How to Master Local SEO to Fill Your Restaurant Seats
Think SEO is just for tech bros? Wrong. SEO is your digital open sign. Ignore it, and you're basically locking your doors while potential guests walk past. Let’s pull back the curtain on how local SEO quietly becomes your number one foot traffic driver, especially as an independent restaurant owner. Let’s talk about how you can claim your slice of the Google pie and fill more seats.
Local SEO = butts in seats
It’s simple. Someone searches “best tacos near me,” and guess what? If you’ve done your homework, Google points them to you. That’s local SEO. It’s like digital word of mouth — on steroids.
The foundation of this strategy? Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile.
Start with the basics
Make sure your name, address, and phone number are accurate and consistent across every single platform — Yelp, Apple Maps, TripAdvisor, you name it. But most importantly, get it right on Google.
Also, don’t forget:
- Accurate hours — especially around holidays. How many times have you wondered if a spot was open on Labor Day or Christmas Eve? Your customers wonder too.
- A live menu link — no PDFs, no broken links. People want to see your menu, and Google wants to read it so it can match it to search terms like “tacos” or “gluten-free pizza.”
- Weekly photo updates — share shots of your food, guests having fun, your storefront or any current promotions. Google notices when your page is fresh and active. Feed the algorithm!
Use reviews of your restaurant as rocket fuel
Reviews are pure gold. Five stars plus keywords equals search magic.
Ask happy guests to leave reviews. A QR code in the check presenter works wonders. Or send a post-visit text: “Thanks for dining with us! If you had a great time, we’d love your feedback.”
There’s even software to help. I’ve talked about Ovation on my podcast — look it up. It helps you intercept negative feedback before it hits the internet and promotes the good stuff to all your profiles.
And remember: respond to every review, good or bad. It shows you’re paying attention, and Google likes that.
Treat Google like another social platform
That’s right — Google Posts aren’t just filler. Use them to share:
- New dishes
- Events
- Holiday hours
- Team stories
These small updates signal to Google (and your customers) that you’re alive, thriving and relevant.
Tell your restaurant's story
Here’s the secret sauce: storytelling.
Yes, beautiful food photos are great, but what really bonds people to your restaurant is your story. Share the faces behind the scenes, the heart behind your recipes, and the community you’re building. That emotional connection is what keeps guests coming back — and talking about you online.
Stay visible, stay hungry
The internet is noisy. Google holds the mic. So, keep your profile updated, keep those reviews rolling in and stay top-of-mind for those hungry locals.
Search. You show up. They walk in.
Be sure to visit my YouTube channel for more helpful restaurant management video tips.
