There are many ways to increase reservations and footfall at your restaurant. One of those is getting guests to make bookings via Reserve with Google.

Google offers a service for restaurants, and other types of businesses, to get online bookings from customers.

In this article, we’ll look at what Google Reserve is, how it works, and why it’s important for restaurants.

We’ll also look at how to use Google Reserve through SerVme.

What is Reserve with Google?

Often referred to as Google Reserve, Reserve with Google offers local businesses the chance to get more business through online bookings. Google offers this service to businesses in the dining, activities, beauty, and fitness industries.

Customers can “save [their] spot at restaurants, classes, activities, and more using Reserve with Google.”

For restaurants, Reserve with Google is an opportunity to increase reservations.

The Reserve a Table option appears when a guest or customer searches for a restaurant by name in Google or Google Maps. Results for Google Reserve also appear when guests search for “[restaurant type] near me” in Google search.

It’s worth mentioning, however, that this Google service is only available through Reserve with Google partners, like Servme, and in select countries. That said, Google keeps adding more countries over time.

Why use Reserve with Google?

Restaurants, including hotel restaurants, can benefit from Google Reserve in many ways. Here’s how:

1) Showing up in Google search 

To be approved in Google Reserve, you must first have a Google My Business Listing, which requires certain documents like your restaurant’s name, your business license, address (or addresses) and phone number.

You’ll also need to have a restaurant reservation management system that’s in partnership with Google. If you’re using Servme, you’ll need to send your Google My Business URL to your dedicated account manager. It’s a simple and quick process.

With Google My Business and Google Reserve, every time a guest enters your restaurant name in Google, your business listing appears along with the ability to reserve a table.

This means more organic traffic and footfall to your restaurant.  

2) Get closer to your guests 

Reserve by Google appears when customers do ‘near me’ searches in Google search. In other words, you show up when people are casually looking for places to eat.

For example, if Sarah searches for ‘pizza restaurants near me’ and you’re a pizza restaurant in her city, your listing will show up and she can make a booking.

If you don’t have Reserve with Google enabled, then Sarah won’t be able to make a booking.

If you only have a Google My Business listing, Sarah can see your listing, but you won’t be able to track where Sarah is coming from. You’ll also appear next to many other restaurants with a similar listing.  

When Reserve by Google is enabled, guests can make a booking and see your exact location on the map.

When guests make a reservation, they can decide where they want to sit, for example, indoor or outdoor, and you have an idea about the traffic and flow in your restaurant.

3) Additional source of bookings 

Reserve with Google can be an additional source of restaurant bookings aside from Facebook, Instagram, or your website.

If you’re using reservation management software like Servme, you can easily integrate Reserve by Google and track how many bookings you’re getting from it. 

Further reading: Increase Direct Reservations using Facebook & Instagram with serVme 

4) Free bookings 

Finally, one of the major perks of Google Reserve is that it’s free. You’re not charged per reservation. Reservations you get through Google Reserve are commission-free. However, you can charge a reservation or cancellation fee if you wish and also mention any additional Terms & Conditions your restaurant has.

Google Reserve and SerVme

To get this reservation service from Google, you’ll need to use a Reserve with Google partner, like SerVme.

With SerVme’s reservation and table management software, you can use the Reserve with Google integration. It takes less than 24 hours to get the Google Reserve button or widget live online.

There are several ways you can use Google Reserve through SerVme. And recently, we’ve made upgrades to how this Google feature works with SerVme.

Real-time updates

Reservations through Google are now updated in real-time. If you want to stop getting reservations from Google, you simply turn off or disable the feature from your SerVme dashboard.

Decide when to get reservations from Google

With SerVme, you have full control on when guests can make bookings through Google. You can decide which days and hours you want to get reservations.

For example, if Thursdays and Fridays are busy days for you, you may turn off Reserve with Google so you can focus on incoming walk-ins and current reservations.

Alternatively, you may have had several guests cancel their bookings last minute and you want to increase traffic by enabling the Reserve with Google option.

Track where guests are coming from

An important feature when using a reservation management system, like Servme, is being able to track the source of bookings.

Are you getting more bookings from Reserve with Google? Or are Facebook and Instagram better for getting online reservations?

If you have paid and free restaurant booking channel integrations, it’s a good idea to keep track of your top booking sources. 

Restaurant notes

Restaurant managers and owners can now add ‘Notes’ via Google Reserve. When a guest opens Reserve with Google, they will see any notes the restaurant has highlighted. 

You can add notes regarding dress code, policies, smoking/non-smoking areas, specific dishes,...etc.

Guest notes 

Guests can now add their notes, such as dietary preferences or allergies, when making reservations.

However, as a restaurant, it’s important you mention you may or may not be able to accommodate all requests.

FAQs about Reserve with Google

By now you know what Reserve with Google is and how it works. Here we’ll answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Google Reserve.

• Is Reserve with Google free?

Yes. Reserve with Google is free to use. You’re not charged per booking.

• How to enable Google Reserve?

If you’re using SerVme, you’ll need to contact your dedicated account manager to set up the Reserve with Google integration for your restaurant. Our team is super quick.

• What countries are supported in Google Reserve?

Reserve with Google is supported across 50+ countries, including but not limited to the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Germany, Algeria, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, and Kuwait, among others.

You can find the full list of countries where Reserve by Google is available here.

If you’re not currently using Servme to manage reservations, marketing, and other operations in your restaurant, then sign up here.