Google Business Profiles Drive 7× More Views Than Restaurant Websites
Google Business Profiles are increasingly becoming the first point of contact between local businesses and consumers. According to recent reports, restaurants now receive up to seven times more views on their Google Business Profiles than on their own websites, signalling a shift in how customers discover and evaluate local businesses.
Google Business Profiles Are Replacing the Traditional Homepage
Consumer search behaviour has changed. Instead of visiting brand websites, users now rely on Google Search and Maps to evaluate businesses instantly. Business hours, menus, reviews, photos, directions, and booking options are available directly within the search interface.
This shift positions the Google Business Profile as a modern digital storefront rather than a supporting listing.
For many local businesses, especially restaurants, the website is no longer the primary discovery channel.
Why Google Business Profiles Attract Higher-Intent Traffic
Several factors explain why Google Business Profiles consistently outperform websites in views and engagement.
- Immediate visibility: Profiles appear prominently in Google Maps and local search results.
- Trust signals: Reviews, ratings, and photos influence decisions before any website visit.
- Action-driven design: Users can call, book, message, or navigate without leaving Google.
Studies indicate that optimized profiles can generate up to 700% more clicks, with more than half of user actions leading directly to a website, call, or in-store visit
The Rise of Zero-Click Local Search
Zero-click search is now a defining trend in local SEO. Many users complete their entire decision-making process without clicking through to a website.
Google Business Profiles enable this behaviour by surfacing all critical business information directly within search results. This is particularly impactful for mobile users seeking quick, location-based answers.
For restaurants, this means visibility and conversion increasingly happen before a website is even considered.
Local SEO and the Google 3-Pack Advantage
Regular updates, accurate business information, reviews, and high-quality photos directly influence visibility in the Google local 3-pack.
Businesses that actively manage their profiles are more likely to appear for high-intent local searches such as “restaurants near me” or “best cafés nearby.”
As competition for local visibility increases, the completeness and freshness of a Google Business Profile can determine whether a business is discovered at all.
What This Shift Means for Businesses
The data highlights a clear change in digital priorities. Websites remain important, but they no longer function as the primary entry point for local discovery.
Instead, businesses must treat their Google Business Profile as a core asset—one that requires ongoing optimisation, content updates, and reputation management.
According to industry observers at Digilogy, this shift reflects a broader move toward search-native experiences where visibility, trust, and action happen within platforms rather than on standalone websites.
Final Takeaway
Google Business Profiles are no longer secondary listings. They are becoming the primary layer of local digital presence, where discovery, trust, and user actions increasingly happen within Google Search and Maps. As local search shifts toward zero-click and platform-native experiences, digital marketing observers at Digilogy highlight that businesses treating their Google Business Profile as a core asset—rather than an afterthought—are better aligned with how modern consumers find and evaluate local brands.
