Having an online presence is essential for restaurant businesses in 2022. Nearly 80 percent of restaurant-goers say they research restaurants online before ever stepping foot inside.

Without an SEO-friendly website, your restaurant could miss out on patrons and revenue. In order for customers to find your restaurant, you need a solid and favorable online presence.

That's one reason why running a check on SEO for a restaurant website is so important. In this article, you'll learn exactly how to do an SEO website check to get higher Google rankings. Keep reading to learn more.

Why SEO Matters for Restaurants

An SEO-friendly website has the potential to put your restaurant on the map. An effective digital marketing strategy can increase your profits, lower your expenses, and continue to generate new business.

Find Your Target Audience

Once upon a time, finding a new restaurant in town wasn't as easy as it is today. People had to rely on newspaper ads, word of mouth, or getting in the car and driving around town.

Now, when people are looking for a new place to eat, they go online. But competition among restaurants online is fierce. You must rank high in a Google search for potential customers to notice your restaurant.

Increase Organic Traffic

Organic traffic is the number of people who visit your website through non-paid methods. Advertising is expensive, so focusing on organic traffic can save money.

The way to get organic traffic is to produce relevant content for your target audience. Check out these five key online marketing metrics for restaurant owners to learn more.

You may not be making the best use of your organic traffic. Therefore, comparing the traffic you get from organic vs. non-organic methods is essential.

Improve Your Online Reputation

Did you know that 33 percent of restaurant-goers won't eat in a restaurant with less than a 4-star rating online?

You need an active, high-ranking online presence to gain a stellar online reputation. Building a connection through excellent ratings and reviews tells people your restaurant is worth the visit.

How to Audit SEO for a Restaurant Website

You can take several different approaches to do an SEO check for a restaurant website. Here are our top strategies to consider.

Have an SEO-Friendly Restaurant Website Design

Google may not care what your website looks like, but visitors do. Therefore, your website should be visually appealing and easy to use.

A beautiful, convenient website makes it more enjoyable for visitors to interact with your content. It also presents a great first impression and encourages diners to come in.

Check Your Website Loading Speed

Website loading speed is essential. Google uses website loading speed as a ranking factor. In addition, over half of users search for restaurants using their mobile devices.

Websites load more quickly on a desktop than on the phone. So make sure you optimize your website for mobile devices.

Check Your Website Traffic and Engagement

The purpose of a website is to allow your target audience to interact with your restaurant online. Therefore, the more people visit your website, the more chances you have to convert those visitors into customers.

Ensure you are providing valuable content relevant to your target audience. This is the best strategy for increasing traffic to your website.

Use a Marketing Strategy Service

Having a digital marketing strategy is essential for marketing your restaurant online. If this skill doesn't come naturally to you, the best solution is to hire a digital marketing strategy service.

Next Steps

We can't stress enough the importance of effective SEO for a restaurant website.

If you haven't done an SEO check for your restaurant website yet, don't waste another minute. You're probably missing out on bringing in significant new revenue.

The best restaurant marketing help comes from people who know the business.

Restaurant Owners Marketing Academy will use its culinary and industry expertise to craft a marketing strategy that suits your business and your budget. Contact us today to learn more.