When diners search online for where to eat next, strong local SEO for restaurants can help ensure your business is front and center. Ranking higher in local searches can drive more traffic to your website, increase direct online orders, and bring more guests through your doors.
Keep reading to learn how restaurants merchants can build a winning local SEO strategy that not only improves visibility but also strengthens customer relationships and boosts orders.
Why local SEO for restaurants matters
77% of diners visit a restaurant's website before choosing where to eat. Showing up in local Google searches isn’t just about visibility—it’s about capturing customers at the exact moment their stomachs start to growl.
Local SEO helps restaurants:
Appear in “near me” searches and Google Maps listings
Attract first-time guests
Boost direct orders and foot traffic
Without a strong local SEO presence, restaurants risk being invisible to potential guests who are ready to order or book a table. In an industry where competition is fierce, being easily discoverable online is no longer optional; it's table stakes.
Key components of local SEO for restaurants
Optimizing your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is often the first impression diners get when searching for your restaurant. Because of this, it's imperative to optimize your Google Business Profile to ensure customers can easily access accurate information about your business.
When creating your Google Business Profile, make sure you:
Fill out every section: hours, photos, menu, reservations, and delivery options
Keep your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) details consistent everywhere
Enable Order with Google integrations to capture direct sales
If you need help, white-glove Google Business setup support is included with a branded website from the DoorDash Commerce Platform. Our restaurant website experts handle all of the behind-the-scenes work to optimize your online visibility .
Explore branded websitesBuilding an SEO-driven restaurant website
A professional, optimized website is key to any local SEO strategy. But building an SEO-driven website can be time-consuming and confusing.
Here are a few tips to get started:
Make sure your website is optimized for mobile: Google uses a process called mobile-first indexing to crawl and rank your site, meaning that having a mobile-friendly site is crucial. Plus, 63% of Google searches in the US occur on mobile devices, which means current and future customers are likely to find you from their phones. A mobile-friendly site makes it easy for guests to navigate your site, and can help with your search rankings—win-win!
Use built-in SEO features: Behind every high-ranking website is a collection of carefully written meta descriptions, alt text, and more. If SEO is a top priority for your business, you will need to fill out these fields.
Use headers appropriately: Headers help structure the content on your website, making it easy for site visitors and search engines to quickly understand what your site covers. Be especially thoughtful when selecting your H1s and H2s as they are critical to Google understanding your site.
It's no secret that SEO can be a full-time job; if you don't want it to be yours, it's time to get started with a branded website from the DoorDash Commerce Platform. Getting your SEO-optimized, branded website is simple. Our team does the heavy lifting for you by building and hosting your site using your existing DoorDash assets.
Leveraging local SEO best practices
When a customer in Chicago is searching for "pho near me," they don't want to see options in Houston or Philadelphia. That's why search engines like Google reward local relevance when it comes to search engine rankings.
Here are a few tips to get started with local SEO for restaurants:
Use location-based keywords: Including phrases like “best pizza in St. Louis” or “family-friendly brunch in Seattle” on your site can help your site rank for these types of searches.
Earn local backlinks: When other reputable, local websites (think local news sites, travel best-of lists, or your city's chamber of commerce directory) link to your site, this can help establish legitimacy.
Publish content about upcoming events: Hosting a game night? Maybe you're doing a pop-up at an upcoming street fair. Use these community events as web content to illustrate your presence in your area.
If you'd prefer to leave your local SEO strategy to the experts, the DoorDash Commerce Platform team can help.
Get a demoUsing online ordering to boost orders
SEO makes it easy for customers to find you, and once they do, an online ordering system makes it easy for them to place an order. Make sure your site is outfitted with a sleek, easy-to-use online ordering system so that once guests find your site, you can convert them into paying customers ASAP.
Online Ordering, built into branded websites, is powered by the same technology behind Marketplace and is designed to make ordering and checking out simple for your site visitors. Best of all, orders placed through Online Ordering are commission-free*—it pays to implement an easy-to-use online ordering system!
"[Online Ordering] is just another way to make the consumer have a seamless transaction with us. They can go on our website and order, which makes our customers' experience easier."
Collecting and responding to reviews for stronger local SEO for restaurants
Reviews signal both trust and activity to search engines. Plus, 94% of diners choose where they want to eat based on online reviews. That means you should focus on collecting and responding to reviews to strengthen your SEO strategy and win new customers.
Here are a few ways to get started:
Encourage satisfied diners to leave Google reviews with an email campaign
Use restaurant text marketing to remind recent guests to write a review
Respond to every Google review, positive or negative, to show that you're engaged and open to feedback
Elevating your restaurant with local SEO for restaurants
Strong local SEO helps restaurants appear where hungry diners are searching. With the right strategy and tools, restaurants can increase visibility, grow direct orders, and build a loyal customer base.
Ready to boost your local SEO and drive more direct orders?
Explore DoorDash Commerce Platform*2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee applies
