marketing.
Keep Your Info Synced Everywhere
Enhance your visibility and authority with Google by making sure your hours, address, and contact info are exactly the same on your website, Yelp, Facebook, Google, and other platforms. (tweet this)
Google cross-checks all that information to verify your legitimacy. Inconsistent data creates confusion and can drop your ranking.
Turn Google into Your Power Driver
Your Google Business Profile is like the maître d’ who greets diners before they ever step inside your restaurant. Optimize it intentionally to show off your menu, staff, offerings, and building.
Your GBP is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools you have. You don’t need to spend money, and it’s easy to set up and update. So, take an hour this week to audit your profile:
- Are your photos fresh?
- Is your menu complete?
- Are you posting regularly and responding to reviews?
Small tweaks can translate into big results in the form of phone calls, online orders, and full tables.
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Images: 2H Media and Shots of Torono on Unsplash
