In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger reveals how to avoid the #1 restaurant website mistake that many owners unknowingly make. He explains that a restaurant website’s main goal is to attract new customers and increase foot traffic. However, many popular platforms like Pop Menu, BentoBox, and SpotHopper may look appealing, but they lack essential SEO tools to rank well on search engines. These platforms prioritize aesthetics and ease of use, but at a high monthly cost, they often fail to bring in more customers due to poor search visibility.

Shellenberger advocates for WordPress as the best platform for restaurants. To avoid the #1 restaurant website mistake, he recommends leveraging WordPress's flexibility and robust SEO plugins, like the All-in-One SEO Optimization Tool. This allows restaurant owners to optimize their sites fully, improve search rankings, and keep ongoing costs low. Instead of opting for platforms that strip essential SEO features, Shellenberger suggests focusing on a website that’s easy for search engines to understand and rank. By building a WordPress site with SEO in mind, you’ll ensure your restaurant website is more visible, functional, and effective in driving new business.

Erik Shellenberger dives deep into how to blog effectively and get more shares by leveraging AI. Many restaurant and bar owners hear the advice to start a blog, but few understand the real strategies behind making a blog successful. The main goal of blogging is to get found by your target audience on search engines like Google, YouTube, and other platforms. However, many people overlook the essential steps needed to achieve that visibility.

To create an effective blog, you must start with an interesting and relevant topic. Avoid generic posts like "Happy hour from 3 to 7" or simple cocktail photos, as they won't engage readers or perform well on search engines. Instead, choose topics that people will search for, such as current events, local festivals, or charity partnerships related to your restaurant. The more engaging and unique the content, the better chance it has of gaining traction.

Once you have a compelling topic, SEO optimization is the next crucial step. This involves using tools like the All-in-One SEO plugin and analyzing your headlines for effectiveness. Your headline should include common, uncommon, emotional, and power words to maximize its impact. Tools like ChatGPT can help generate headline ideas, but it’s essential to refine them to achieve higher search rankings.

Schemes and structured data are also vital components. When you create a blog, make sure to include structured data (schema markup) to help search engines understand your content better. Adding this extra layer of detail increases the chances of your blog appearing in top search results, which is key for getting more shares and traffic.

Don’t forget to share your blog across multiple platforms. Optimize your content for YouTube by using relevant tags and integrating the blog post with video content. This multi-channel approach helps your content rank higher across different platforms.

Blogging effectively takes time and effort. It’s not just about creating content but doing it in a way that ensures people find, read, and share it. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to blogging success that drives traffic and engagement.

How to Blog Effectively and Get More Shares – Discover the secrets to a successful blog today.

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In this video, Erik Shellenberger, a restaurant reputation management expert, takes a bold stand against 1 Star Yelp Reviews and How Restaurant Owners REALLY Want to Respond.

He humorously but candidly addresses the issue of unfair negative reviews, which can damage businesses while lacking constructive feedback. Shellenberger begins by acknowledging that mistakes happen in the restaurant and bar industry; no one is perfect. He points out the absurdity of some reviews, like penalizing a restaurant for parking issues unrelated to the business itself.

These reviews can significantly impact a business, costing them as many as 30 customers per negative review. A major frustration Erik discusses is that many reviewers don’t give establishments a chance to fix the issue. Common complaints about cold food, delayed service, or drink preferences could often be resolved on the spot if patrons spoke up. He stresses that without feedback, businesses lose the opportunity to improve.

Managing expectations is another key point. Shellenberger emphasizes that customers should understand the nature of the venue they’re visiting. It’s unreasonable to leave a 1-star review because a nightclub is loud or because fine dining is costly. For customers on a budget, he recommends sticking to more affordable options rather than bashing upscale establishments for their pricing.

Additionally, Erik touches on underage patrons writing negative reviews after facing consequences for breaking laws, such as having fake IDs confiscated. He encourages personal accountability, advising viewers to recognize their own role in negative experiences.

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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.

In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger dives into essential strategies for optimizing restaurant websites for better visibility, emphasizing the importance of SEO over aesthetics. According to Erik, many restaurant owners prioritize high-quality photography and sleek design but neglect the crucial element of search engine optimization (SEO), which is key to driving traffic and increasing revenue.

Erik recommends using WordPress as the go-to platform for building or upgrading restaurant websites due to its flexibility and ability to integrate with powerful SEO tools. Unlike other website builders like Wix or Squarespace, WordPress is free and allows full customization, which is critical for long-term SEO success.

To maximize visibility, Erik emphasizes the use of the All-in-One SEO plugin, which helps analyze and improve a website's SEO score by guiding users through best practices like proper header tags (H1, H2), SEO-friendly titles, and effective meta descriptions. He also shares tips on analyzing competitors’ websites using SEO tools to better understand what works and what doesn’t.

Erik further explores the role of AI tools like ChatGPT for generating effective headlines and content that rank well on search engines. He discusses using AI to create SEO-optimized tags, analyze keywords, and generate high-traffic headlines for restaurant websites. Erik encourages restaurant owners to update their websites regularly, keep content fresh, and continually improve SEO metrics to maintain high rankings on Google.

Finally, Erik advises restaurant owners to ensure they have control over their website's SEO configuration, avoiding over-reliance on web developers who may disappear over time. By managing their own SEO setup, restaurant owners can make continuous improvements and track progress effectively.

This approach ensures that restaurant websites are not only visually appealing but also attract the right audience through strong SEO practices, leading to increased traffic, customer engagement, and ultimately higher revenue.

When it comes to finding the best website platforms for restaurants, it's important to choose a solution that enhances visibility and user experience without unnecessary costs. Website platforms like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, PopMenu, and BentoBox each have their strengths, but they differ significantly in terms of SEO capabilities, ease of use, and long-term value.

1. WordPress: Offers unmatched flexibility and SEO optimization with no monthly fees, making it the best platform for restaurants seeking control and visibility.

2. Wix & Squarespace: Both offer easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interfaces but have limited SEO options. They are better for smaller operations that don’t aim to dominate local search results.

3. PopMenu & BentoBox: These platforms offer concierge services with built-in features like review management, but come with high monthly fees and limited SEO flexibility, which can hurt long-term visibility.

While an attractive website is important, the ultimate goal is visibility. Potential customers must be able to find your restaurant on Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp, where SEO plays a key role. WordPress, with its endless customization and plugin support, provides better long-term SEO results than other platforms. While platforms like PopMenu offer fancy features, their SEO shortcomings make them less effective for high-competition areas.

Choosing the right platform for your restaurant’s website is crucial to long-term success. For most restaurants, WordPress is the best option due to its flexibility, cost-efficiency, and strong SEO performance. For those needing simplicity, Wix and Squarespace offer a reasonable solution, while more expensive platforms like PopMenu and BentoBox can provide convenience but lack the SEO muscle to compete effectively.

In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, Erik Shellenberger dives into the crucial role of reputation management for bars and restaurants. Discover expert tips on how to effectively respond to reviews on Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor, and why managing your online presence is more important than ever with the rise of AI. Erik shares actionable insights on how to handle negative reviews, flag false ones, and craft responses that appeal to potential customers. Learn how to turn feedback into free marketing and boost your restaurant or bar’s reputation. Check out more tips and services at BarMarketingBasics.com.

In this episode of the Restaurant and Bar Marketing Podcast, host Erik Shellenberger shares expert strategies for holiday promotions. Learn how to effectively pivot your marketing efforts to make your bar or restaurant stand out during the holidays. From over-the-top decorations to creative drink presentations, Erik explains how to generate free press, organic social media buzz, and attract influencers to promote your venue. Discover actionable tips to stop customers from scrolling and pack your establishment without breaking the bank. Perfect for bar and restaurant owners looking to increase visibility this holiday season!