Challenges

• Strong competition from prominent shawarma restaurants in Jeddah dominating local search and Google Maps results.
• The Google Business Profile contained only basic information, lacking advanced optimization or customer engagement.
• The website lacked local keyword optimization and had an average loading speed of 3.5 seconds.
• Current traffic wasn’t translating into sufficient sales due to poor visibility on Google Maps.

Goals

• Secure a top 3 spot in Google Maps’ “Local Pack” for shawarma-related local keywords.
• Increase organic traffic and sales by leveraging existing traffic.
• Establish the restaurant as a primary shawarma destination in Jeddah within 6-12 months.

Strategy
Google Business Profile Optimization

• Updated the profile with accurate details: address (Bakhshab, Jeddah), operating hours, and categories like “shawarma restaurant” and “fast food.”
• Added 25 professional photos of shawarma (chicken, beef) and the restaurant’s ambiance, optimized with keywords like “shawarma Bakhshab.”
• Activated the “Posts” feature to share promotions like “Buy 2 shawarmas, get a free drink.”

Competitor Analysis and Targeted Keywords

• Analyzed competitors’ Google Business Profiles to identify keywords they ranked for (e.g., “shawarma Jeddah” and “shawarma”).
• Targeted local keywords like “best shawarma in Bakhshab,” “shawarma near me,” and “shawarma restaurant Jeddah” based on search volume.

Targeted Backlinks for Local Keywords

• Built manual backlinks tied to targeted keywords, such as posts on Saudi food blogs with titles like “Best Shawarma Restaurants in Jeddah” linking to the restaurant.
• Listed the restaurant in local directories like “Jeddah Guide” and “Zomato” with links containing “shawarma Bakhshab.”