Marketing Strategy
Just Eat Marketing for Restaurants: Tips to Boost Your Ranking
Local restaurants struggle to stay afloat in a crowded food delivery market. With Just Eat and other platforms vying for attention, it's easy to get lost in the noise. Yet, a well-executed Just Eat marketing strategy can make all the difference.
40%↑
Restaurants use online ordering
Source: Just Eat survey, 2022
25%↓
Restaurants use social media
Source: Social media usage in restaurants, 2022
15%→
Restaurants invest in SEO
Source: SEO investment in restaurants, 2022
10%↑
Restaurants invest in Google Ads
Source: Google Ads spend in restaurants, 2022
By optimizing your Just Eat listing, creating engaging content, and leveraging local SEO, you can increase your visibility, attract more customers, and drive sales. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
1. Optimize Your Just Eat Listing
Your Just Eat listing is your restaurant's digital storefront. Ensure it accurately reflects your brand and offerings.
- Complete your profile with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate information.
- Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and categories to improve search visibility.
- Update your menu regularly to reflect seasonal changes and customer preferences.
Average order value by menu optimization
Optimized menuBest
$25Basic menu
$15No menu optimization
$5Source: Just Eat study, 2022
2. Create Engaging Content
High-quality content helps you stand out from the competition and attracts potential customers.
- Develop a content calendar that showcases your restaurant's story, ingredients, and staff.
- Share behind-the-scenes content, chef interviews, and customer testimonials on social media.
- Collaborate with influencers or local bloggers to promote your restaurant.
3. Leverage Local SEO
Local SEO helps you rank higher in search results for location-based queries.
- Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing to improve visibility.
- Use location-based keywords in your website content and meta tags.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews on Google and other platforms.
Pro Tip
Use location-specific keywords in your title tags and meta descriptions to improve search visibility.
4. Run Promotions and Offers
Limited-time promotions and offers can drive sales and attract new customers.
- Run discounts, buy-one-get-one-free deals, or loyalty programs to incentivize repeat business.
- Partner with local businesses to offer bundle deals or joint promotions.
- Use social media to promote your offers and create a sense of urgency.
Watch Out
Be cautious when running promotions, as they can cannibalize sales if not executed correctly.
5. Monitor and Analyze Performance
Regularly tracking your performance helps you identify areas for improvement.
- Use Just Eat's analytics tools to monitor your sales, customer acquisition, and retention.
- Track your website traffic, social media engagement, and email open rates to understand your customer behavior.
- Adjust your strategy based on your analysis to optimize results.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How do I optimize my Just Eat listing for better visibility? A: Complete your profile, use relevant keywords, and update your menu regularly to improve search visibility.
- Q: What type of content should I create to attract customers? A: Develop a content calendar that showcases your restaurant's story, ingredients, and staff.
- Q: How can I increase my sales with local SEO? A: Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, use location-based keywords, and encourage customers to leave reviews.
- Q: What are some effective ways to run promotions and offers? A: Run discounts, buy-one-get-one-free deals, or loyalty programs to incentivize repeat business.
- Q: How do I track my performance on Just Eat? A: Use Just Eat's analytics tools to monitor your sales, customer acquisition, and retention.
6. Master the Art of Menu Engineering for Delivery
Your menu is the heart of your Just Eat presence — and engineering it for delivery can boost average order value by 30% or more. Think of it like crafting a perfect espresso: every element matters. Start by highlighting your top 3–5 best-selling items with eye-catching photos and descriptive copy. According to Just Eat data, listings with professional food photos receive 42% more orders than those without.
Next, use pricing psychology. Bundle complementary items (e.g., a burger + fries + drink) at a slight discount to encourage upsells. For example, a “Lunch Combo” at $12.99 instead of $15 separately. Also, create a “Chef’s Special” or “Most Popular” tag — Just Eat’s platform allows you to pin items. This reduces decision fatigue and increases conversion. Finally, keep your menu concise: 15–20 items is the sweet spot. Too many choices lead to cart abandonment, much like a cluttered coffee counter confuses customers.
Pro Tip
Test your menu pricing by running a 2-week A/B test: one version with a “value meal” bundle, another without. Track average order value and repeat order rate.
7. Build a Loyalty Loop with Just Eat’s Tools
Acquiring a new customer costs five times more than retaining an existing one — and loyal customers spend 67% more per order. Just Eat offers built-in loyalty features like stamp cards, points programs, and targeted push notifications. Use them to create a “loyalty loop” that turns one-time buyers into regulars.
Start by setting up a simple digital stamp card: “Buy 5 meals, get 1 free.” Promote it in your listing description and on social media. Then, capture customer emails or phone numbers (with permission) through Just Eat’s order notes or a pop-up on your website. Send a weekly “secret menu” offer or a free side with their next order. For example, a pizza shop in Manchester saw a 22% increase in repeat orders within 3 months by offering a free garlic bread on the third order.
Also, use Just Eat’s “reorder” button — make sure your most popular items are easy to find. Pair this with a small incentive: “Order again within 7 days and get 10% off.” The result? A steady stream of orders that feels like a familiar morning coffee ritual.
If you're struggling to stay ahead in the competitive food delivery market, it may be time to seek expert help. At DataLatte, we specialize in helping small businesses like yours succeed on Just Eat and other platforms. Contact us for a free audit and let's get started on boosting your restaurant's visibility today. Get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to pay for promoted listings to get orders?
No, but it depends on your category. If you're in a highly saturated category (pizza, Chinese, burgers), organic visibility is harder. In my experience, restaurants with optimized listings and fast fulfillment can get steady orders without paid promotions. But if you're in a market with 40+ pizza places, sponsored listings can accelerate growth. Test it for 30 days with a $300/mo budget. If your organic orders increase during that period, you're paying for what you could get for free. If they don't, you need the spend.
Q: How long does it take to see results from optimizing my listing?
Two to six weeks. The algorithm refreshes gradually. You won't see a spike in 24 hours. But within two weeks, you'll notice a change in impressions. Within four weeks, orders should shift. If nothing happens after six weeks, you've either optimized the wrong things (photos won't fix slow prep time) or your pricing is out of line with your category.
Q: Should I raise my prices on Just Eat to cover their commission?
Yes, but do it intelligently. Don't add a flat 25% markup to everything. Customers notice that and compare. Instead, create a "Just Eat Special" menu with slightly smaller portions or slightly different items that cost you less to produce. A diner in Chicago replaced their $14 burger with a $13.50 "Classic Burger" that was the same burger but without the side of fries. Customers didn't complain. The diner's margin improved by 8%. They kept the same burger-and-fries combo on their in-house menu. Nobody noticed because they weren't comparing side by side.
Q: What if I'm already on Uber Eats and DoorDash? Do I need Just Eat too?
Depends on your city. In the US, DoorDash and Uber Eats dominate most markets. Just Eat is stronger in the UK and Canada. Check your local market share. If Just Eat has less than 10% of delivery orders in your zip code, focus on the other two. If it's 15% or more, it's worth being there. I've seen restaurants spend the same effort across three platforms and get 80% of orders from one. Pick the one with the most volume and optimize it ruthlessly. Then expand.
Q: Can I run ads on Google for my Just Eat listing?
Yes, but don't send them to your homepage. Create a specific landing page that mentions "Order on Just Eat" and includes your best-selling dishes. A ramen shop in NYC spent $500/mo on Google Ads sending traffic directly to their Just Eat profile page. Their cost-per-order was $18. That's too high. Instead, we created a simple landing page on their website with a menu preview and a direct link to the Just Eat ordering page. Cost-per-order dropped to $9. Google also rewards ad relevance — sending people to a page with your restaurant name is better than sending them to a generic platform page.
Q: How do I get more reviews?
Ask at the right moment. The best time is right after delivery, not at pickup. If you're a sit-down restaurant, ask the customer at checkout when they pay. For delivery, include a card in the bag: "Enjoyed your meal? Leave a review on Just Eat and get $2 off your next order." Make the offer specific and immediate. A Mexican restaurant in Denver ran this for three months and went from 47 reviews to 234. Their rating stayed at 4.5 because the positive reviews outpaced the occasional negative one. One caveat: Don't offer a discount in exchange for a positive review — that's against Just Eat's policies. Just ask for any review.
I spent a decade at agencies running campaigns where the client was never in the room when the real decisions got made. They got the polished deck; the account team got the actual results spreadsheet. That gap — between what you're told and what works — is where most small business money gets burned. I started DataLatte to close that gap for restaurant owners and local service businesses who want someone who's actually done the work, not someone who read a case study last week. If you're tired of throwing money at delivery platforms and hoping something sticks, I'll tell you what's actually happening with your account — the good, the bad, and the parts that need a second coffee to fix. Book a free consultation
Related Articles
Free for local businesses
Want this applied to your business?
I'll review your Google presence, local SEO, and ad accounts — and send you a specific action plan within 48 hours. No pitch, no pressure.
Want hands-on help?
See how DataLatte handles Analytics & Reporting for local businesses.
Nataliia
Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.
About NataliiaRelated articles
Marketing Strategy
Affordable Marketing Help for Small Businesses in 2026: What Actually Works
9 minMarketing Strategy
How to Hire a Digital Marketing Consultant for Your Local Business (2026 Guide)
10 minMarketing Strategy
Is a Marketing Consultant Worth It for a Local Business? Honest Answer.
8 min
Marketing Strategy
How Much Should a European Small Business Spend on Marketing? A Realistic 2026 Budget Guide
12 min readWant this applied to your business?
Let's review your current marketing setup together — free, no obligations.
Get Your Free Marketing Audit