In 2023, Pico De Gallo Mexican Restaurant in the Upper West Side, New York, embarked on an ambitious 4-month SEO campaign tailored specifically for the local dining scene. This strategic search engine optimization campaign is aimed at boosting their local visibility and branding and generating new business. We aimed to leverage people looking for a ‘restaurant near me,’ ‘best Mexican food near me,’ and other hyper-local keywords and local organic search tactics that significantly amplified their online presence. The impact was positive:

Total organic searches YOY leaped from 119,081 to 206,491
Direct brand searches YOY skyrocketed from 10,259 to 35,747.

Not only did the restaurant see a substantial increase in visibility, but interaction metrics also soared.

YOY Google Map views nearly tripled, jumping from 118,594 to 326,136
YOY direction requests from potential diners rose from 340 to 527.

Additionally, the campaign maintained an impressive average of over 85 monthly organic calls, indicating strong consumer engagement and interest.

Central to the campaign’s success were two components. The creation of over 20 new landing pages, each optimized for specific keywords like “best Mexican food Upper West Side” and “Mexican catering for small events.” These pages were critical in attracting targeted traffic, catering to specific searches that potential customers made related to Mexican cuisine and event services in New York.

Second, was the updating and modification of the Google Business Profile. Restaurant SEO heavily relies on the success of your Google profile and online reviews. We ensure every restaurant’s profile is updated with the correct contact information, link to the restaurant website, online menu, and online ordering link. These specific updates expedite the decision-making process for hungry patrons looking for a restaurant near me.

This holistic approach to restaurant SEO not only enhanced Pico De Gallo’s digital footprint but also cemented its status as a go-to spot for authentic Mexican cuisine in a competitive market. The campaign demonstrates the power of focused local SEO in transforming a restaurant’s business by connecting more effectively with its local audience.

The Perfect Compliment for Local SEO for Restaurants, Google Maps Ads.

Google Maps advertising is a digital marketing complement to a local SEO campaign like the one for Pico De Gallo. By integrating Google Maps ads, restaurants enhance their visibility precisely where local customers are searching most. This strategy places Pico De Gallo directly on the map when potential diners search for local Mexican restaurants, ensuring top placement in a highly competitive area.

It boosts the effectiveness of local SEO by increasing foot traffic and direct inquiries from Google Maps, creating a powerful synergy that drives more customers to their doorstep. As an organic local search campaign develops, we want to ensure that the Paid Ad with the Google business profile captures the top spot for the same keywords we are trying to improve the rankings for. This way, we are visibly first on the page for the same search results.

As the organic search results start capturing the #1 position, we cycle in new relevant keywords for the paid Google advertising and capture new prospects.

This dual approach magnifies local reach and customer engagement, which are crucial for restaurant owners who want to dominate their local market.