Optimizing your Google My Business for restaurants is crucial for boosting your local search visibility and attracting more customers. In today’s episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger discusses effective strategies for improving your restaurant's ranking on Google, starting with a well-optimized Google Business Profile.

Google My Business (now called Google Business Profile) plays a pivotal role in helping potential customers discover your restaurant. When users search for terms like “restaurants near me” or “best Italian restaurant in [city],” Google My Business profiles appear prominently in search results. This is known as discovery traffic, where undecided customers find your restaurant through relevant searches, making it a key area to focus on for growth.

To begin optimizing your profile, visit google.com/business and ensure your restaurant is listed under the correct email. If your profile strength isn't complete, it's time to take action. Make sure all your restaurant information is filled out, including business hours, location, and categories. Erik emphasizes using all 10 categories available in Google’s listing settings. For instance, if your restaurant serves multiple cuisines, include all relevant categories to improve your chances of ranking.

Photos are an important part of Google My Business for restaurants. Ensure the images you upload are high quality and resized properly (Erik recommends 1500 pixels on the longest side). Photos of your restaurant’s interior, dishes, and menu should be well-optimized for Google’s standards. Naming your photos using SEO keywords relevant to your restaurant's location and specialty, such as “best pizza in Phoenix,” will further enhance your profile’s searchability.

Erik also highlights the importance of responding to both positive and negative reviews. This not only shows potential customers that you care but also signals to Google that your profile is active, which can improve your ranking. Reviews are becoming more important with the rise of AI-driven search engines, so being proactive will keep your restaurant ahead of the competition.

Erik suggests using tools like ChatGPT to generate SEO-friendly descriptions and keywords for your profile. Regularly updating your profile, responding to reviews, and adding fresh photos will all contribute to better Google visibility.

By following these steps, you can ensure your restaurant ranks higher in local searches and attracts more customers.