What Goes Into Making Ad Pages Magazine?
See How It's MadeLet’s face it: If you’re a restaurant owner and you’re not running Google Ads, you’re basically ignoring the customers who are actively searching for food. A crazy 90% of diners search online before choosing where to eat, and if you’re not popping up in those results, you’re missing out. It’s time to stop letting your competition steal all your traffic.
But here’s the deal: Google Ads is only effective if you know what you’re doing. So, no, just throwing a random ad together and hoping for the best won’t cut it. If you’re new to the game, don’t worry—I’ve got you. Below, I’m laying out 5 straightforward Google Ads strategies that will actually get you results without burning through your budget.
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Target Local Searchers—No, Really, Local
You might think that targeting “restaurant” as a keyword will bring in everyone. But newsflash: you’re not running a nationwide chain. Focus on people who are already nearby and searching for food.
Why this matters:
If you’re in Dallas, but someone in New York Googles “best pizza near me,” they’re not going to stop by your place. Keep it hyperlocal. Use location targeting to ensure your ads only show to people within a certain distance from your restaurant.
How to do it:
- Go to Google Ads and select the “Location” setting.
- Set the radius around your restaurant (usually 5–10 miles is a good start).
- You can even target by specific zip codes or cities if your restaurant serves multiple locations.
This will help you avoid wasting money on clicks from people who aren’t actually going to show up. I mean, unless you’re offering delivery all over the country—which, if you are, you should probably be charging for it.
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Focus on Search Ads Over Display Ads (At Least for Now)
Google Ads gives you multiple ad types, but when you’re starting, go with Search ads. These are the ads that show up at the top of Google search results when someone types something like “best tacos near me” or “happy hour sushi.”
Why? Search ads target people who are actively looking for what you offer. Display ads? Not so much. People just see them while they’re browsing the web—sometimes not even paying attention.
How to do it:
- When creating a new campaign, select Search campaign.
- Write ads that match the keywords people are typing in. Make sure to include what’s unique about your restaurant in the ad copy.
- Don’t overcomplicate it—just be clear about what you’re offering.
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Use Negative Keywords to Keep Your Budget in Check
One of the worst things you can do with Google Ads is target the wrong keywords. You don’t want to show up for someone typing “cheap sushi” or “fast food tacos” if that’s not your vibe, right?
Why this matters:
Wasting your budget on clicks that will never convert (hello, “free pizza recipes” searchers) is a surefire way to tank your ad campaign. That’s where negative keywords come in.
How to do it:
- Go to your Google Ads campaign.
- Under “Keywords,” add negative keywords. These will stop your ads from showing up for irrelevant searches.
- Common examples for restaurants: “cheap,” “free,” “jobs,” and “recipes.”
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Create Compelling Ad Copy that Gets Clicked
Let’s be real for a second: the quality of your ad copy can make or break your Google Ads campaign. Your ad has seconds to grab attention. So don’t be boring, don’t be vague, and please, don’t use the same tired phrases like “Great food, great service.” That’s not doing anyone any favors.
Why this matters:
People are busy, hungry, and searching for their next meal right now. Your ad needs to stand out—and convince them that they need to click and check you out.
How to do it:
- Headline: Make sure your headline clearly explains what you offer and includes your main keywords (Google will bold those). Example: “Fresh Sushi Near You in 15 Minutes” or “Authentic Mexican Tacos Downtown.”
- Description: Use this space to highlight what’s special about your restaurant. Think about what makes you different. Example: “Fast, fresh, and made with love. Order online now for pickup or delivery!”
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Optimize Your Landing Page (Because Ads Don’t Work Without It)
Here’s the thing: If you’re running a Google Ads campaign and sending people to a boring, outdated website or a homepage that’s more complicated than it needs to be, congrats, you just paid for someone to leave without taking action. And that’s a waste.
Why this matters:
Your landing page is where the magic happens. It’s the place where someone goes after clicking your ad—and if they don’t know what to do next, they’re gone. You need a landing page that matches your ad, is easy to navigate, and makes it clear what people should do next.
How to do it:
- Match the ad and landing page copy: If you’re advertising “$2 tacos,” make sure that’s the first thing people see when they land on your page.
- Easy CTA (call to action): Do you want them to order now? Book a reservation? Make it crystal clear. One CTA. Keep it simple.
- Mobile optimization: If your landing page isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re basically wasting everyone’s time. Most of your clicks will come from people on their phones—make it easy for them to navigate and order.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget SEO
If you’re going to invest in Google Ads, you can’t forget about the importance of SEO. Paid ads will get you traffic now, but SEO will keep you showing up in the long term. If your website isn’t optimized for search, you’re making it harder for people to find you, even if you’re running ads. Plus, Google gives more credibility to businesses that rank organically.
For a deeper dive into why SEO is so crucial to your restaurant’s long-term success, check out this video on why SEO is critical for your business.
Wrapping It Up
Google Ads is a tool you can’t afford to ignore in 2025. When done right, it can bring new customers straight to your door (or your online ordering system). But that requires strategy. Don’t just throw some random ads out there and hope for the best. Target the right audience, use strong ad copy, optimize your landing page, and most importantly—don’t waste money on clicks that won’t convert.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need someone to take this off your plate, there are plenty of outlets (like Ad Pages Solutions) that can help manage the heavy lifting while you focus on what you do best—running a kick-ass restaurant.
So, what are you waiting for? Start stealing these Google Ads strategies now, and watch your restaurant grow.
That’s your no-BS, actionable guide for getting started with Google Ads. If you need a hand fine-tuning these strategies, you know where to find help. Or just go ahead and run that first campaign—no time like the present.
