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Did you just open the doors of your new small business and are looking to bring traffic in? Or, perhaps your company’s been operating for several years but has struggled to acquire new customers. Do you ask yourself how to get my small business noticed soon?
If you’re like any other small business owner, you’re likely wondering how to get your business noticed. So what tools and strategies do you need to draw attention and rise above your competition?
This guide will detail everything you need to know about getting your business noticed and increasing your presence in your industry.
Have Your Website Be the Go-To Source for Information

From the research we’ve done, many small businesses do well with creating websites for their companies. In fact, one report discovered that 71% of small businesses in the U.S. have a website. And nearly half of the 28% that don’t have a site plan to build one within the coming year.
But simply having a website up-and-running isn’t enough to get your business noticed. As a local service-based business, you have the chance to be an invaluable source of knowledge for your readers and potential customers. Therefore, your website needs to be the go-to resource for all things related to your service offerings and area.
For example, let’s say your brick-and-mortar (and online) store sells fishing rods and other maritime equipment. Your website should feature plenty of content that details area-specific information and news. Publishing blog posts about the top fishing spots in your area will give your customers a reason to purchase your products and go out and have a good time.
If you’re looking for more advice on getting your business noticed, you can also try releasing area-specific press releases. For example, there may be an impending hurricane or red tide event that could affect the area’s fishing conditions.
Amid circumstances like these, Internet users look for newsworthy publications to explain them in more detail. You could be the source of their news, leading them to trust you as an authority in the community. You’ll deliver the information they’re looking for and gain some respect along the way.
As long as you publish relevant and informative content, your potential and current customers will trust your company’s website as an authoritative source. In addition, they’ll come to rely on you for area-specific information in your operation’s location.
However, you need to ensure customers can easily locate and use your site. That’s where web design services can help. Our team at Instinct Marketing will ensure your website is:
- Aesthetically-pleasing
- Mobile-friendly
- Conversion-focused
This way, you’ll no longer have to wonder how to get noticed on the Internet. Rather, your website will serve as your company’s 24/7 salesperson. Potential customers won’t click off your pages due to frustratingly slow load speeds or non-clickable links. Instead, your website’s beauty and functionality will cause them to stick around and learn what your company has to offer.
It’s Not Just Online
While having a website is essential to getting your business out there, it’s not the only method you’ll need to implement. Even if your business operates primarily online, there’s no excuse to neglect offline marketing opportunities.
Interested in learning how to drive traffic to your store? Explore the following marketing methods that don’t involve the Internet:
Business Cards

Business cards may be one of the most traditional methods of advertising. These handy pieces of cardstock can slip right into your pocket, making them easy to share with whoever you encounter. Some other benefits of business cards are that they:
- Let you swap contact information personally (rather than impersonally)
- Contribute a sense of professionalism
- Offer potential customers a physical object that stays with them
Many business owners will shy away from producing business cards because they fear that many recipients will just throw the cardstock away. While you can’t control what people do after making the hand-off, you can prevent your business cards from filling up landfills by perfecting the exchange.
Don’t just hand your business card to a potential customer and say something general like, “Call me if you need anything.” Instead, share it with a meaningful message. Provide them with a specific way you can offer your services.
For instance, let’s say you’re an investment advisor. After a brief conversation with your potential customer, hand them a business card and say something like:
“Investing can be incredibly rewarding, but I know how difficult it can be to get started without a professional’s guidance. I’d be happy to share my strategies for building a portfolio that aligns with your specific financial goals.”
Flyers
If you want to learn how to get noticed on the Internet, know that most guides won’t tell you to hand out flyers. They must be outdated, right?
Flyers remain an age-old staple of the marketing world. They’re affordable to make and let you implement your business’s creative vision on a small page. By hanging them up all over town, you can keep your brand in front of current and potential customers and focus on getting your business out there.
Whatever flyer distribution method you choose, make sure that it’s legal. For example, mailing flyers is completely legitimate. Of course, you’ll incur higher out-of-pocket expenses for the mailing fees, but the peace of mind you’ll receive will be well worth the cost.
You should avoid advertising on private properties (i.e., posting flyers around shopping malls) unless you have explicit permission from the property owner.
Before you pass out flyers around a residential neighborhood, think about what you offer. Is it something that any homeowner can find useful (like pest control or landscaping services)? If not, you risk annoying homeowners who aren’t interested and can’t benefit from your business.
Trade Shows & Events
If you’re looking for even more tips on how to get your business noticed, consider attending trade shows and events. These gatherings will give you opportunities to sell your offerings and make long-lasting networking connections. Even if you don’t have many paying customers at the event, you can get your brand’s name in front of people already involved in your industry.
If you have the resources and time commitment, try hosting your own event. Invite businesses related to your industry (but not direct competitors) to create a more comprehensive experience for those who attend.
What Value Do You Offer?
Whether you want to learn how to get noticed on the Internet or offline, you need to emphasize the value your company provides. Don’t just list your product’s features or service offerings — drive home why customers want to buy from your business.
For example, let’s say you want to learn how to get noticed online for your health supplement business. Instead of creating a run-of-the-mill product page listing your supplements’ ingredients, experiment with client testimonials. Have your customers share how your supplements have improved their lives. Let potential shoppers hear about how much healthier and more energized they are now.
To provide you with a better idea of emphasizing value, we’ll offer one more example. Pretend you’re a music instructor who offers weekly piano lessons to children and wonders how to get noticed online. As you’re advertising to parents, don’t present your offerings at the basic level only (30-minute lessons, a focus on classical instruction, etc.). Instead, highlight what your students can take away from your lessons. Stress that they’ll gain:
- Confidence with performing
- A lifelong affinity for music
- A sense of discipline they can apply to other areas of their lives
- A solid foundation that’ll stay with them for whatever musical path they take
Ask Friends & Family To Do Their Part
You may have heard the advice “Don’t mix your work and personal lives” before. But if you’re interested in getting your business out there, you’ll need to throw this advice out the window.
Now, you don’t want to take advantage of those close to you. Instead, focus on creating mutually beneficial relationships with your friends and family in similar industries.
For business owners researching how to get noticed online, consider inviting a relative or friend onto your podcast. Ask them hard-hitting questions and let their experience speak for itself. You can also have your buddy or family member provide content for your blog and give them a byline.
If you don’t feel comfortable creating this kind of long-form content at first, you can start small. When learning how to get your business noticed, one of the best things you can do is share your friends and family members’ industry-related posts on social media.
Publicity Is Always a Great Way to Go
If you don’t have any close connections in your industry but still want to learn how to get noticed on the Internet, don’t underestimate the power of publicity.
Capitalizing on free publicity is an essential element to getting your business noticed. Send press releases that emphasize your business’s value to online and local media outlets.
When it comes to learning how to drive traffic to your store, don’t be afraid of paid opportunities. The initial cost may seem high, but paying for a publication spot is an investment that’ll pay off in the future.
Hold Your Own Contest
Sometimes, you have to go above and beyond to learn how to drive traffic to your store. What better way to do so than hosting a contest? Some benefits of hosting a contest for your business include higher engagement, reduced acquisition costs, and improved social media interaction.
Making the contest somewhat relevant to your business is essential to getting your business noticed. For example, if your business sells children’s board games, host a story-writing contest. You’ll attract kids who love exercising their creativity in ways that make them think. At the end of the contest, you’ll have unique insights into your young customers’ minds. This information can inspire ideas for future game concepts.
This Is the Most Important
If you take away anything from our guide on how to get noticed online and offline, let it be this: remain authentic in any strategies you implement. Customers want a personable brand to interact with, not a company that delivers one-sided, detached messages.
Our team at Instinct Marketing knows that getting your business out there can seem challenging at first. Understanding how to drive traffic to your store can seem like a complex maze for every beginner. That’s why we recommend getting your business out there with marketing services. Our experts know how to use professional web design, content marketing, social media, and SEO strategies to spread awareness about your business throughout your community.
A quick mind isn’t the only thing you need to run a company successfully. Establishing some financial foundations for your business will help it thrive in the long run. But not everyone knows how to manage their business’s finances effectively. Luckily, you can learn more from our guide below and learn from common mistakes small business owners make.
Having a Business Plan

Entrepreneurs are a special breed. They break free from the traditional 9-to-5 grind and generate revenue unconventionally. All the while, they strive to solve problems and offer innovative solutions for their clients.
While entrepreneurs are often creative and hardworking, they often fail to establish an adequate business plan for their company. Although digital marketing is important to small business success, having operations in order can certainly help.
Below, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes small business owners make when their business begins growing (from a financial standpoint). But we’ll offer our advice on actionable steps you can take to lead your company’s growth.
Business Organization
One of the most common mistakes new business owners make is failing to select the proper business organization. If you don’t select the right model for your particular company, your finances will suffer.
Before you start thinking about which business model to take on, you must consider several factors:
- The number of desired owners
- Tax perks and drawbacks
- Liability issues
- Record keeping strategies
- Advice from a professional business attorney or accountant
Every business owner’s situation will look different. For example, you may wish to receive personal asset protection under an LLC (limited liability corporation), but you’ll have to deal with the serious tax implications.
Below, you can check out the different business organization models for your company and how they can put you in a good financial position:
Sole Proprietorship
As you could probably infer, a sole proprietorship is meant for a sole business owner. It’s the simplest type of company to create and offers you complete control of your company. Anyone who conducts business activities but doesn’t register as any other business type belongs under a sole proprietorship.
Sole proprietors do not produce a distinct entity. Instead, there is no distinction between their business and personal liabilities and assets.
This model is excellent for those who want to get into entrepreneurship but don’t want to commit to a more formal, costly business.
However, one of the biggest startup mistakes that an entrepreneur can make is starting a sole proprietorship without the proper capital. Sole proprietors can’t sell stock to potential investors and often have difficulty obtaining money from wary banks.
Partnership
A partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship but involves more people. Essentially, a partnership is the most basic business structure for two or more people who want to own a company together.
If you want to start a partnership, you must consider the two types:
Limited Partnership
An LP only has one owner with unrestricted liability, and all the other partners possess limited liability. These latter partners also have less control over the company, which all parties document in an agreement beforehand. Most partners receive profits via personal tax returns, and the partner without limited liability must pay self-employment taxes.
Note: One of the most common mistakes business owners make is creating an LP without establishing the proper power dynamics, creating conflict down the line.
Limited Liability Partnership
An LLP offers limited liability to every owner. You’ll receive protection from the actions of partners in case they make irresponsible decisions.
Limited Liability Company
A limited liability company (LLC) is a middle ground between the partnership and corporation company structures.
As the owner of an LLC, your assets, like your house and vehicle, won’t be jeopardized if your business faces lawsuits or bankruptcy.
Losses and profits will count toward your personal income, and you won’t have to pay hefty corporate taxes. However, you’ll still need to pay self-employment taxes for Social Security and Medicare.
If you’re wondering, “What is a common mistake that small business owners make when their businesses begin growing?”, be aware of starting an LLC. You must stay on top of renewal requirements in your state. Falling behind can delay your business’s operations and lower your profit margins.
C Corp
A corporation (sometimes called a C corp) is a legal entity that can generate profits, pay taxes, and hold legal liability. It’s separate from its owners and offers its owners strong protection from personal liability. However, this protection comes at a cost. C corps must adhere to strict operational processes, record-keeping, and reporting.
One of the biggest small business mistakes a company can make is transitioning to a corporation too quickly. Without the proper resources to handle the responsibility of corporation status, a company can quickly fall under and experience a difficult recovery.
S Corp
An S corp is similar to a C corp, but it’s designed to circumvent the double taxation that regular C corps have to endure.
If you transition your once small business to an S corp, you can pass profits (and some losses) to owners’ personal income and avoid corporate tax rates.
However, some of the biggest business mistakes you can make under an S corp are neglecting to follow corporate formalities and creating a single stock class that doesn’t appeal to shareholders.
Nonprofit Corporation
Nonprofit corporations exist to conduct scientific, literary, religious, educational, or humanitarian work. Their work benefits the greater public, so it can receive exemptions from federal and state income taxes on any profits it generates.
Without proper support and backing, nonprofit corporations often fail. They succumb to power uncertainties, insufficient capital, poor organizational development, and empty promises.
Smart Investments

Some investments for your company seem obvious — think about content marketing services to increase your business’s online presence or intensive research for new product ideas.
However, you shouldn’t reinvest everything you have into your business. It’s essential to ensure you have enough money to fund your retirement once the time comes. Building a personal savings fund and investing it properly will ensure your business can survive trying times and fund your lifestyle during your post-working years.
One of the most common mistakes new business owners make is neglecting to build capital. They shouldn’t throw all of their extra money into contributing to the next great innovation.
Instead, they need to place extra capital into a rainy day fund with high liquidity. While having too much cash around is never a bad thing, your money won’t be working for your company. Instead, it’ll be collecting dust in a savings account that can’t even keep up with the inflation rate.
Every company will manage its capital differently based on how stable its income stream is. For example, an energy business that bills monthly will have greater flexibility than a company that generates revenue on a per-project basis. A company that has more sporadic income will have to have a larger security blanket in case financial hardship hits.
Even though financial planning isn’t the most exciting part of growing your small business, it’s nonetheless important. When you make the right choices for your business, you’ll watch it grow and develop right before your eyes.
Google My Business is one of the best ways to get your business noticed. It provides your location through Google Maps and lists the essential details for potential customers.
However, while setting up a profile is easy, many businesses fail to use it effectively. Simple mistakes and omissions can be the difference between Google listing your company higher or lower in its rankings. In order to succeed online, you must understand how to rank in google maps.
For business owners, the essential question is: How do I boost my Google presence?
This guide will help explain how to rank higher on Google searches. From filling out your information correctly to staying active on your Google My Business profile, we offer ten tips and best practices to get your business ranking in the top slots on Google.

1. Claim Your Business
Your first step is to create a listing on Google Maps for your brand. All you have to do is type your business name in the search bar of Maps and click ‘Add a missing place.’
After you have added your business, you need to claim it. Claiming means linking the now-existing listing on Maps with your Google My Business account.
To claim your business, Google will need to verify you are the legitimate owner or manager. Google can verify your account by sending a postcard, calling, or emailing your establishment.
For example, before we could start our Sacramento SEO campaign, we had to claim Instinct Marketing on our Google My Business account to start to optimize our account to move up the ranking on Google Maps.
2. Fill Out Contact Information
Once you have completed this, the real optimization begins. This is the start of a very successful direct digital marketing campaign.
Ensure that you have filled out every section of your Google Business Profile: Name, Address, Phone, Website, Hours, etc. Each one is a vital piece of information that will help Google list and rank your business in searches.
Sidenote: this is where the acronym “NAP” comes from. It stands for Name, Address, Phone Number. You may have heard of terms such as NAP consistency, etc.
Accuracy is essential here. Any errors in your contact information might cause Google to think your listing is spam. So, double-check your Google Business Profile. Ensure the profile name is identical to the name in the real world and across other websites and platforms.
Your physical is an essential field as it affects your Google Maps ranking. If customers perform local searches, you need to have listed your address. That way, if they search for ‘restaurant near me,’ Google will use your address to connect your company to the user’s location.
Central to your contact section is your business hours. Customers need to know when you are open, and completing this information will boost your Google presence.
Since hours can change, such as during the holidays, your Google Business Profile should reflect those changes. Updating hours when needed adds to your engagement, which is a significant part of your visibility on Google.
Citations
Although not as impactful as they once were, online business citations can help establish your NAP presence.
Online business citations include local directories, such as your Chamber of Commerce, Yelp, Facebook, Mapquest, and any site that allows you to place your NAP details (and more) on.
As a local business, it’s recommended that you build local citations to your geographical location (to establish geo-relevance) and industry-specific website platforms.
Take ourselves, for instance. We’re a web design & digital marketing company in Northern California. We have geo-local citations, but we also get on digital marketing directories and similar sites. Our team does this to establish both geo and topical relevance.
3. Select Your Categories
When it comes to ranking higher in Google Maps, categories are one of the best ways to do so. Users don’t always know what they are searching for, so they might search for something generic like “Italian restaurant” or “convenience store near me.” The user search is where categories come in handy.
Statistics show that 84% of business searches through Google are discovery searches rather than direct searches of company names. Discovery searches usually fall into a generic category or topic.
Given how many people discover a business because it appears at the top of Google rankings, listing your business under the correct categories is crucial. It can bring in a lot of customers.
When picking your primary category, be specific. For example, include the cuisines if you are a restaurant rather than merely putting “restaurant.”
If your business overlaps with other categories, list them as secondary categories. But don’t go overboard; only list parts of your company that are unique that the primary category wouldn’t cover.
4. Choose Your Attributes
Part of what elevates your profile from generic to professional is listing attributes. Google My Business lets you add factual attributes that tell customers extra or specific services you do and don’t offer.
In part, this information is how to rank in Google Maps. Google factors in your completion of these fields when arranging search rankings.
If you are a restaurant, you could specify if customers can order delivery, take-out, or dine-in. Shops can select reservation requirements, payment options, or accessibility.
Customers also want to know what you don’t offer. An attribute can help customers know, for instance, that a hotel is non-smoking or an outdoor restaurant is not pet-friendly. Specificity can help your business avoid unnecessary customer relations issues.
Apart from the factual attributes, visitors also can create subjective attributes. Subjective attributes show how previous customers perceived your business and how potential customers might view your business.
5. Upload Photos

The internet thrives on images, and your business profile is no different. The photos must be of great quality for a business and indicate the brand and what you offer.
Google provides a useful list of different types of photos to help with your visibility.
Something few people realize is that consistently adding images can also boost your business search ranking. Google recognizes activity in its ranking system, so posting regularly will elevate your company above others.
Image activity can mean uploading photos of new products on offer or changes to the interior. Any of these works to indicate your active engagement with your Google My Business profile.
The final step is to tie the photos to other information. Geo-tagging can emphasize your link with the area where you operate. Also, captions can go a long way in linking your images with words and phrases associated with relevant Google searches.
6. Publish Posts
Just like photos, posts are all about engagement. If you have a social media page, you already know how vital consistent posting is to reaching users. Google My Business ranking is no different.
Posting not only shows customers you are active but Google’s ranking system as well.
You can strategize posts to offer special deals, update users on events, and create search-based marketing strategies. Google provides various types of posts to choose from, and using them to your advantage will boost your ranking in Google searches.
7. Generate Reviews
Another crucial step that makes your business stand out is the acquisition of Google reviews. If you want to rank higher in Google searches, you should make sure that leaving a review is as easy as possible.
Google lets you set up a link for reviews for free. It will directly guide your customers to the review section. With the review links, you can incentivize long-standing customers and engage new ones. The system lets you ask and remind customers to leave a review after their purchase. We wrote another sharing why that is very important for local restaurants to generate reviews.
You want to point out the benefits of leaving reviews for the customers themselves. Let them know that reviews make future purchasing decisions more straightforward and more transparent.
By gathering Google reviews, you can show up higher in search results. Google’s algorithm factors in account rankings as they are a significant influence on consumers’ buying decisions.
8. Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section in Google Business Profiles can be immensely helpful in attracting customers.
Make sure to regularly proof and update the questions and answers. That way, you can stay on top of any potentially false information.
The Q&A section also lets you gather information about what kinds of concerns your customers have. By upvoting them, you can make the thread more accessible to your customers. This way, you can manage the output while gaining valuable insight into the questions your customers might have.
Another possible benefit of the Q&A section is it can increase your visibility in searches. Add keywords associated with your business to the answers, and it can organically drive your ranking.
9. Products and Services
It would help if you always prioritized making your Business profile as clear and helpful as possible. If customers are confused about what you offer, adding more information might be necessary.
Add a description of the Products and Services you offer, specifying their name and price. In doing so, you can make it easier for customers to navigate your offers.
The Products and Services section allows you to add content to your profile, helping it to rank higher in relevant searches.
Also, relevant information should always be accessible to any viewers. When it comes to boosting a business on Google Search, adding your products and services is an easy and efficient method to push you toward the top of the list.
10. Messaging
Finally, you want to set up a messaging feature in your Business profile. It lets customers get in touch directly via text.
You can set up this feature in the ‘Messaging’ tab of your Google My Business account. You will receive a designated phone number in the Google My Business App, notifying you of any incoming messages. Over the app, you can easily engage with customers’ questions, send pictures, or automate welcome messages.
By remaining accessible and responsive, you can stand out through direct and informative engagement. If multiple people manage your Business account, the app allows each one of them to answer questions. It makes it easier to deal with the workload should you get frequent messages.
This feature is immensely relevant to creating a successful GMB profile, considering the frequent use of smartphones for online shopping.
Final Thoughts
It’s a cliché to say there are no shortcuts in business, but Google My Business may be the closest thing to a shortcut when properly used. For many customers, your GMB profile is your digital storefront. It’s the first thing they see before they visit your store in the real world. It is why so many businesses look for how to show up on Google Maps.
The tips above have shown that details and engagement are at the root of getting a higher Google ranking.
Like so much of the internet, Google My Business is a tool that everyone is using. To stand out from the crowd, you need to learn to use it effectively.
So follow these simple steps, cultivate a consistent online presence, and watch as your ranking rises. If you ever need help, you can always reach out to us.
For many restaurant owners, word-of-mouth is considered the apex of marketing strategies. In many ways, this holds true. Just consider your own experiences. How many times have you recommended your favorite restaurant to a friend? Or, conversely, visited a restaurant on a friend’s recommendation? Word-of-mouth is powerful.
The rise of the internet and social media has significantly changed how we shop, including how we socialize. 94% of diners will base their decision on whether to attend your establishment from online reviews alone.
So, how can you ensure that customers are landing on your site and not your competitors? By knowing how diners find restaurants in the first place, which websites they’re using, and what specific keywords they include in their restaurant searches.
Why It Is Important To Be At The Top Of Restaurant Searches
Whenever anybody has a query about anything these days, they use a search engine. From the mundane to the complex, right down to which restaurant they’re going to dine at that evening, a search engine is where they’re going to look for answers. To capitalize on this, you need to be putting yourself in the best possible position to grab their attention.
Almost half of all Google searches happen because the user is looking for locally relevant information. 86% of consumers utilize the internet to seek out local businesses. Online search engines are the new phone book, so you need to make sure your brand is visible.
Search engines might seem like a prominent tool, but there’s a lot about search engines that the average business owner doesn’t understand. Whether it’s the use of keywords to bump up your site in listings or the use of Google ads, this stuff doesn’t come naturally. It requires some research.
As of yet, there is no centralized restaurant search engine for diners to use. This means that business owners have to make the most of the popular search engines already available. Besides, you need to use every SEO tactic in your arsenal to put yourself at the top of Google Maps. Unsure of what that means? Keep reading, and we’ll break it down for you in full.
Potential Diners Are Searching For Your Restaurant
There are many ways diners use the internet to find new eateries. To fully understand the process, you need to know what specific tools they’re using and what exactly they’re looking for. With this information, you can then tailor your brand to meet customer expectations.
Make The Search Engines Happy

The most common phrase used by the average restaurant searcher is ‘restaurants near me.’ Fairly self-explanatory. Still, it’s a significant bit of information as it highlights what is most important to consumers:
The location of your restaurant matters more than what kind of food you have on the menu.
So, how are you promoting yourself locally?
Often when we talk about search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing, we focus on making sure your business reaches as many people as possible. While throwing the net wide can undoubtedly pull in some additional clients, owning a restaurant is a whole different kind of operation. Location is imperative.
You need to know how easy it is for your local clientele to find you. Until the rise of an official restaurant search engine, learn how to use search engines to increase your spot on the listings.
There are various boxes you can check to ensure you’re putting yourself in the best possible position, but we’ll get into that further down. For now, let’s explore some other ways diners use the internet.
Utilize Review Sites

Most diners read reviews. An enormous 97% of consumers admitted to reading online reviews before using a business, but how can you guarantee positive reviews?
Unless you’re going to bribe every patron that crosses your doorway, you can’t completely control how diners respond to your restaurant once they’re online. The internet has provided a voice to everybody, turning once-ordinary customers into full-blown restaurant critics. This can be both a blessing and a curse.
Of course, the easiest way to ensure good reviews is by providing excellent service. That goes without saying. Unfortunately, experiences aren’t objective, and though you may try your very best to give every one of your patrons the best experience possible, they may not see it that way. Bad reviews can arise even if they aren’t fair. How do you manage those situations?
In instances like these, possessing a strong online presence is paramount. Advertisement opportunities aren’t the only reason you need to establish yourself; the right to reply is also imperative. A scathing review sitting alone on a site like Yelp will dissuade countless from trying your restaurant. However, if that same review has a calm and sympathetic response from your business, it can do a lot to remedy that potential damage.
Also, it’s worth remembering that not all online reviews are something to be feared. They can be a tremendous advantage. Be open to learning from diners about what is working in your restaurant and what isn’t – take it as constructive criticism that can help you grow.
How to Enhance Your Restaurant Search Presence
Now you understand how diners are using the internet to find their new favorite restaurants, it’s time to get educated on how you can send them your way. We gave you some indicators of what you can do to bring in customers above, but now we need to get into the specifics.
Create Online Account Profiles And Be Consistent
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can boost your clientele when used appropriately, but extending your reach isn’t all they’re good for. Remember how we mentioned that word-of-mouth was considered the apex of marketing? Well, social media is the new word-of-mouth.
Whether you’re posting informative updates to Facebook or giving your new meal its Instagram-worthy photo shoot, you’re giving people something to talk about and share. Throw in the occasional competition that requires users to tag three friends to enter, and you have a surefire way to increase your customer base.
Instagram is especially famous for restaurant owners as there is an entire subculture dedicated entirely to pictures of food. Some businesses also encourage engagement through the use of hashtags. By taking note of the most popular hashtags, particularly in your area, you can boost your restaurant’s visibility.

Also, Facebook’s check-in system can help to bring local awareness to your restaurant. This feature allows diners to ‘check in’ on Facebook so others can see where they’re eating, which then directs other users to your page. It is a great way to increase local popularity, and some businesses offer rewards or entries into competitions in exchange for a Facebook check-in.
What makes Twitter such a great addition to any restaurant’s social media arsenal is its versatility. Whether you’re using it for customer service, tweeting out your latest blog posts (the merits of which can be read further down), or using your razor wit in the hope of going viral (it’s possible!), Twitter can be a magnificent tool to bring in new guests.
Having your website is an essential part of maintaining an online presence, but owning an engaged social media platform can make a marked difference. It humanizes your brand and allows you to form direct connections with your diners, boosting customer numbers and creating loyal patrons.
Build Your Restaurant Website
Owning a website is just the start of the battle. You need to keep your site as optimized as possible by checking a variety of boxes. That includes staying on-trend, updating your website with relevant information frequently, and ensuring it isn’t only viewable on one device.
In 2018 over half of all internet users used their mobile phones to browse the web. This is a significant chunk of your clientele that you immediately alienate if your website isn’t mobile-compatible. Website hosting services like WordPress offer automatic mobile compatibility. Make sure it’s a box you’ve ticked in your design.
Restaurant Website Essentials
Some of the absolute essentials you need to include on your website are:
- An easy-to-read, easily accessible menu.
- Clearly defined information related to booking a table.
- Opening hours throughout the week.
- If you offer takeout in addition to sit-in dining, make that clear.
- Links to your social media.
- Clear contact details.
You can add other features, such as a blog, as your brand builds some momentum, but the above are the most imperative.
If you’re struggling to build the perfect website, there are services available to help. Instinct Marketing can help small business owners with their websites, from website design to implementing the best SEO practices. Speaking of…
Restaurant SEO Is Very Necessary

It isn’t just your site design; you need to think about it; it’s how your site interacts with the broader web too. This is where SEO comes in. By utilizing the best practices, you can boost your business to the top.
Claim Your Google Business Listing
This is a significant first step if you haven’t completed it already. Have you ever Googled a restaurant and immediately been shown a bunch of reviews and images at the top of the searches? That’s a Google business listing. They are entirely free to set up and effectively work as great promotion without the hefty price tag.
Statistics released in the past have shown that businesses that use the Business Listing feature are considered twice as reputable by prospective diners.
You can also customize your business listing to include features such as:
- Booking a table
- Viewing the menu
- Placing an order
It’s more than just a way to increase your visibility in restaurant searches. It’s a fully operational tactic that encourages potential customers to engage with your brand. And it’s free!
Utilize Blogging
A blog can be a powerful addition to any professional website. It allows you to upload content that keeps your diner engaged while also providing you with an opportunity to pack as many SEO keywords into your site as possible. SEO keywords are the specific terms used most often in search engine queries.
The reason so many websites offer blogs these days isn’t because owners double as impassioned writers: it’s because they understand SEO.
By providing your restaurant site with a steady stream of blog posts, you achieve two key things:
- Your brand now has a voice. This is important, as it keeps your restaurant from seeming cold or unwelcoming. It works similarly to how posting images of staff on Instagram can humanize your brand. It lets visitors know that your site is active, not abandoned.
- You can quickly adapt to new SEO keyword trends without sounding contrived. Whenever there’s a new culinary fad, you can capitalize on it with a blog post of your own. No contrived copy, no frequent rewrites, just a new blog post with all the right info. Simple!
If you aren’t the creative type yourself, consider hiring a freelance writer to create your posts for you. That way, you won’t have to worry about weakening your professional appearance due to bad grammar or poor spelling.
Invest in Geo-Targeted Ads
As we said above, most diners aren’t interested in restaurant searches for establishments on the other side of the world – they search for local restaurants. Geo-targeted ads help customers choose your restaurant over another business.
They’re beneficial on two fundamental levels:
- You save money by targeting a specific radius relevant to your business instead of incurring costs for an unnecessarily far-reaching campaign.
- You hit the demographic most likely to respond to your ads, resulting in higher footfall for your establishment.
You can invest in geo-targeted ads through classic advertisement platforms such as Google Ads, Twitter, and Facebook at no additional cost. You can hone in on an entire state, a city, or even a zip code. How wide you want to cast your net is entirely up to you.
Fill In All The Boxes On Every Reservation App

The days of calling a restaurant to book a table a long gone. In the modern age, people want immediate results with minimal contact. This is why you can order an Uber without speaking to anybody and why reservation apps are only increasing in popularity.
If you’re using a reservation app for your restaurant, you need to make sure every single box is filled out. This includes:
- Your restaurant description
- Your location
- Your availability (opening times and capacity)
Some apps even let you attach photos of your establishment or purchase ads with them to boost your popularity. The point is to maximize every tool available to you. The internet is a competitive arena, but you can avoid becoming drowned out by some pretty simple fixes.
Want to Get Started?
The food industry is an ever-changing world, and keeping up with customers takes consistent work, especially when it comes to dominating restaurant searches. As a restaurant owner, you have to think beyond traditional marketing and use the internet to increase the likelihood that customers will choose you over a competitor.
Online, there’s a whole range of guests out there for you to claim, provided you use the right tactics. As a restaurant owner, a digital marketing strategy may be a fit for your business.
Instinct Marketing is a digital marketing company based in Sacramento, CA, that helps locally-owned restaurants bring more customers to their doors. We are here to provide your business with the best possible SEO strategies so you can focus on what is most important.
Digital marketing is the name of the small business growth game. The online sector of the economy is growing by the hour, making the internet a reliable place for companies to promote themselves.
However, knowing that you’ll find a stable audience/customer growth through web mediums doesn’t make getting started any more apparent or straightforward. Where should you begin to promote your business online?
That situation is where digital direct marketing comes into the picture. The most effective approach lies in targeting the three major forms of digital direct marketing.
What Is Direct Marketing?
In plain terms, direct marketing is when businesses appeal to their customers without a mediator. Sometimes, the strategy is a Direct Response.
Conventionally, companies would use mailing lists, coupons, flyers, and catalogs to speak without a middle person to their clients. You might have also seen door-to-door salespeople, telemarketing, and kiosk marketing as other forms of direct marketing.
The campaigns can range from targeting an audience of 10 to 10,000 employing various tactics to clearly and directly get your message to your consumers. Plus, you don’t need to stick to direct marketing solely. You can utilize these methodologies alongside employing other traditional tactics.
Maybe you’re thinking, if direct marketing focuses on face-to-face, how can I use the faceless internet to achieve my goals? What’s the difference between direct and digital marketing? Is there even a difference between the two?
The online sphere is where digital direct marketing comes into play. You can speak directly to your clients via the internet through a variety of tactics.
So how do you implement direct marketing through the online sphere? What are the three major forms of direct digital marketing?
What Is Included in Direct Digital Marketing?
Direct online marketing works by combining three media outlets to connect with your target audience: cell phones, web browsers, and email.
You can use these forms of communication to bring your business in front of the public.
Small businesses can create tailored marketing campaigns relevant to their specific needs targeting these media. Below are details of each tactic so that you can determine which would work best for your company.

SEO
The most common digital direct marketing tactic is SEO or search engine optimization.
The strategy employs social psychology and data to match online content to users most likely to enjoy it. Because it relies on leveraging a set of proven principles, SEO helps companies grow organically.
It’s no secret that Google is the dominant world search engine. Because of its dominance, Google is the most popular search engine for people looking for various services and information. Implementing an effective
To help users find that information and those products or services, Google mobilizes its superior algorithm system. It takes users’ search queries and puts the most relevant websites in their list of results.
Google also uses location information from browsers and cell phones. It uses this data to help users seeking nearby or local services or products. With the right website hits and location data, small businesses can attract relevant customers.
However, the components that go into assessing online content are various and labor-intensive. They can lead the typical small business owner who is not an SEO specialist to feel frustrated and confused.
Because of the complex web that is Google search engines, SEO has become an art. Online content must hit all the optimization marks while simultaneously being high quality and value to readers and consumers.
Google Ads Management
Though SEO helps bring clientele growth organically, PPC is another strategy. PPC or pay-per-click advertising works directly with search engines like Google to boost online traffic.
Because of its dominance, the best PPC operations happen with Google Ads Management. With this program, you only pay when viewers click your link. If people don’t click on your Google link, you do not have to pay.
Some might consider PPC and Google Ads Management as indirect marketing. However, it is direct because the business owner controls who sees their ads through instinct marketing.
When you go on the Google Ads platform, you control the demographic terms set for your audience. You can also advertise specifically to people using your SEO terms.
Another option includes showing your links off to individuals who are shopping rather than browsing. Though more automated than traditional SEO, PPC advertising via Google Ads requires strategy.
Email Marketing
Among the three listed here, email marketing is one of the hardest to accomplish with finesse. In part, this difficulty has to do with the spam emails that have left an unpleasant impression on users’ minds. Spam emails are so popular you can customize your mailboxes to avoid seeing the majority of them.
However, tried-and-tested email methods are driving the influx of marketing emails. Contrary to popular belief, you’ll get the most reliable and affordable results through email campaigns.
If you remain unconvinced, some statistics might make you feel better.
Email Marketing Stats
- Email marketing strategies net, on average, $42 for every $1 that they spend.
- Approximately 82% of the time, individuals open welcome newsletter emails from companies and brands they like.
- If you send three abandoned cart emails, your clients become 69% more likely to order more than if you were to send one email.
- Some 49% of customers have a genuinely positive reaction to receiving weekly newsletters from their favorite brands and companies.
- The smartphone-holding population regularly checks 49% of their emails on their mobile devices. That figure means that email marketing checks the mobile-friendly box.
Get Started Today
Now that you’ve heard about the three significant forms of direct digital marketing, are you ready to start a digital marketing campaign? Whether you decide to focus on SEO, Google Ads Management, or Email Marketing, your company will see significant growth by investing in online direct marketing. If you need help, we’re a digital marketing agency in Sacramento, CA, specializing in SEO and PPC. Feel free to reach out to us!
So, you’ve built or invested in your WordPress website, and everything looks great. We all know that a well-designed website can make or break a small business. In the digital world, your homepage is the equivalent of a shop window on the high street. It needs to attract your customers.
But what do you do when the time comes to edit your WordPress site? No matter how amazing your page is, you’re going to need to learn how to edit pages in WordPress sooner or later.
Editing WordPress pages can seem tricky for beginners, as there isn’t a central editing tool. While you can edit a web page itself in WordPress, you’ll need to edit core files such as .htaccess (which controls access and URL redirection, amongst other functions) in your control panel or using a WordPress page editor (recommended).
If you’re stuck, the good news is our team at Instinct Marketing has put together this handy guide for small business owners who want to learn how to edit a page in WordPress.
Related: Common Mistakes Small Business Owners Make
Do This Before You Edit Anything in WordPress

The steps you should take before deciding how to edit a WordPress page will depend on the changes you want to make.
If you’re making frontend changes (for example, editing your text, images, or design), these are generally low-risk as you can make the edits within the WordPress editing pages. The program will store revisions in its database so you can access previous versions of your page.
This means that if you end up making a lot of changes only to decide that you want to return to the unedited copy, you can. Click on the ‘Pages’ tab, where you’ll find all your revisions and be able to reverse your changes. You can even do this if you’ve already saved your edits!
Drastic edits, however, are riskier. If you make a mistake, attempting to change a .htaccess file or any other configuration file that alters the backend could break your whole website.
So, how can you protect yourself against any botched edits?
Before you edit a WordPress site, the best thing to do is to make sure it’s manually backed up. To do this, you’ll need a reliable WordPress backup plugin such as UpdraftPlus (a free service used by more than 2 million people worldwide) or BackupBuddy. Not only will these mean you can edit a WordPress site with confidence, but they’ll also protect your site if hackers ever target you.
Page Builders as WordPress Editors
If you’re a WordPress beginner, you might find that editing your website within the WordPress editing pages makes it hard for you to customize your content. Although the premium themes on WordPress offer various layouts, many of them are hard to adapt if you’re unfamiliar with coding (particularly HTML or CSS).
That’s where page builders come in. Page builder plugins act as visual editor tools or a WordPress page editor, and many have a drag-and-drop capability that gives you a lot more freedom over the layout of your website. Even better, you won’t have to learn to code!

Examples of popular WordPress page editors include:
- Beaver Builder is a premium WordPress page editor and builder with a live drag-and-drop interface. If it’s the customization you’re after, you won’t be disappointed here – you can edit any element on your page simply by clicking on it.
- Elementor boasts a wide range of both simple and advanced customization options. It’s a live WordPress page editor tool, which means you don’t have to keep previewing your content (as you would have to when editing a page in WordPress, where you can’t see both the ‘admin’ area and ‘public’ area at once).
- Divi is a WordPress page editor with more than 20 different page layouts and 46 content modules. It’s named after the Divi theme on WordPress, but it’s a great choice with whichever theme you want to use.
These page builders are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) systems, which means their interfaces look almost identical to the end product. WYSIWYG makes the editing process more intuitive, as you can accurately preview your content on the WordPress page editor before saving.
Edit Images in WordPress

Uploading your chosen images to WordPress is straightforward – select the ‘Insert Media’ option above the formatting controls. But knowing how to edit them can be a little more complicated.
Once you’re on the image upload screen, click on the button directly beneath the picture that says ‘Edit Image.’ This will take you to the WordPress image editing dashboard. It’s quite rudimentary but allows you to carry out various changes such as cropping, rotating, or adjusting your picture’s dimensions.
Unlike Photoshop, you’ll find no advanced settings such as color changes or background alterations. However, if you’re looking for simple edits, it does the job. You can also add your caption and Alt Text from within this dashboard.
Image Optimization
Image optimization is the process of ensuring that the images on your site are the best size, resolution, and format they can be. It’s an important step for anyone learning how to edit a page in WordPress because it affects factors such as your SEO ranking and how quickly your page will load.
In turn, image optimization influences your bounce rate. The average amount of time someone will wait for your pages to load is three seconds. Anything above that, and you may have lost a potential customer!
You can edit the size of your image files (a step known as imagine compression) from within WordPress itself, using the dimension setting mentioned in the previous section. However, for more detailed options, many people prefer to use a WordPress plugin.
Some popular plugins are:
All three of these allow you to upload and compress your images in bulk – perfect if you don’t want to waste time going through them one by one.
Edit WordPress Headers and Footers

Most web pages feature both a header and a footer. These typically contain information such as:
- Your contact details
- Business logo
- Tabs that take the user to other areas of your site
Almost all WordPress themes will automatically add a header, but you’re probably going to want to edit its contents. The simplest way to do this is to click on the admin panel, where you’ll find a variety of header and footer customization options under the ‘Appearance’ tab.
The exact options will depend on the theme you’ve chosen, but almost all will allow you to change the header or footer’s layout, the size of its border, and its width.
Another way to edit your header or footer is by accessing the Theme Editor under the Appearance tab. The file entitled header.php will show you the code that determines the header’s function, while footer.php will show you the same for the footer.
You can use basic coding skills to edit these yourself, but if you’re not an experienced coder, you can use a plugin such as Simple Header Footer HTML or WP Custom Header Footer.
Edit Themes with WordPress
From basic to premium, WordPress offers a wide range of themes – 7,470, to be exact! However, you might not want to feel restricted by choosing a set theme, especially if you’re struggling to find one that truly represents your business.
If you want greater customization options than those offered by either your WordPress page editor or plugin, why not create your own WordPress child theme? This will use basic elements of the parent (original) theme, with your alterations layered on top.
When the time comes to edit your child theme, you’ll be at a huge advantage if you understand CSS. Don’t worry if not – tools such as ‘CSS Hero’ allow you to edit your pages without writing code yourself.
Edit WordPress Plugins
One of the major benefits of using a plugin or WordPress page editor is that it shouldn’t need editing itself. That said, some people want the opportunity to customize their site further – and if you’re one of them, there are a few ways you can do it.
The first way is to use the plugin editor tool within WordPress itself, which you can use to make your chosen alterations. However, whenever your plugin updates itself, it will automatically override any changes you’ve made. This means you’ll have to re-input them after every update, which can get annoying.
To ensure that your changes will survive any updates, you can use ‘CSS Hero’ or a similar tool to edit your plugin’s backend. This might be more complicated, but the upside is you’ll only have to make your edits once.
Edit Your WordPress Files
The WordPress platform makes up a group of core files that determine its functions and overall appearance. If you ever need to troubleshoot or adjust the WordPress settings, you’ll need to do it from within these files.
You can access the core files via an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client or use your web host’s cPanel (an online interface that enables you to manage your server). The main core files you’re likely to need are:
- wp-config.php: These files control the configuration of your WordPress website, as well as your access information. You’ll need to edit them if you want to update your login details.
- .htaccess: These are the files that enable you to directly edit your WordPress site’s elements, from its design to its function. This can also include installing a firewall or 301 redirects.
A Recap
It’s not a straightforward issue, but we hope that this handy guide has helped you understand some of the processes behind learning how to edit a WordPress website.
From choosing plugins to accessing core files, there are many ways to customize your website. While this might seem overwhelming at first, remember that you’re giving yourself the freedom to make changes. You’re more likely to craft your site into the best possible reflection of your small business.
If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us at Instinct Marketing. We’ll be happy to work with you to perfect your WordPress site (or design you a new one) and talk all things online engagement!