California, Los Angeles is home to over 29.000 restaurants. And, despite facing challenges like high labor and food costs, this city’s food scene continues to thrive. It also makes it harder for restaurants to actually have customers and stand out in this crowded sea of cuisine.
But when it comes to putting down the work and boosting your visibility online, should you go for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or paid ads? Although the answer is complex and both can drive traffic to your site, we think SEO is 100% the way to go. This strategy offers long-term benefits that make it particularly effective for restaurants that are looking to build lasting connections with local diners.
This is especially true when you consider that 53.3% of all website traffic comes from organic search, and 70% of those users say they prefer to click on organic search results over paid ads because they feel it’s more “genuine”. (Brightedge) (Hubspot)
But, how can you leverage SEO to attract more local customers? Welcome to the world of local SEO.
1. Local SEO Puts Your Restaurant on the Map (Literally)
Local SEO is all about making sure people in your area can easily find your restaurant online. Think about it this way: when someone searches “best pizza near me” or “plumber in Chicago” on Google, local SEO helps your business show up in those top results. And by optimizing your online presence, you can increase foot traffic and bring in more customers from your community.
One of the best ways to do this is by creating and optimizing your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and using local search strategies. This can help your restaurant appear in Google’s Local Pack, which are the top three results for local businesses based on the user’s search location. For restaurants, this can make a big difference.
46% of all Google searches are looking for local information and 76% of people who search for something nearby on their phone visit a business within a day. (SEO Tribunal) (Google) Not optimizing your local search results can be a huge missed opportunity for your business.
2. SEO Builds Credibility and Trust
Sure, holding the #1 spot organically is always great, but SEO isn’t just about visibility – it’s also about building trust with potential customers. Why? A survey showed that 70-80% of users skip paid ads and focus solely on organic search results. (KlipFolio) So, for restaurants, ranking at the top of organic search results makes your business seem more credible and trustworthy, which can lead to more customers walking through your doors.
Positive reviews also play a huge role in SEO because search engines, including Google, take reviews into account when ranking businesses, and restaurants with more positive reviews tend to rank higher in local searches. Plus, 88% of consumers would use a business that replies to all of its reviews. (Bright Local)
With a solid SEO strategy, you can gather and showcase these reviews, which will help you attract even more local customers. Think about it: would you rather go to a restaurant that has 0 reviews, or one that has multiple reviews ranging from 3 stars to 5?
3. Organic Traffic Provides Long-Term ROI
One of the best things about SEO is its long-term benefits. Unlike paid ads like Google Ads where they give your restaurant a quick traffic boost, once your restaurant ranks well in organic search results, you’ll continue to attract traffic without needing to pay for every click. This makes SEO a much more sustainable option, especially in competitive markets like California, where the cost of maintaining a paid ad campaign can quickly add up.
Don’t believe us? SEO offers 20x more traffic opportunities than paid ads on both mobile and desktop devices. (Moz) So, while paid ads can give you immediate visibility, SEO is the better option for those restaurants that need to build a steady, long-term stream of customers.
4. Local Keywords Are The Key to SEO Success
However great your SEO strategy is, if you’re not using local keywords, you might as well not even exit. These are the phrases people use when searching for anything near them – think of “top pizza in San Francisco” or “best pasta near me.”
With SEO, you have the ability to target local keywords that your customers are searching for, and by optimizing your website for these local searches, you can improve your chances of showing up in relevant search results.
As with any SEO strategy, keyword research is essential, especially if you’re looking to boost your local visibility. That’s why restaurants that optimize their websites for the right local keywords can see significant improvements in both their search rankings and the number of customers they attract.
How to find the right local keywords:
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find out which relevant terms based on your business and location are most searched for.
- Create specific landing pages or blog posts that target these keywords for your local audience.
5. User-Generated Content Boosts Local SEO
Encouraging customers to leave reviews, share photos, and tag your restaurant on social media – aka user-generated content – isn’t just great for building buzz, it also helps boost your local SEO. How? Google and other search engines prioritize that user-generated content because it shows that your restaurant is active and popular.
Plus, restaurants that actually respond to reviews, engage with customers online, and encourage social media posts perform better in local search results.
With 91% of consumers saying local branch reviews impact their overall perceptions of big brands in some way, managing your online presence and encouraging customer interaction can improve a ton your restaurant’s visibility and attract more diners. (brightlocal)
Final Thoughts: Why SEO Is Key for California Restaurants
If you want to make your restaurant stand out from the LA crowd and get one step closer to being the #1 spot in town, local SEO is a must. But remember, this isn’t a one-time task. You need to regularly update your content and make adjustments when needed, otherwise you’re just wasting time and effort.
And, while paid ads can give your restaurant quick visibility, SEO offers a sustainable, long-term strategy for attracting local customers. By focusing on local SEO tactics you can improve your organic search rankings, build trust with potential diners, and drive more foot traffic without relying on the high costs of paid advertising! It’s a win-win-win situation.
At EpicDevs, we specialize in helping California restaurants and other businesses optimize their websites for SEO success. Are you ready to attract more local customers and improve your search engine visibility? Contact us today to get started!