There are many factors that play into a customer’s decision when they are looking for their next catering option. Our proprietary system behind the scenes is working hard to showcase the right options to our customers at the right time. Here are some ways to optimize your ezCater store to ensure successful findability and optimal ranking in search results:
1. Ensure your menu is accurately flagged for dietary restrictions. Our customers filter search results to see menus that offer vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options. If your menu items are tagged to reflect these offerings, you will show up in these results!
2. Ensure you offer individually packaged items and that they are tagged. We offer the ability for customers to filter results to only see menus that provide individually packaged options. This can include boxed lunches, individually packaged single-serve items like sandwiches or grain bowls, or the option for customers to request individual packaging on your packages or trays. If you offer this packaging option, you’ll show up in these search results.
3. Reliability Rockstar! You can achieve Reliability Rockstar status through optimal performance on ezCater. Rockstars receive badges as well as carousel placement on our Marketplace.
4. Participating in our marketing programs (Preferred Partner Program and ezRewards) will help support your ranking in search results.
5. Lead time and order minimum. Customers searching for last minute orders or smaller orders won’t see your menu as an option if you have longer lead times or larger order minimums. If you are able to facilitate last minute or smaller orders, please update your settings to reflect this so that you can show up in search results and grab some of these orders!
6. Add breakfast if you can accommodate it. Most menus on our site feature only lunch options, but “breakfast” is the most commonly searched term amongst customers! Offering breakfast items like egg sandwiches, continental breakfast, bagels, and more is a great way to stand out and show up when customers seek their breakfast orders.
7. Fill out our supplier diversity survey in the settings tab of ezManage. Many ezCater customers have supplier diversity goals to allocate a portion of their spend to small business or restaurants owned by a member of an underrepresented group. ezCater seeks to support them by striving to create a diverse network where restaurants can be easily found. To do so, ezCater currently highlights underrepresented groups in a featured section at the top of a search results page in alignment with Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month. ezCater is also building filters and creating restaurant descriptions that allow customers to easily search for, and find, small businesses and restaurants owned by members of underrepresented groups.