How To Get More Restaurant Reservations And Orders From Google

Every day thousands of hungry diners in your area search for somewhere to eat. Almost all of them do so through Google. So how can you take advantage of this to attract more customers through your doors?

I recently attended Google’s Sydney SMB Summit, which covered this topic in detail. If you’re interested, you can see the full recording on YouTube here (I come on at 4:05:30).

However, given most venue owners were too busy to attend, I thought I’d put together a quick summary of the key takeaways. The most important lesson? There are 5 key ways you can make the most of Google:

Let’s take a quick look at each one and how it relates to your business.

#1. Appear when customers are looking for you

When potential customers search for places to eat, you want your restaurant to be front and centre. Customers often turn to Google Search and Maps to find local businesses. With over a billion users, these platforms offer significant exposure!

If you haven’t already, complete these two steps to make the most of people searching near you:

1. Claim and verify your business

Start by claiming and verifying your business on Google. This is a simple process: just search for your business on Google Search or Maps and follow the instructions to create or manage your profile. Verification can be done through various methods, including phone or email. Once verified, your business is officially on the map!

2. Complete your Google Business Profile

After you’re verified, you want to fill out your profile with as much detail as possible. Make it easy for future customers to find and contact you by displaying your business address, hours, contact info, and a description of your service. The more complete your profile, the easier it is for Google’s algorithm to match you with relevant keywords. Ensuring your restaurant appears in searches like "restaurants near me" or specific queries such as "best spring roll near me" can drive considerable traffic to your business.

#2. Stay relevant by showcasing what you offer

Standing out in the crowded restaurant market means highlighting what makes your venue special. From unique features to detailed menus, ensuring your offerings are well-represented can significantly enhance your appeal to potential customers.

Here are a few ways you can do this:

#3. Be ready when customers want to take action

When customers are ready to make a decision, you need to be ready to capture their interest. Make it easy for customers to take action by enabling online reservations and orders directly from your Google profile.

Use "Order with Google" for takeout or delivery options and "Reserve with Google" for table bookings. This adds blue buttons to your profile that allow customers to take action straight away.

Online tools like these used to be a luxury. But they’re now an expectation. Google says that as many as 80% of customers expect to be able to order or book a table online. If you’re not offering these options, you’re leaving money on the table!

#4. Engage with your customers

Engagement goes beyond just being present online. It involves actively interacting with customers, responding to their feedback, and keeping them informed about what's happening at your restaurant.

Here’s how:

#5. Leverage insights to drive action

Google provides valuable insights into how customers interact with your profile. It tracks metrics such as searches, profile views, menu interactions, orders, and bookings. You can use this data to understand customer preferences and adjust your marketing strategies accordingly.

Pay special attention to these three metrics:

#6. Bonus tip: Use WOWAPPS to get more customers, ordering more, more often

Many restaurant owners want to harness the power of Google to get more table bookings and takeaway orders – but they’re too busy to set up Reserve with Google and Order with Google. That’s where WOWAPPS can help.

We’re a Google preferred partner in Australia that offers an all-in-one suite of digital tools for hospitality venues – including online reservations, ordering, QR code table ordering, commission-free delivery, data management, e-gift cards, and mobile apps with reward programs.

The modern restaurant needs to not only reach new customers but also find ways to bring them back for a second, third, and fourth visit. Our suite of tools, including Order and Reserve with Google, lowers their customer acquisition costs, increases revenue, and drives profits to new highs.

Here’s an example of how we helped small family business Beaches Pizza Bar focus on making the best pizza, instead of battling it out online. 

Thanks to our Order and Reserve with Google features, this family-run restaurant stopped worrying about their website being a bottleneck for customers. They now have a simple, seamless way to serve people online, which allows them to focus on making delicious pizza. Since coming on board, they’ve seen a:

“WOWAPPS and Google just makes it a lot more convenient to reach those customers without putting extra on the staff”. Mike Cumings, owner of Beaches Pizza Bar

Want a hand implementing setting up Order and Reserve with Google for your venue? Speak to our team and we’ll show you how WOWAPPS can make it happen. We’ll even set it up for you at no charge, with no lock-in contract!