How to optimise Google My Business (GMB) to increase your F&B sales
““If there are no photos, the party didn’t happen.”
“If it’s not on the first page of Google, it doesn’t exist.””
For a F&B business owner, having a presence on Google is more than worth it - it has now become a necessity. Learning how to optimise your Google My Business (GMB) listing has become more important than ever. When people are in a hurry to find places to eat, they reply on the top of the search engine results that Google gives them. So, even if you have a website for your F&B establishment, you may still fail to capture customers if the information in your GMB listing is outdated. With the GMB listing, you stand out from the cacophony of results with a space of your own.
With a quick Google search, customers are able to see important details such as opening hours and your exact location on your GMB listing - Thus helping them plan ahead and giving them a peace of mind. There’s nothing worse for a customer who checks your hours and drives to your business, only to realize you’re closed – even though your profile said you were open. So it’s crucial that the information posted is absolutely up-to-date.
Top tips to get started on optimising your GMB Listing :
1 Description
Optmise your GMB listing - Description
One of the very first features that will enhance your listing is adding a good business description. This section is your opportunity to tell people what makes your restaurant unique. Tell customers what kind of food you serve - Here is where you want to let diners know what kind of food they can expect to find on your menu. Stating your cuisine plays a significant role in people’s results for ‘near me’ type searches. This is also a fantastic opportunity to include keywords about your business - A pro tip is to think about the kinds of searches your ideal customer might be doing when creating your business description.
2 Reservations & Ordering
Optmise your GMB listing - Reservation
Another great way to optimise your GMB listing is using the reservation feature. By adding a booking button to your GMB listing and linking that to a reservation platform you use, you can easily streamline your guests’s reservation process. In addition, you can even add your restaurant’s online ordering system link such as Chope on your GMB profile.
3 Menu & Photos
Optmise your GMB listing - Menu & Photo
There is a growing trend in more detailed searches recently and with utilising the menu feature and adding photos, it makes your GMB listing even more unique. Add a direct link to your menu page on your website such as above, or you could also add a menu button that will list out your food and drink items. Get people’s attention by adding visual interest to your GMB listing - However these visuals don’t always have to be that of your food always. Share photos of your outlet’s space, design and architecture for example and keep in mind that they should represent the look and feel of your restaurant or cafe.
When you add pictures to your GMB listing, Google will ask you to categories the photo. In the example above, a picture of the dining tables and seating in restaurant could be categorised as the interior of the place. This allows people to click on various categories of images and is useful when they are looking for something in particular. A pro tip is also to upload your logo to boost brand recognition and make sure that your customers can identify your business listing faster.
Currently, with the Google Business Profile integration with iCHEF POS, the benefits you would experience as a F&B business owner are endless :
✓ Consistent, accurate information across your profiles
✓ Increasing traffic to your restaurant’s website
✓ Helping customers locate you easily for dining in & delivery orders
✓ Using SEO to get your restaurant to show up on Google first
Talk to us and learn more about how you can get started on the Google Business Profile integration in your POS today.
Abi Shan is the editor and content strategist at iCHEF Singapore. She manages iCHEF Club, a growing community of F&B owners in Singapore – creating and strategising fresh content, digital marketing campaigns, and the F&B Entrepreneur Bootcamp, the only regular workshop on opening a new restaurant in the country. In her spare time, she loves playing the drums, watching movies, and attending concerts. Her love for fashion runs so deep such that you can can always spot her with new makeup looks ;)
