There are many SEO factors that can boost your restaurant ranking—your website’s overall health, content quality, and how customers engage with your business online all play a part...
However, one of the most crucial yet often overlooked responsibilities you have to your restaurant is how actively you respond to customer reviews. Not only does it boost your credibility, but it also signals to Google that you’re engaged with your customers, which can have a significant impact on your rankings.
This is the hardest part for a lot of restaurants to manage. Not only do you need to read all your reviews, but you should also be responding to all of them as well. Here's what is happening when you DON'T:
1.By not showing your appreciation to existing customers who left you a good review...
would-be customers reading those reviews don't see the personal touch that you could be showing. After all, the reviews are coming from guests who took the time to write about their experience at your restaurant. Extensive research by marketing companies indicate that your future diners want to hear from you too.
2.When negative reviews, often stemming from misunderstandings, go unaddressed, potential customers are left uncertain about how your restaurant handles issues. By not explaining these situations, you miss an opportunity to show that problems are resolved quickly and fairly, leaving new customers unsure of what to expect if something were to go wrong.
3.When restaurants fail to take responsibility, apologize, and show they've corrected mistakes, studies show that conversion rates for new customers drop significantly. People understand that mistakes happen, but they want to know that if something goes wrong, you'll make it right. When potential customers don't see you responding to reviews on your Google Business profile, it leaves them questioning how much your restaurant values its customers, even if you care deeply. They want to see that you’re engaged and proactive, especially when addressing issues.
Answer Your Google reviews...or it may hurt dramatically.
Review signals account for around 20% of the factors that influence local search rankings. The more positive reviews you have—and the more actively you respond to them—the higher Google ranks your business in local search results.
Now that you're receiving and replying to reviews consistently, two important things happen:
New customers searching for the perfect spot for Mother’s Day, a romantic dinner, a business party, or even a place to watch the game will see your restaurant bustling with recent, positive feedback. Your activity shows you care, building trust and confidence that you’re the best choice.
Google notices this engagement, too. Since their goal is to provide users with the best experience, they favor businesses that are active and well-maintained. If someone’s searching for Italian food, Google is more likely to recommend a restaurant with a strong presence, lots of fresh reviews, and real interaction with its customers.
Unlock the secret that’s saving restaurant owners hours and boosting their Google rankings. Try it free for 10 days (no credit card necessary)—you’ll be amazed at the results!
"Try our 10-day trial with no strings attached—no credit card required, and you keep everything even if you don’t upgrade. Fill out the form below, and let us handle your reviews while you focus on running your restaurant. Watch your rankings soar and new customers roll in. You'll love the results!"
You should know that online reviews are essential, and they can make or break your business.
Good reviews will help you attract new customers, amp up your reputation, and improve your search ranking. Those 5- and 4-star reviews do all that AND assure potential customers that your business is the trusted and best choice. According to a Moz study, review signals make up around 15 percent of ranking factors. That means that the more positive reviews you have, the higher Google ranks your business on local search results.
97% of consumers who read online reviews also read businesses' responses to those reviews. - BrightLocal
63% of consumers say they use the Google search engines to track down reviews about a company. - Bloomberg News
83% of customers say reviews must be relevant and recent to be trustworthy - Forbes
71% of customers say they prefer choosing a restaurant with recent reviews from the same week - Moz
(For these reasons alone, we think your restaurant needs us!)
Copyright 2024. Unveil New Customers Daily Inc.. All Rights Reserved.