Voice Search for Restaurants

Last Updated on: 21st November 2023, 02:10 pm

Okay, listen up restaurant owners! You know the drill: you’ve gotta be where the people are. And where are they? They’re on their phones and smart speakers, asking Siri, Google, or Alexa where to grab their next meal. According to BrightEdge, 64% of people use voice search to find local spots, and almost half of them are hunting for restaurants.

Why You Need to Get Your Restaurant on Voice Search

You might be wondering, “Why should I care?” Well, here’s the deal:

1. Get Seen, Get Eaten: When your restaurant shows up in voice search, you’re instantly on people’s radar when they ask, “What’s a good sushi place near me?”
2. Stay Local, Go Vocal: A lot of voice searches are location-based. That means if you’re a local spot, you’re gonna get a lot of love.
3. No Typos, No Problems: Let’s be real, typing on a tiny screen sucks. Voice search makes it easy for people to find you, even if they’re multi-tasking.

Step 1: Create a Google My Business Listing

First off, you need a Google My Business (GMB) account. It’s free and gives you the chance to put all your restaurant’s info in one spot: name, address, phone, website, and hours. Google uses this info in search results, so make sure it’s spot-on.

Step 2: Claim Your Territory Elsewhere

But wait, there’s more! You’re not done. Get your restaurant on other directories like Yelp, Bing Places, and TripAdvisor. More listings mean more chances to get found.

Step 3: Give Your Website Some Love

Okay, so your website also needs to be voice-search-friendly. Make sure you’re using keywords people would say out loud. Like, instead of just “Italian cuisine,” go with “best homemade lasagna in Chicago.”

Let’s Talk Menus: Go Digital

You’ve got a menu, and it needs to be online. We’re talking full dish names, mouth-watering descriptions, and killer photos. Why? Because Google can actually show your menu in search results. That’s free advertising, baby!

Creating an Awesome Digital Menu

You can whip up a digital menu in Google Docs, WordPress, or specialized platforms. But if you want to make life super easy, check out Simply Be Found. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign Up: Create an account, quick and painless.
2. Info Dump: Put in all your restaurant’s details. The more, the better.
3. Menu Magic: List all your delicious offerings.
4. Picture Perfect: Upload those drool-worthy photos.
5. Go Live: Hit publish, and you’re in the game.

Quick Tips for a Perfect Digital Menu

1. Name Drop: List the full names of your dishes, like “Smokey BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich.”
2. Flavor Text: Tell people what they’re gonna taste. “Melts in your mouth, with a hint of applewood smoke.”
3. Snap It: Good photos make good impressions. Make that pulled pork look as awesome as it tastes.

Voice Search Is More Then A Trend

Voice search is more than a trend; it’s how people are finding their next dining experience. By getting your restaurant listed and your digital menu up, you’re making it a breeze for new customers to find you. And more visibility means more business.