ARK Blog
Amplify Restaurant Marketing Through Localization
Well, hello #Restaurateur! We know you’ve got a lot going on and staying on top of digital marketing is just one of them. We understand that determining a digital marketing strategy and executing that strategy may seem like an endless task, but we’re here to share some useful insights to amplify restaurant marketing through localization.
Start with a strategy
Before we dive into the value of localization, let’s look at the process of how we develop a strategic marketing plan, shall we? When developing any strategy, there are many factors that come into play. One of which is determining your target audience. This information includes simple demographics, but more importantly, geographical locations and shopping preferences. Taking these steps to flesh out your ideal target audience can act as a guide as you shift your focus to implementing localization on a grander scale.
The value of localization
There are many ways you can integrate locality into your day-to-day activities. Here are but a few helpful tips that will help you get a leg up on the competition.
Social Media
Be mindful of local hashtags that are common in your geographical area when developing your social content. For instance, if you have the reputation of being the best Mexican restaurant in Beaumont, TX, then a useful hashtag might be #(yourrestaurantname)bestinbeaumonttx.
TIP: Always double check hashtags before consistently using them to make sure they fit your brand and your intent.
Dominate Search
One of the most beneficial ways to utilize localization is with SEO. You’ll want to try to rank in the top three spots on Google when someone searches for your specific restaurant category. There are a few ways this can be achieved.
Tagging local businesses that are close in geographical proximity is a great way to grow your social network with little investment.
Restaurant week is a great example of how collaborations can amply marketing support. Many cities across the country host a restaurant week where various businesses opt-in by providing a special discounted food offering for a week or so. There’s a spirit of locality woven throughout that allows you to tap into other audiences through tagging, posting, sharing, and using specific hashtags universally.
GOOGLE MY BUSINESS PAGE
If you haven’t claimed your Google My Business (GMB) page yet, go and claim it! Your GMB page helps increase your ranking on Google so the more complete your page is, the better it will perform.
Well Managed Reviews
Responding personally to each review will not only help build your reputation online, but it will also help you build your credibility with search engines as your review network grows.
WEBSITE MAINTENANCE & UPDATES
It’s important to make sure your website is performing at its best so that your customers have a pleasant experience. Creating specific, unique content on your site will increase your rankings as well. Blog posts or any regular updates to copy and messaging on your site can help give you a boost as search engines crawl your site to decide it’s worthy of a higher ranking.
DIRECTORY LISTINGS
Keeping your information consistent when it comes to your business listings such as your name, address, and phone number is crucial for SEO success. You want to make sure that anywhere (Yelp, OpenTable, etc.) your customer finds your business, that the information is correct to avoid lost leads.
We hope we’ve been able to shed some light on how to amplify restaurant marketing through localization. Check back soon for more useful tips on how to leverage your small business in a big world of competition. If you need help managing certain aspects of your small business or you’d like to know more about the services ARK Marketing has to offer, contact us or comment below! Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for industry news, inspiration, and helpful tidbits for finding small business success.
Sincerely,
