How can a strong SEO and well designed responsive website help local restaurants?

Yes, it would.

If your website for your local restaurant has a strong SEO, it would gain better ranking on those search engines. It might lead your website on the top list when customers search for your business. This would then give your restaurant site an exposure and attracting more customers. On your site, you may have a customer review section onto it, so that people would know how customers are happy and satisfied with your foods and services.

Most of the time, many people use their tablets, mobile or touch-enabled devices to search, read, shop and other online activities. As for your site being responsive, customers are searching for your business from their mobile phones, so you need to engage them with a mobile experience designed to satisfy their wants or needs from their small screens.

The more they see your restaurant site over the Internet through their phones or with any other devices, the more chances of making your business grow.

If you need help in making your site responsive and have a strong SEO, I would personally recommend PSD Wizard wherein they develop SEO-friendly, mobile-compatible and fully functional websites. They can help your business grow.

It absolutely can! A well built website and SEO strategy will be, for a restaurant, probably one of your most effective marketing tool. When do most people look for a restaurant, and where are they? My experience is that I’ll be out with friends or family and want to go out to eat. One of us will the proceed to take out our phone and check for restaurants in our vicinity. Without a quality SEO strategy, which includes a well built, responsive site, you will not be found by my friends and I.

Couple things to specifically remember about your website and SEO strategy.

1. You mention the importance of response for your website. This isn’t just a question of user experience any longer. As of last year Google actually uses mobile response as a factor in its ranking algorithm. If your site isn’t mobile responsive, good luck trying to rank.
2. Having a quality website that easy to navigate, has the information your patrons need, and clearly lists your address and contact info is another big part of your SEO strategy.
3. Get yourself some reviews. Especially as a restaurant. The more good reviews, the more likely your potential customers will be to choose you as their place of dining. Moreover, once again back to SEO - Reviews are also a big part of ranking high in search results. The more reviews you have, and the higher your overall rating, the better your business will be seen by search engines.

So, in short - yes, yes, yes, yes! Get yourself a great website that is responsive, and highlights what’s great and exciting about your restaurant. There are some great options out there that aren’t that expensive for small business owners to create a great website. You don’t need to pay thousands for a designer or developer to put something up for you if you’re just looking for a good looking site for your single location restaurant. Check out Wix, Weebly, Wordpress, or Qebot

Yes, SEO is huge for local businesses like restaurants. Imagine if someone is in town and wants Chinese food. They search “Chinese food *city, state*” and usually click on one of the first results or local listings. If you have solid SEO, your restaurant’s website will be the first one every one is clicking on. (this is achieved through keywords, well-designed website, links, etc.)

Having a responsive website is important too because your potential customers are most likely searching your restaurant on their mobile phone. If your site is responsive, they’ll stay on the site and find out more information, eventually leading them to eat at your restaurant. If your site looks like garbage on a phone/tablet, they’ll click away and find a website that’s easier to read and access.