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Think back to the last time you were hungry but couldn’t decide what restaurant you wanted to order from. Did you automatically take out your phone and do a quick Google search? If so, you’re not alone. In the last five years, searches for “restaurants near me” have increased 900%. Google has become an essential resource for foodies to find and order from the best restaurants in their area. As such, Google My Business, also known as GMB, has become a crucial resource for restaurants.
Google My Business is a free tool that enables restaurants to promote their establishments across Google search and maps.
Once a restaurant claims their business, they are able to provide searchers with important information such as address, opening hours, phone number, photos, and respond to reviews. Restaurants can also link their delivery platform of choice to their Google profile, creating a seamless ordering experience for customers.
Improve visibility on local search
Restaurants that don’t have the budget or resources to implement a dynamic SEO strategy, can enjoy quick wins from claiming their business on Google. By having the most up to date and optimized profile, restaurants boost their visibility on search and increase their chances of appearing on the top three local results, known as the Local Pack, as Google considers “relevance, distance, and prominence” when it decides what to place in this directory.
Attract new customers
To make the best first impression and stand out against local competition, restaurants must ensure that their profiles include accurate information and are regularly updated with new and engaging content.
Create a best of breed digital identity
Maintaining a high standard of quality and consistency across all digital touchpoints is crucial to creating a cohesive brand identity. WIth rapid growth in local searches, Google My Business should not be overlooked.
Gather customer insight
Google offers free analytics for business profiles. Restaurants can gather additional information about their customers such as directions requests and what images best resonate with their audience.
According to Google, profiles with photos receive 42% more requests for driving directions to their location and 35% more clicks through to their websites than profiles that don’t have photos. Restaurants can profit from such results and maximize the benefits mentioned above, through the following actions:
With over one billion active users, Google is one of, if not the most used search engines in the world. To leverage this massive audience pool, restaurants must first claim their GMB accounts and then optimize their profiles. Photos and videos will enable restaurants to raise their profiles to attract new and existing customers.
With cutting edge technology and a world class community of Image Creators, the OCUS solution streamlines photography and videography production, automating ordering, post-production, and delivery of visual content. Through machine learning and image recognition, OCUS™ provides performant visuals that are GMB-optimized and maximize engagement for global companies including delivery brands and their restaurants.
Contact marketing@ocus.com today, to learn how OCUS can drive traffic and orders for your restaurant partners.
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