Boost Restaurant Visibility for Free: Tip 2 – Get More Google

How to Promote Your Restaurant Without Spending a Penny: Tip No. 2 – Encourage Customer Reviews

The restaurant industry is competitive, and with more people turning to online searches before choosing where to eat, your online reputation can make or break your business. The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to build that reputation.

At BD Agency, we specialize in helping restaurants and cafes grow organically with smart, budget-friendly strategies. In our Free Restaurant Marketing Tips series, we bring you Tip No. 2: Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews on Google and Other Search Engines.

Why Customer Reviews Matter

Reviews are today’s word-of-mouth. According to BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and restaurants are among the most searched.

Positive reviews do three powerful things:

• Boost your local SEO, making your restaurant more discoverable on Google

• Build trust with potential customers who rely on peer feedback

• Increase conversion rates, as people are more likely to visit a place with lots of good reviews

And the best part? This costs you nothing but a little bit of effort.

Where Should You Ask for Reviews?

While Google is the top priority, you should also consider:

• Zomato

• TripAdvisor

• Facebook

• Yelp

• Swiggy & Zomato Ratings (if applicable)

But if you can get only one review, make it on Google. That’s where most discovery happens.

When to Ask for Reviews

Timing is everything. Ask customers when they’re most satisfied and likely to respond positively.

Perfect moments include:

• Right after they finish a delicious meal and compliment the food

• When they pay the bill or complete an online order

• When they follow you on Instagram or interact with your content

Example: “We’re glad you enjoyed your meal! If you have a minute, we’d love a review on Google. It really helps us grow!”

How to Ask for Reviews: Smart & Simple

1. QR Codes on Tables and Bills

Print a small card or table tent with a scannable Google review link.

2. WhatsApp or SMS Follow-Up

For takeout or online orders, send a polite message like: “Hi Riya, thank you for ordering from Apni Rasoi. We’d love your feedback! Here’s our Google review link: [link]”

3. In-Person Requests

Train your staff to politely ask for reviews when the customer is satisfied.

4. Email Campaigns

If you have a mailing list, send a monthly “We’d Love Your Feedback” message with the review link.

Make It Easy: Share Direct Links

Don’t expect customers to search you up. Share direct links to your Google review page. You can create this from your Google Business dashboard.

Pro Tip from BD Agency: Use a link shortener like bit.ly to make your review link cleaner and easier to type.

Respond to All Reviews

Whether it’s praise or criticism, replying to reviews shows that you care. Thank your happy customers and address any concerns professionally.

This also improves engagement and boosts your search rankings.

Example of a Positive Review Reply: “Dear Priya, thank you so much for your kind words about our shahi paneer! We're thrilled you had a great experience. Regards, Apni Rasoi.”

Example of a Negative Review Reply: “Dear Ramesh, we’re sorry to hear about your experience. Kindly reach out to us at [email] so we can resolve the issue. Regards, Apni Rasoi.”

Results We've Seen at BD Agency

After encouraging reviews and managing them properly, our restaurant clients have experienced:

• 3x increase in customer visits through Google Maps

• 20% boost in delivery orders via local searches

• Overall improvement in Google star ratings from 3.8 to 4.4 on average

This simple practice of asking for reviews has delivered powerful results for zero cost.

Conclusion

Marketing doesn’t always require ad budgets or influencer tie-ups. Sometimes, all it takes is genuine appreciation from your real customers. And reviews are one of the most powerful assets you can gather.

So don’t be shy — ask your happy customers to leave a review and watch your visibility, credibility, and footfall grow. It’s free, effective, and only takes a few seconds.