When people need a caterer, they search. Event planners and couples look for “wedding catering [city],” “corporate catering near me,” and similar. If you don’t show up-or you’re on page 3-you’re invisible. Common causes: no Google Business Profile, an incomplete one, no reviews, or a website that doesn’t mention the cities and services people actually search for. In some markets, Reddit and other forums outrank business sites; that only means your own site and profile need to be strong enough to compete. Here’s what to do, step by step.
Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
If you haven’t already, claim your Google Business Profile (google.com/business). Use your real business name, address, and phone. Add your website URL. Choose the right categories-e.g. “Caterer”, “Event caterer”-so Google knows what you do. In the short description, include the word “catering”, your main services (wedding, corporate, private events), and your area (city or region). Upload high-quality photos: plated dishes, buffets, event setup, team. Refresh them when you have new work. A complete, accurate profile is the foundation. Incomplete or wrong info hurts you.
Get reviews-and keep asking
Reviews build trust and help you rank. After every successful job, ask happy clients to leave a Google review. Make it easy: send a short message with a direct link to your GBP review form. A few sentences and a star rating are enough. Don’t buy reviews or use gimmicks; Google can penalise that. Consistency matters: a steady trickle of real reviews beats a one-off push.
Use the same name, address, and phone everywhere
NAP (Name, Address, Phone) must be identical on your website, Google Business Profile, and any directories or social profiles. Slight differences (e.g. “St.” vs “Street,” different phone format) can confuse Google and dilute your local relevance. Do a quick audit: search for your business name and fix any listing that’s wrong or inconsistent.
Add simple service or location pages on your site
Help Google (and users) understand what you do and where. Create simple pages such as:
- “Wedding catering in [City]”
- “Corporate catering in [City]”
Use that kind of wording in the page title and main heading. Mention your area and service types in the body text in a natural way. You don’t need dozens of pages; a few focused ones are enough to start. This gives Google clear signals: you’re a caterer, and you serve these places and events.
Bottom line
You’re invisible on Google until your profile is complete, you have real reviews, and your site speaks the same language as your customers’ searches. Prioritise: (1) claim and fill out Google Business Profile, (2) ask for reviews after every job, (3) keep NAP consistent everywhere, and (4) add a few service/location pages on your site. Do that consistently and you’ll give yourself a real chance to show up when it matters.