“12 foolproof steps to create and optimize your restaurant’s Google My Business page”

The Google My Business page of your restaurant is equivalent to its digital shopfront. Creating, optimizing, and taking care of your listing helps you gain visibility among numerous internet users near your location.

Appearing at the top of search results for potential customers using your keywords represents an undeniable lever for visibility and traction. To achieve this, consistent effort is required for your Google listing. But what does ‘daily work on your Google listing’ exactly mean? What steps should you follow?

With an effective and well-maintained Google My Business page, you will gain visibility among numerous internet users. You can convert new customers and bring back existing ones. From this listing, users can: book a table, visit your website, check customer reviews, leave their own feedback, view your business hours, and use directions. The more access you provide to the information users are searching for, the easier it is for them to convert. Additionally, it’s easier to rank this listing higher in Google search results compared to your own website when competing against giants like TripAdvisor or Yellow Pages.

“It’s not enough to simply provide the name of the restaurant, address, and operating hours during the creation of your listing for it to become an effective lever on its own. There are numerous steps to follow during the creation process and daily maintenance to increase the visibility of your restaurant in the eyes of many internet users. We have listed all the steps to follow in this article, and to have them handy at all times, we have compiled all the steps and tips in this free downloadable document 👇”

Download all the steps and tips to follow!

1. Start at the beginning: create or log in to your restaurant’s Google listing.

First, go to Google’s business management interface, here.

Scenario 1: If you already have a Gmail address for your restaurant, simply log in using this Gmail account in the “Log in” tab.

Scenario 2: If you don’t have a Gmail address for your restaurant, click on the “Manage” button on the homepage, then search for your restaurant in the search bar. If it doesn’t exist yet, you can create it by following the next steps.

Steps to create your establishment on Google

Check “Local business.”

Specify your main category based on the identity and offerings of your establishment. If you are a “Greek restaurant,” “brewery,” “vegetarian restaurant,” “café,”…

Fill in the postal address of your restaurant, along with the phone number and your website. These details will become public, so make sure to provide the restaurant’s contact information rather than your personal information.

Follow the Google verification steps. Google wants to ensure that the declared establishment truly belongs to you through a video verification process.

2. Provide/verify the key information of your restaurant.

Your restaurant’s Google listing should provide users with all the information they might be looking for. This includes essential and “obvious” details without which you wouldn’t exist: name, address, operating hours, menu. These are the elements that customers directly search for. If users can easily and quickly find the information they are seeking, your chances of attracting them to your restaurant increase.

In the “Edit listing” section – “About” tab:

• Ensure that the establishment’s name matches exactly, including accents, with the name of your restaurant. Then, verify that your primary business category accurately represents your offerings (Greek restaurant, brewery, brunch, etc.).

Tip: Is one category enough to define your establishment? If your restaurant can be described as both a “brasserie” and a “French restaurant,” or perhaps as a “sandwich shop” and an “Israeli restaurant,” which category should you choose? Google allows you to add up to 10 additional categories to your primary category. This way, you will appear in a variety of search queries.

• Subsequently, provide the date of establishment for your restaurant. If you are in the case of an upcoming project, specify the date of the forthcoming opening. This gives context to the user.

In the “Edit listing” section – “Location” tab:

• Verify the wording of your postal address. If there are any errors, customers will never be able to find you. It is essential for the user to be able to simply click on the directions and arrive directly at your location from Google Maps.

3. Specify and keep your various operating hours up to date.

This step may seem obvious, yet many restaurants still make mistakes with their operating hours.

In the “Edit listing” section – “Hours” tab:

• Provide the opening hours of your restaurant down to the minute. These hours must absolutely match the time slots indicated on other platforms (TripAdvisor, TheFork, Yellow Pages, etc.).

• Notify Google of your temporary closures, such as for summer vacations, as well as exceptional closures due to power outages or other unforeseen circumstances. On public holidays, you should specify on your Google listing whether you are closed or open for business. Otherwise, the search engine will inform users that “your hours may be subject to change,” which can discourage customers from visiting. By having consistent hours across all online platforms, you demonstrate to the Google algorithm that you are active and avoid frustrating customers with a closed restaurant.

Tip: To provide even more precision to users, add details to your operating hours, such as kitchen closure times (which may differ from your regular opening hours) or the time range for happy hour.

If your name or opening hours do not match those listed on other directories, Google considers you an unreliable restaurant. The algorithm then penalizes your position in search results.

4. Make it as easy as possible to book directly from your Google listing.

The goal with your Google listing: to bring the customer to your establishment and encourage them to make a reservation.

In the “Reservation” section:

• Highlight the option to make a reservation. By enabling this feature, you will display a prominent reservation button or link on your listing. There are two scenarios here:

1. Your reservation system integrates with Google (Zenchef, Guestonline, Zefork…), and you can connect it, displaying the reservation button at the top of your Google page.
2. If you use a different PMS (Property Management System), simply add the reservation link that appears lower on your listing.

In both scenarios, your potential customer can make a reservation directly from your Google listing without adding an extra step through your website.

5. Highlight your website and menu on your Google listing.

The majority of internet users seek to know the menu before making their decision, or other information that piques their interest (such as your evening programs, etc.). Therefore, you must highlight these elements.

In the “Edit listing” section – “About” tab:

• Add the link to your website to redirect the user to the complete universe of your restaurant and provide more information.
• Integrate the link to your menu directly on Google. Even if it is already available on your website, making it accessible on your Google listing keeps the user on your page. Many customers want to check the menu before making a decision.

Tip: Use the “Edit menu” feature provided in your Google account. By clicking on “New custom menu,” you can add each dish from your menu or those you want to display on your listing, along with their name, price, description, and photo. This feature allows you to make changes to dishes/prices more quickly if needed.

6. Add an optimized and attractive description of your restaurant.

In the “Edit listing” section – “About” tab:

• Strategically write the description of your restaurant. This description is essential to attract internet users and is also a strategic location for your local SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This space should include keywords that define your restaurant without becoming excessive, to improve your ranking in search results. Describe your restaurant from all angles to appear in as many searches as possible: F&B offerings, location, unique features, etc. Make a list of your most relevant and searched keywords to include in your description.

Tip: Keywords refer to the terms used by internet users to search on search engines like Google. For you, these words define your offerings and location. For example: “Italian restaurant Paris 6,” “best mafé in Paris,” “Wednesday open brunch,” etc. How to choose the best keywords? Your keywords should vary to cover not only your restaurant category, offerings, concept, specialties, cuisine type, signature dishes, but also your location, neighborhood, nearby metro stations, landmarks, etc. They should also have a high search frequency to reach as many internet users as possible. We can help you define your keywords!

7. Provide a visual preview for a more attractive Google listing.

Today, with various image-centric social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, internet users enjoy visual content such as photos and videos. If they come across your Google listing and only see your logo, you may risk losing their attention.

In the “Add photo” section:

• Provide your restaurant’s logo. This helps establish your brand’s image in the minds of internet users.
• Add a cover photo. Choose a beautiful picture that represents your restaurant and its ambiance – whether it’s an exterior or interior view. This cover photo represents the first image visible when users arrive on your listing.
• Add some photos and videos of your establishment, F&B offerings, and ambiance. With these, you provide internet users with a beautiful preview of your restaurant.

Tip: Post new photos from time to time, especially when you have new items on the menu or updates at the restaurant.

Your Google listing now provides internet users with key information about your restaurant! But is that enough? To gain more online visibility and stand out from the competition, follow the rest of our recommendations.

8. Specify all the specific attributes of your restaurant.

The more information you provide to internet users, the higher your chances of keeping them engaged on your Google listing and ultimately bringing them to your restaurant.

In the “Edit listing” section – “More” tab:

• Provide, by selecting “yes” or “no,” all the details on:
  • The accessibility of your restaurant
  • If you need volunteers or employ refugees
  • The type of clientele welcomed at your establishment
  • Details about your F&B offerings (vegetarian dishes, cocktails, all-you-can-eat option, kids’ menu…)
  • Accepted payment methods
  • Whether reservations are mandatory or simply recommended
  • Unique selling points that set you apart (fireplace, suitable for watching sports…)
  • Available services (Wi-Fi, restroom, pet-friendly…)
  • Your dining services (breakfast, brunch, catering…)
  • If you have a terrace, offer delivery, takeaway…

This way, you will provide potential customers with all the information they need before making a decision.

9. Make yourself easily reachable by internet users from your Google listing.

Some internet users may not find the specific information they are looking for, or they simply prefer to contact you directly. To ensure that you don’t lose these customers, make sure you are easily reachable.

In the “Edit listing” section – “Contact” tab:

• Provide the restaurant’s phone number. Being available to internet users ensures that you don’t miss out on customers who prefer to make reservations over the phone or ask specific questions before booking.

“Message” section:

• Enable Google instant messaging. Just like on Instagram or Facebook, this allows internet users to ask questions before booking or regarding their reservation. For example, “Can you prepare a birthday cake?” or “Do you have vegan options?” This feature is very useful, provided you respond promptly to the messages.

Tip: When the restaurant closes for a “long period,” activate the “Away” mode on instant messaging. Each time you receive a message during your absence, an automatic response that you have written will be sent to the sender to notify them. You can also activate this mode during predefined time slots (when the restaurant closes).

10. Regularly update the listing with attractive and optimized posts.

Few professionals are aware of this because not many internet users see and view these publications. However, it is essential to regularly update your Google listing with posts for several reasons. Firstly, you demonstrate an active presence to the Google algorithm, which rewards it by improving your position. These posts also represent a strategic location to include keywords and work on your local SEO. Ultimately, the posts inform internet users about your updates and encourage them to make decisions. Note that Google posts allow you to enrich the image content of your restaurant on Google Images, which plays a decisive role in the selection process of internet users.

In the “Add news” section:

• Create a post from the three types offered by Google.

1. Add a news post: the type of content you will use most frequently. Through this post, you can talk about a dish, a drink, the ambiance, the team… Also, use it for significant events at the restaurant: broadcasting a football match, special dinner on July 14th, etc.
2. Add an offer: Use this type of post when you want to highlight a time-limited promotion (buy one, get one free, etc.).
3. Add an event: If you organize an event at the restaurant or participate in a festival, pop-up dinner, etc.

For each post,

Tip: Renaming your photos with your keywords before including them in your Google posts benefits your SEO.

11. Respond to all your customer reviews.

You must respond to all your customer reviews. Whether they are positive or negative, responding is essential to show your gratitude, understand their experience, and reflect a positive image of your establishment. As 82% of internet users read customer reviews before making a decision, and 93% of them check the responses, responding to reviews is crucial. Additionally, you will improve your local SEO by replying to all reviews, as it sends positive signals to the Google algorithm.

In the “See reviews” section:

• Respond to all your customer reviews.

12. Do you offer delivery services?

The new players continue to increase.

→ If you offer delivery services at your restaurant, inform Google about the areas served by your delivery system or the ones operated by third-party platforms.

And what if managing your GMB listing became a piece of cake?

Today, it’s not just about being present online, but also about actively managing that presence. Simply creating a Google listing for your restaurant is not enough; you need to make it appear at the top of search results to gain visibility with potential customers. This task requires time and knowledge of the tool.

To assist you, we have developed the MalouApp, an all-in-one solution that guides you at every step and on a daily basis to position your Google listing in the top search results for your keywords. The MalouApp not only supports your local SEO efforts but also helps boost your presence on social media. We provide a detailed breakdown of all the features of this unique solution here.