WE CARE YOU GROWCoffee shop marketing: a local SEO checklist for cafés
A café visit is often decided on the spot. Someone types "coffee near me", checks that you're open, looks at a few photos and walks over. Early hours, a clear menu and recent photos do more here than any slogan.
Free for up to 3 shops. Starts from your Google Maps listing.
Where people find a café nearby
- Google MapsQuick "coffee near me" searches land on your map listing, where open hours, photos and reviews decide the visit.
- Apple MapsiPhone users searching on the go see your Apple Maps place card, which you can claim and edit with Apple Business Connect.
- InstagramDrinks, pastries and the room itself are what people share and browse when choosing a café.
- TikTokShort videos of drinks and spaces are a common way people discover new cafés in their city.
- YelpStrongest in the US, where café reviews and photos on Yelp still show up for many local searches.
- Uber Eats and DoorDashIf you sell drinks and pastries for delivery, your menu and photos there should match your Google profile.
What to check on your café's Google Business Profile
- The right categoryPick the one that fits the whole business: "Coffee shop", "Cafe", "Bakery" or "Dessert shop". Add a second category only if it is a real core part of the business.
- Accurate early hoursCheck that opening times match your door, down to 6:30 or 7:00. Set special hours for holidays and for days you close early.
- Menu with pricesList drinks, food and pastries with prices in the menu editor. People want to know whether you have oat milk, decaf or gluten-free options before they walk in.
- AttributesConfirm Wi-Fi, dine-in, takeout, outdoor seating and accessibility. Remote workers and parents with strollers check these first.
- Photos of the spaceShow the storefront, the counter, the seating and your main drinks. Add new photos when the room or the menu changes.
- Seasonal updatesPost new drinks and events as updates, and limited deals as offers with start and end dates. Offers show a "View offer" button on your profile.
- Review link at the counterShare your review link or QR code with every customer, not only regulars you know will be happy. Reply to new reviews within a few days.
What not to do
- Don't give a free coffee, stamp or discount in exchange for a review; Google removes reviews tied to incentives.
- Don't put extra words in your name, such as "Blue Door Coffee Wi-Fi Study Spot Downtown", unless that is the name on your sign.
- Don't post reviews from staff, friends or family; Google treats them as conflict-of-interest reviews and removes them.
What KAEWOO handles each month for cafés
- Google updates
- Sort & upload photos
- Instagram posts
- Reels & TikToks
- Loyalty perk copy
- Reply to reviews
Free for up to 3 shops. Starts from your Google Maps listing.
FAQ
Can I offer a free drink to customers who leave a review?
No. Google's policy bans incentives for reviews, including discounts and free items, and removes those reviews. You can still ask every customer for an honest review and make the link easy to find.
Is Instagram enough, or do I need Google too?
Instagram helps people get to know you, but when someone is standing on the street looking for coffee, they usually open a map. Your Google listing is where they check hours and walking distance.
What does KAEWOO's free checkup show for a café?
You enter your café's name or Google Maps link after signing up. KAEWOO reads your Google listing, checks where you appear on Google Maps for your category at a grid of points around you, compares you with top nearby cafés, and gives a score out of 100 with an action plan in priority order. It is free for up to 3 shops.