How to rank higher on Google Maps: a checklist for restaurants

How Google ranks local results

Google says three things decide local results: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance (how far you are from the person searching) and prominence (how well known and well reviewed you are). You cannot move your restaurant, but you can work on the other two.

Complete your Google Business Profile

• The right primary category — “Seafood restaurant” rather than just “Restaurant” if that is what you are.
• Opening hours, including special hours for holidays.
• Phone number, website and a link to your menu.
• Attributes such as outdoor seating, vegetarian options or reservations.
• A short description of what makes the place yours.

Add real photos, and keep adding them

Photos of your dishes, your room, your terrace and the entrance help people choose and help Google understand what you are. Use real photos, not stock images, and add new ones when the menu or the room changes.

Get a steady flow of reviews, and reply

The number of reviews, how recent they are and your rating all feed prominence. Ask at the end of good visits, make it one tap with a QR code, and reply to reviews — good and bad.

Keep your details the same everywhere

Your name, address and phone number should match exactly on Google, your website, social profiles, delivery apps and directories. Mismatched details make Google less sure which information is right.

What does not work

• Adding keywords to your business name (“Luna Pizza Best Pizza Tirana”) — it breaks Google's guidelines and can get the profile suspended.
• Buying reviews or writing them yourself.
• Creating several profiles for the same place.

How TakFap helps

TakFap Review turns good visits into Google reviews with a QR code on every table, so new reviews keep coming, while unhappy guests reach you privately and you can fix what went wrong.