Using Local SEO to Get Found (And Chosen!) Online

Imagine this scenario if you will:

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You’ve a hungry potential customer who’s decided it’s time to eat. As most hungry customers do, they whip out their phone, pull up Google Maps and type in, “best lunch place near me.”

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It’s lunch time, they’re ready to eat, and they’re looking to make a decision before the phone goes back in their pocket. 

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Still with us? 

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Good. Now ask yourself this: Will your restaurant show up in their search?

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If it won’t, you’re missing out on clicks and you’re missing out on customers.

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But there’s a way to make sure that you don’t miss out. That’s where local SEO comes in.

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Local SEO is exactly how your restaurant gets discovered by people nearby, and, in 2025, when most of your diners are using their phones and “near me” results, local SEO isn’t just a tactic to give you a competitive edge — it’s a necessity.

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So, if you’re ready to stop missing out on customers, today’s blog has what you need. We’re breaking down everything restaurant owners and marketers need to know to improve their local visibility. Whether you’re running a neighborhood cafe, a fine dining downtown hotspot, or the best damn taco truck in the city, the following strategies will help your business show up when it matters and get chosen over the competition!

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What is Local SEO (And Why Does It Matter for Restaurants?)

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Local SEO (search engine optimization) is a big part of restaurant marketing and how you help your restaurant show up in search results when people are Googling (or Bing-ing) for a place to eat.

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It’s what gets your establishment in front of hungry diners using search terms like “best lunchtime place for sushi,” “places serving breakfast now,” or “best downtown lunch spot in [your city].”

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You want these people to be able to find you because they’re not just browsing because they're curious. They’re hungry, and search terms like that mean they’re actively looking to make a decision like right now about where they should go to do something about it.

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Having a strong local SEO strategy helps your restaurant:

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• Appear on Google Maps and local packs (the group of business listings that appear right under the map when someone searches for places near them)
• Rank higher for location-specific searches
• Earn more visibility with reviews, photos, and business info
• Drive more calls, reservations, and in-person visits

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The bottom line is this: Local SEO connects you with people who are nearby, ready to eat, and likely to choose you if they find you.

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8 Local SEO Tips to Boost Your Restaurant's Visibility

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Now that you know why local SEO matters, let’s talk about how to improve it!

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The following 9 tips will help you not only show up more often in local searches but position your restaurant as the best option of the bunch!

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1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

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This is number 1 on the list because it’s not so much a tip as it is a non-negotiable thing you should absolutely do.

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In fact, if you do nothing else on this list, still do this because your Google Business Profile is what shows up in the local pack, Google Maps, and “near me” searches, places where your potential diners are looking.

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Here are some tips to make sure it’s working for you:

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• Claim and verify your listing. If you haven’t already, go to google.com/business and claim your profile. They’ll give you a couple of steps to verify, but do it because verification is what makes it official.
• Keep your info accurate and consistent. That includes your restaurant’s name, address, phone number (NAP), hours, and website. Even small errors here can hurt your visibility.
• Choose the right category. “Restaurant” is a given, yeah, but be more specific if possible —like “Italian Restaurant” or “Vegan Restaurant” or “kid-friendly restaurant.”
• Add high-quality photos. Post clear, well-lit images of your food, interior, and staff. Profiles with photos get more clicks and calls. Hire a professional photographer if you can, because this is your chance to win over hungry diners!
• Use posts to share updates. Highlight new menu items, seasonal specials, events, or changes in hours—Google gives you space to post like a mini social feed. Take advantage of this to keep your presence fresh and interesting.
• Encourage and respond to reviews. We’ll talk more about reviews next, but responding to them here also helps your ranking and builds trust with future customers.

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2. Get More (and Better) Reviews

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Reviews aren’t just great for word-of-mouth and building trust, they’re also a huge ranking factor with local SEO.

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The more positive reviews you have (especially if they’re recent), the better your chances are of showing up in Google’s local pack and Maps results.

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And it’s not just how many reviews you have; it’s the quality of the reviews, too. Here are some pointers to get quality and consistent reviews for your restaurant.

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• Ask at the right moment — Train your staff to ask for a review only when a customer gives positive feedback, like “That was amazing!” Even a simple response like, “We’d love it if you left us a quick Google review—it really helps us out,” goes a long way.
• Use a table tent or bill insert with a QR code — Try putting a small card on each table or tuck it in with the check. Keep it short and friendly, like: “Loved your meal? Tell Google about it! Scan here to leave a quick review—it only takes a minute.”  You can even include a pre-written example review to make it easier: “Great service and amazing food! We’ll definitely be back.”
• Add the link to follow-up emails or texts —If you use digital receipts or take reservations online, add thank-you messages and a simple ask to your email marketing efforts like: “Thanks for dining with us! If you enjoyed your experience, we’d love a quick Google review.” Don’t forget to add a link for convenience!

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It might be tempting to offer discounts or freebies in exchange for reviews, but try not to.

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Google discourages this and may remove reviews that look incentivized (i.e., the review says something like “thanks for the free dessert, here’s that review I promised!”, or there's a sudden spike in reviews from the same IP because they were all from a tableside device). 

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Focus on providing a great experience, make the review process as easy as possible, and your reviews will come.

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3. Use Location-Based Keywords on Your Website

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Your website plays a big role in how well you rank for local searches.

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One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is sprinkle some location-based keywords throughout your site.

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Here are some ways to do it:

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• Homepage and About Page — Mention your city or neighborhood clearly and early on so Google knows it’s relevant for a location-based search. Example: “Family-owned Italian restaurant in downtown Denver.”
• Meta titles and descriptions — These are the short snippets of text that show up in Google results (the title is in blue and the short description underneath). Including phrases like “Vegan Brunch in Portland” or “Late-night eats in Chicago” can boost clicks.
• Headings (H1s and H2s) — Use headers on your page to call out your location—Google pays extra attention to these.
• Alt text for images — Alt text is a short description you add to images on your websites so search engines and screen readers know what they’re showing. Be sure to describe your images with phrases like “bar area at our Boston seafood restaurant” to help with image search visibility.
• Contact page —Make sure your address is written out in full (not just in an embedded map).

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Not sure how to make these changes on your website? It’s definitely worth it to hire a web designer or ask your developer to help you optimize your images and content for SEO.

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4. Embed a Google Map on Your Contact Page

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It might seem like just a little thing, but adding a Google Map to your website —  especially on your Contact or Location page — can make a world of difference.

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It helps customers quickly see where you are, get direction, and even check out your location through Street View if they’re curious about its accessibility or parking situation (and many are).

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Plus, it sends a clear signal to Google that ties your physical location to your website, which can help boost your local search rankings.

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Just make sure your full address is written out in text alongside the map and, if possible, include a direct link to your Google Business Profile.

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If you need help adding a map, Google Maps has a built-in “Embed” option you can use. Or just ask your web designer to drop it in for you.

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5. Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly

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We’ve been talking so much about how potential diners are using their phones to find your restaurant.

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None of that is going to do much good if they click over to your site and it’s a slow, unnavigable wasteland of pinching, zooming, and loading just to find your menu.

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If your site doesn’t load quickly or display well on mobile, you might have done your job with local SEO, but still lost that customer anyway.

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A mobile-friendly website should be:

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• Fast — Hangry people are not patient people. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, they’re probably clicking away.
• Easy to navigate — Menus, hours, and contact info should be front and center with buttons that are easy to tap (no tiny links!).
• Readable without zooming — No one should have to squint or pinch-to-zoom just to see your brunch specials.
• Accessible — Make sure your text has good contrast, your fonts are large enough, and buttons are easy to reach for people with mobility challenges.

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If you’re curious about how your site is performing, there are free Mobile-Friendly Tests out there that can give you some quick feedback!

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6. Get Listed in Other Local Directories

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Google is important, yes, but it’s not the only place people look, and when it comes to local visibility, it’s good to cast a wide net!

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Platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and even Apple Maps all play a big role in how easily potential diners can find your restaurant online. And the more places you’re listed, the more chances you have to show up in searches, through apps, voice assistants, and other map services.

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The key here, though, is to make sure that your information is consistent; your name, address, phone number, hours, pictures, menu, and website should be the same on every listing, so you don’t confuse search engines or send customers to the wrong place.

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So, if you haven’t claimed extra profiles yet, it’s definitely worth doing. Just add some good photos, a short description, and respond to any reviews when you can — it all adds up!

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7. Use Structured Data

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This entry sounds a little technical (and it kind of is), but it’s something that can give your restaurant a boost in search results.

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Structured data (also called schema markup) is some behind-the-scenes code you can add to your website to help search engines better understand your business and what you offer. For restaurants, that might include your menu, your location, hours, price range, and even your customer reviews.

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Set up correctly, structured data can lead to better search results with extra details like star ratings, menu links, or hours, which can make your listing stand out from your competition. 

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And if you’re not a developer, don’t worry. You don’t have to figure it out yourself. Ask your web designer or developer to add structured data using the “Restaurant” scheme from schema.org. It’s a little thing, but it helps search engines and people more easily find you!

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8. Don’t Forget About Social Media Signals

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While your socials don’t directly affect your search engine rankings in the same way other SEO techniques do, they still support your SEO goals!

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Why? Because platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are where your potential diners are spending their time scrolling and where they often discover new, highly-recommended places to eat.

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And when your content gets shared, liked, tagged, or reviewed by other locals, that activity sends out engagement signals to search engines that can drive more traffic to your site and boost your visibility. 

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Here are ways you can help:

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• Use location tags and local hashtags on your posts to boost discoverability.
• Encourage customers to tag your restaurant when they post their meals or experiences.
• Keep your profiles updated with accurate info, hours, and links—especially during holidays or special events.‍
• Post regularly with photos, behind-the-scenes videos, or daily specials to stay top of mind.

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You’re not trying to go viral (though that wouldn’t hurt!), but you do want to be visible in places where your customers already are!

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A Few More Tips for Winning Local Searches

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At the end of the day, local SEO isn’t about you tipping the scales or tricking search engines or anything — it’s just a way for your business to show up for your customers when and where they need you.

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Here’s a few more parting tips to keep your strategy on track:

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1. Keep your info consistent across platforms. Your name, address, phone number, hours, and links should match everywhere.
2. Respond to reviews like a human. Be kind, authentic, and professional—even (and especially) when handling negative feedback.
3. Make sure your website looks good on mobile. Most diners are searching on their phones, so your site should be fast, clear, and easy to navigate.
4. Focus on delivering a great experience—online and in person. That’s what gets people talking, tagging, sharing, and coming back.

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And remember, local SEO isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. It’s something you build over time.

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So, keep your listings fresh, your content updated, and your guests full and happy.

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The results will follow!

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Ready to Make Local SEO Work for Your Restaurant?

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Local SEO is one of the most effective (and cheapest!) ways to get more eyes on your restaurant, fill up your tables, and keep your business top of mind in your community.

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The only downside is that keeping up with your listings, your website, and your SEO is … well, a lot. 

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Especially when your plate is already full with running your restaurant (pun unapologetically intended).

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But the good news is you’re already in a place that can help you!

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Designity is an innovative Creative as a Service platform that connects your brand with a fully-vetted creative team that includes expert web designers, developers, SEO specialists, copywriters, graphic designers, social media specialists, and anyone else you need to ramp up your local visibility for you while you keep your focus on running your business.

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Whether you need help optimizing your site, keeping up with your Google Business Profile, or getting the branding and visuals you need to get attention online, Designity’s experts have you covered.

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Check out our restaurant marketing service page and portfolio to see how Designity has been able to elevate businesses just like yours. If you like what you see, go ahead and book your demo call today. 

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We’ll get you started on a two-week, no-obligation trial so you can test-drive Designity’s 100+ design and marketing services and see why we’re the SEO partner your restaurant has been waiting for!

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Are you ready to get your restaurant the attention it deserves?