Client Overview

• Business: A restaurant specializing in shawarma (chicken, beef, and mixed) with side options such as French fries and beverages, located in the Bakhshab district, Jeddah.

• Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Initial Status: The website had some initial traffic (around 500 monthly visitors) but was not ranking in the Google Maps “Local Pack” for keywords like “Shawarma Jeddah” or “Best Shawarma in Bakhshab”. Instead, it appeared in positions 6–9.

Challenges

• Strong competition from well-known shawarma restaurants in Jeddah dominating local search and Google Maps results.

• The Google Business Profile only contained basic information, lacking advanced optimization or customer engagement.

• The website was not optimized for local keywords and had a moderate load speed (3.5 seconds).

• Existing traffic was not translating into sufficient sales due to weak visibility on Google Maps.

Objectives

1. Rank within the top 3 results on Google Maps (Local Pack) for local shawarma-related keywords.

2. Increase organic traffic and sales by leveraging existing visitors.

3. Position the restaurant as a leading shawarma destination in Jeddah within 6–12 months.

Strategy

1. Optimizing the Google Business Profile (GBP):

   • Updated the profile with accurate information: address (Bakhshab, Jeddah), opening hours, and categories such as “Shawarma Restaurant” and “Fast Food.”

   • Added 25 professional images of shawarma (chicken and beef) and seating areas, optimized with keywords like “Shawarma Bakhshab.”

   • Activated the “Posts” feature to promote offers like “Buy 2 shawarmas and get a free drink.”

2. Competitor and Keyword Analysis:

   • Analyzed competitor Google Business Profiles to identify top-performing keywords (“Shawarma Jeddah”, “Shawarma near me”).

   • Targeted local keywords such as “Best Shawarma in Bakhshab”, “Shawarma near me”, and “Shawarma Restaurant Jeddah” based on search volume.

3. Targeted Local Backlinks:

   • Built manual backlinks around local keywords through guest posts on Saudi food blogs with titles like “Best Shawarma Restaurants in Jeddah”, linking back to the client’s website.

   • Listed the restaurant in local directories like Jeddah Guide and Zomato with keyword-rich anchors such as “Shawarma Bakhshab.”

Results after 12 Months

• Google Maps Visibility: Achieved #1 ranking in the Local Pack for “Shawarma Jeddah” and #2 for “Shawarma Bakhshab.”

• Traffic Growth: Monthly traffic increased from 500 to 2,000 visitors thanks to local SEO improvements.

• Sales Growth: Sales rose by 160% due to increased Google Maps visibility and online orders.

• Customer Reviews: Reached 210 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 stars, strengthening trust and visibility.

• Local Dominance: Became the go-to shawarma spot in the Bakhshab district.

Conclusion
By leveraging an existing baseline of traffic, we successfully elevated the restaurant’s position through local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, and targeted backlinks. This strategy positioned the client as a top player in Jeddah’s shawarma market, proving the power of optimizing existing performance to achieve exceptional results.

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