| With the advancement of the internet as a | | | | as well for example, people searching for a great |
| marketing tool comes a whole new variety of | | | | place to stay overnight could also stumble upon |
| methods to promote your business. Creating a | | | | your restaurant listing while they look for a place |
| solid website with good content is a great way to | | | | to eat on the same website. |
| do this, but what else should you be doing? If you | | | | Flexibility of listings |
| are in the restaurant industry, then advertising | | | | Google search engine results can lack a lot of |
| your website on an online directory is critical. | | | | personality, and currently do not allow the |
| Why it is important | | | | flexibility of customising your listing beyond text |
| Primarily you want to include your restaurant on | | | | content. Having your business on a relevant |
| an online directory to improve online exposure. | | | | directory will allow you to add images, logos, |
| You might already be advertising on something | | | | contact information and any other promotional |
| like Google AdWords, but just like organic listings | | | | items you wish to include. Users are already |
| this option only allows you to advertise text | | | | thinking about going to a restaurant when they go |
| based Ads, and only for certain keywords you | | | | to the directory website, so you can be far more |
| are willing to pay for. You can of course create | | | | confident of the intentions of your audience and |
| image based ads, but you still lack a degree of | | | | the likelihood of them being interested in your |
| control over where these Ads will actually appear. | | | | business. |
| Online restaurant directories allow another | | | | SEO |
| platform for users to reach you on, in a place | | | | Having your website listed on a reputable |
| specifically designed to attract customers looking | | | | restaurant directory with relevant keywords will |
| for restaurants. | | | | also result in a link back to your website. This is |
| Directories also allow users to comment and | | | | one of the core elements of solid Search Engine |
| review your restaurant, and these are essentially | | | | Optimisation, and will contribute to an |
| free recommendations (assuming they are | | | | improvement in keyword rankings. |
| positive!) from your customers. This can be great | | | | Conclusion |
| for building up and maintaining brand reputation. | | | | When devising an online strategy to promote |
| Indirect benefit | | | | your restaurant online you need to not only |
| If the directory advertises for other products | | | | consider a website, but alternate methods of |
| services similar to your own, you might be | | | | online promotion. An online directory is one of the |
| included in 'related' searches, and have people visit | | | | most effective ways of promoting your website |
| your profile that otherwise may not have gone | | | | at a fraction of the cost and time taken to |
| there. If the restaurant directory includes hotels | | | | create a website. |