Since smartphones have become an essential part of our lives, their utility depends on the user and his expectations.
One of the modern-day smartphones’ features is ‘near me’ searches available on google. This feature is activated when we allow and share our geographical location with google. This means Google can detect users’ exact location and give them the most relevant and nearby results based on their desired search.
On google maps, you can search petrol pumps, hospitals, entertainment places, and restaurants in your 2km radius or more with just one click. “Restaurants near me” is the most popular “near me” search query with 6.2 million organic searches per month.
Optimizing for ‘near me’ search results allows you to reach your target consumers during moments when they’re most likely to make a purchase. According to research by Uberall, 82% of all mobile shoppers search online using “near me” queries.
For example, if a person is looking for a place to eat, near me search will allow the google search engine to recommend your restaurant if it falls within his geographical proximity.
The consumer can view your restaurant menu and social media profile and read user ratings and reviews that will help him make his final decision for a purchase.
Therefore, optimizing ‘near me’ search also means that you need to be present on all popular search engines, not just google. Facebook and other social media platforms are also used as search engines by users. Another important aspect is that a user will usually try or click on the first few options shown due to his search.
Hence, your restaurant should be making that list of the first three or four search options. One way of doing it is to increase your user engagement through organic or paid advertisements, encourage the customers to rate and review your brand and use keywords that will help search engine optimization.
The consistency with which you upload content and engage users is the key as it makes search engine algorithms recognize your restaurant as one of the top trending options for consumers. Your Google business profile must be updated with details of your business.
Make sure that your restaurant website is user-friendly and also mobile-friendly so that consumers can easily explore your menu. If you have multiple locations for your restaurant, it is better to create different web pages for each location.
