Step Four - On and Off Page Changes
If you’ve been following this blog, you should know that content has a lot of weight when it comes to ranking higher. I would start by improving my on and off page content, beginning with the meta tags. If I were a restaurant owner, I would make my H1 tag “St. Louis Italian Cuisine | Restaurant Name,” or something of that nature. My description tag would include accreditation, trust marks, snip-its from reviews, or grades.
Moving onward, I’d concentrate on producing relevant and original content, both in the form of website copy and blog copy. Implement a blog featuring content you can’t find anywhere else and anything related to your business - What wine do I pair with this food? How should I prepare this dish? How should my wait staff act?
Step Five - Get Local and Social
Localizing your restaurant is one of the most important things you can do, especially if you’re not yet on Google+ Local or other local networks. I would start by entering your information into Google and Yahoo so others can find your restaurant when they are looking to eat food that you serve. I would continue by setting up my restaurant on review sites such as Yelp, Urban Spoon, and Angie’s List. These review sites give restaurants a chance to establish a positive online reputation. I would also localize by submitting my restaurant to local directories and calendars/events.
Next, let’s focus on establishing a positive reputation, or responding to those that have already posted about a bad experience they had at your restaurant. I always reply to unsatisfied customers privately, that way the conversation seems more personable. You can try and get reviews by implementing a campaign, whether it be giving your customers an instructional card at the end of their meal, or creating a web page on your site that explains the process of filling out an online review.
Step Six - Consult the Experts
Noggin’s recent move with Eat Local and Grub Go Restaurant Delivery allows us to better understand local restaurants and their needs, whether it’s delivery, menu writing, management, or marketing. Over at 7370 Manchester, we’re thinking of ways to make your restaurant get more people in the door and more smiles when customers leave.
If you’re stuck, I encourage you to drop by the office to talk to some guys who know the local restaurant scene. In just 7 months, EL and GGRD have generated over $100,000 for local restaurants. You can fill out the contact form to learn more about the services we offer local restaurants.