How to Grow Your Food Business With Google Ads

to help you get started

We cover the most common doubts on how to start advertising on Google Ads as a food business.

Welcome! If you’ve made it here, you’re probably curious about how Google Ads can help your food business grow. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert yet, you’ll feel ready to take your first steps by the end of this guide.

Whether you run a cosy bakery, a vibrant café, or a restaurant committed to sustainability, Google Ads is a powerful tool to attract new customers, reduce food waste, and improve your bottom line. If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I advertise on Google? How much does it cost? Will it work for me?” then you’re in the right place.

Ready to turn your advertising into a growth engine for your business? Let’s get started!

1. Why Google Ads is Essential for Food Businesses

The food sector is highly competitive, but Google Ads helps you stand out where it matters most. Here’s how:

• Find Your Customers Where They Are: Show your ads to people searching for “best cafés near me” or “fresh bread in London.”
• Highlight Your Values: Promote your efforts to reduce food waste or use sustainable ingredients to connect with eco-conscious customers.
• Get Tangible Results: Increase foot traffic to your store, boost online orders, and keep your brand top of mind with consumers.

Google Ads doesn’t just help you grow—it aligns your business with what your customers value most.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to highlight what makes your business unique in your ads. Whether it’s your commitment to sustainability, quality ingredients, or excellent customer service, these details can make all the difference in attracting the right customers. Let your values be your best strategy!

2. Choose the Right Google Ads Campaign Type

Not all campaigns are created equal. Here’s a quick rundown to help you decide:

• Search Campaigns: Ideal for capturing customers already searching for businesses like yours, using terms like “local bakery near me” or “how to reduce food waste.”
• Display Campaigns: Showcase eye-catching visual ads on Google’s partner websites to increase awareness.
• Local Campaigns: A must if you have a physical location—reach people near your business.
• YouTube Ads: Perfect for telling your story or showcasing your most irresistible dishes.

Not sure where to start? Search campaigns are a safe bet—they’re great for food businesses looking to generate leads or increase store traffic.

3. Master Your Keywords and Local SEO

Food businesses thrive on Google Ads when they maximise local visibility. Make sure you’re found with the right keywords:

• Use Localised Keywords: Combine your services with the location, like “organic bakery in Manchester” or “Italian restaurant in London,” to ensure your business appears in relevant searches.
• Optimise for Common Queries: Leverage frequent searches like “Where to eat sustainably in Leeds?” or “Farm-to-table restaurant in Liverpool?” to connect with interested users.

Pro Tip: The more specific your keywords and the better they match local customer searches, the more effective your Google Ads campaigns will be.

4. Use Call-to-Actions That Connect with Your Customers

Call-to-actions (CTAs) are one of the most powerful elements of any ad campaign, guiding customers towards the desired action. It’s essential for them to be clear, direct, and compelling so customers understand what to do and feel motivated to act. For example, phrases like “Order Fresh Bread Today!” or “Book Your Table for a Unique Dining Experience” not only convey the message effectively but also create urgency and interest. Incorporating values like sustainability, such as “Join the Fight Against Food Waste,” strengthens the connection with customer values, making your offer even more appealing.

Examples of strong CTAs:

• “Order Fresh Bread Today!”
• “Join the Fight Against Food Waste—Get Involved Now!”
• “Book Your Table Now!”

Simple, direct, and result-focused CTAs make all the difference.

5. Make Your Landing Pages Work for You

Your landing page is where you turn interest into action. Here are some tips to ensure your page achieves its goal:

• Be Consistent: Align your ad message with the landing page content. If your ad highlights a specific value, like reducing food waste, explain how you achieve it on your page with concrete examples or data. This builds trust and credibility.
• Highlight What Makes You Special: Your value proposition should be clear and stand out. If you use local ingredients, offer special menus, or have another competitive edge, make sure these aspects are prominently displayed.
• Make It Easy to Act: Guide users effortlessly. CTAs like “Place Your Order,” “Book Your Table,” or “Learn More” should be visible and easy to understand. A clear, action-focused design can significantly boost conversions.

6. stay on top of your budget

Keeping your Google Ads costs under control is essential to avoid budget surprises. Start small, test how your ads perform, and adjust as you see results.

Key steps to optimise your budget:

• Set a Daily Budget: Define an amount that won’t exceed your limits but allows for testing different strategies and evaluating results. As your ads gain traction, gradually increase your budget.
• Prioritise High-Performing Keywords: Focus on terms generating the most clicks and conversions. Regularly review keyword performance to eliminate underperforming ones.
• Track Results with Analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics to measure the effectiveness of your ads. Monitor metrics such as CTR (click-through rate), conversions, and cost per conversion to refine your strategy and optimise your budget.

7. Regularly check in on your campaigns

Your Google Ads strategy is never truly “finished.” To ensure long-term success, it’s essential to make regular adjustments and continuously optimise your campaigns. Don’t hesitate to test different headlines, calls-to-action, and images to see which ones resonate best with your audience. Make sure to refine your targeting to reach the most profitable audiences and maximise your return on investment. Additionally, stay up to date with the latest market trends, such as “zero waste restaurants” or “local businesses near me,” so your ads are always aligned with what consumers are looking for. Remember, the key lies in flexibility and constant monitoring to keep improving your campaign results.

8. Bonus: Let Your Customers Tell Your Story

Reviews and testimonials are powerful tools for building trust with potential customers. Don’t hesitate to showcase them on your website and social media profiles. By including positive feedback, you can demonstrate customer satisfaction and the quality of your products or services. Additionally, use Google My Business to display reviews directly in your ads, which can enhance your business's credibility. Share authentic stories about how your business is making a difference in the community, whether through sustainable initiatives, support for local causes, or any other action that reflects your values. This will not only attract more customers but also strengthen your online reputation.