Practical Tips to Grow Revenue Online for Local Bars & Restaurants
In the competitive restaurant industry, especially for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), staying visible online is key to attracting new diners and encouraging regulars to return.
With strategic digital marketing, SMB restaurants can maximize their online presence, stand out locally, and drive more revenue.
Here are some practical tips for small business restaurant owners, focusing on simple, impactful steps to help you grow revenue online.
1. Build a Mobile-Friendly, Attractive Website
With so many people using their phones to find local restaurants, your website must be mobile-friendly and visually appealing. Include essentials like a clear menu, up-to-date hours, location information, and easy online ordering or reservation options. If you’re based in a city like Baltimore, emphasize your local flavors or connections—perhaps feature seasonal Maryland dishes or promote events unique to the area.
Tip: Optimize your website’s images and text for quick load times, especially on mobile. A slow website can turn potential customers away.
2. Leverage Google Business Profile to Increase Local Visibility
If you haven’t claimed your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), now is the time. This free tool is essential for local SEO and getting your restaurant seen by those in your area searching for places to eat. Ensure your profile is fully filled out with business hours, high-quality photos, and an engaging description that highlights what makes your restaurant unique. For Baltimore-area restaurants, mentioning specifics like “Baltimore’s best crab cakes” can improve your local relevance and SEO ranking.
Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews build credibility and can boost your ranking in local search results.
3. Use Social Media for Community Engagement and Promotions
Social media offers a direct line to your community, allowing you to engage and attract followers with posts about daily specials, events, or new menu items. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are highly visual and perfect for restaurants. Posting frequently and engaging with customer comments helps build loyalty, especially if your restaurant has a community-focused vibe. For instance, Baltimore restaurants might share stories about the city’s culinary history, upcoming events, or local ingredients used in the menu.
Tip: Consider running promotions or giveaways that require sharing posts or tagging friends to help spread the word. A simple “Tag a friend who’d love this!” can increase your reach.
4. Offer Online Ordering and Delivery Options
With the increasing demand for convenience, online ordering and delivery options are almost essential. Integrate these services directly into your website to avoid high fees from third-party apps and provide a seamless experience. For restaurants in bustling areas like Baltimore’s Inner Harbor or Federal Hill, offering an easy way to order online or reserve ahead can make your restaurant the top choice for busy locals.
Tip: Promote your online ordering options on your social media channels and Google Business Profile to increase visibility.
5. Implement Localized SEO Tactics to Reach Nearby Diners
To grow restaurant revenue online, focus on local SEO tactics. This includes adding Baltimore-focused keywords to your website (e.g., “Baltimore seafood restaurant” or “Maryland farm-to-table”). Use localized meta descriptions, H1 tags, and image alt text to boost your rankings in location-based searches. The goal is to appear in the top results when people search for dining options in your area.
Tip: Use a local-focused content strategy. Blogging about events in your city or offering recipes that include locally sourced ingredients can help improve your SEO while appealing to local diners.
6. Try Paid Ads for Targeted Reach
Investing in paid ads can effectively drive immediate results. Google Ads and social media ads allow you to target specific audiences, such as diners near your location or people with particular dining preferences. For example, if your restaurant is known for its Maryland crab dishes, target ads to audiences interested in seafood or Maryland cuisine. Paid ads can also promote seasonal specials or events, helping drive traffic during slow periods.
Tip: Run ads around events or busy weekends, such as Baltimore’s restaurant week or local food festivals, to attract event-goers.
7. Build Customer Loyalty Programs for Repeat Business
Repeat customers are often more valuable than new ones. Loyalty programs—whether a punch card, a digital app, or even a simple email list—can incentivize guests to come back regularly. Email marketing is also a great way to keep your restaurant top of mind. Send out weekly updates or monthly specials, tailored to what Baltimore locals enjoy.
Tip: Personalize your emails by segmenting your list. For example, offer a special promotion for “Birthday Month” to keep customers coming back for their special occasions.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
For SMB restaurants, growing revenue online is achievable with the right strategies. Focusing on mobile-friendly websites, localized SEO, community-driven social media, and paid ads will help you attract new customers and keep regulars coming back. As you implement these strategies, track your results and refine your approach to see what works best for your unique audience.
If you’re looking to scale these efforts efficiently and affordably, consider leveraging AI-powered marketing tools. At Further Insights, our AI Marketing initiatives can help you automate and optimize content creation, audience targeting, and campaign management—all at a low cost that suits small businesses.
With AI-driven marketing, you can focus on serving great food while we help you stay top of mind online. Connect with us to explore how our tools can boost your digital marketing efforts and grow your revenue.
