Getting listed on Swiggy or Zomato is a great first step, but it’s far from enough. In today’s crowded food delivery landscape, only those restaurants that actively optimize their listings with appealing visuals, keyword-rich menus, high ratings, and targeted offers manage to stand out and grow consistently.
With the right marketing strategies, your restaurant can improve its delivery app ranking, attract more online orders, and build a loyal customer base. Here’s how to transform your listing into a high-performing delivery engine.
Why Delivery App Ranking Matters
Your restaurant could be missing out on hundreds of daily orders simply because it is ranked too low on the app. Most users tend to order from the first few listings on the page. That’s why ranking higher is essential.
Key Factors That Influence Your Delivery App Ranking:
- Customer ratings and reviews
- Menu structure and presentation
- Availability of offers and combos
- Delivery time and rejection rates
- Profile completeness, including photos and descriptions
How to Optimize Your Delivery App Presence
1. Use Real, High-Quality Photos
Your food photos are your digital storefront. Customers make decisions within seconds based on how your dishes appear.
Best Practices:
- Shoot images in natural lighting
- Show packaging and portion size clearly
- Avoid using stock photos or overediting
Suggested Tools: Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, Canva
2. Write Search-Friendly Menu Descriptions
Descriptions should include common search terms customers use in the app.
Examples:
- Instead of “Paneer Tikka,” use “Smoky Tandoori Paneer Tikka | Serves 2”
- Add location-specific tags like “Street-Style Pav Bhaji – Dadar Special”
This helps your items appear more often in in-app search results.
3. Feature Combos and Bestsellers at the Top
The first few items on your menu are what most customers see. Reorganize your menu regularly to feature:
- Bestselling items
- Newly launched dishes
- High-margin combos or family packs
Use engaging language or visual tags to highlight them.
Boost Reviews and Ratings (Organically)
Restaurants with a 4.0+ rating tend to receive more visibility on both Zomato and Swiggy.
Proven Tactics:
- Add QR codes inside your delivery packaging encouraging reviews
- Offer incentives like 10% off the next order for honest feedback
- Respond to negative reviews professionally and constructively
Example:
“Hi Akash, we’re truly sorry for the delayed delivery. Our team has been notified. Please accept a free dessert on your next order with us.”
Tools to Use: Reelo, Inresto CRM
Use Offers & Ads the Smart Way
Instead of offering deep discounts that hurt your margins, focus on value-based deals and strategic promotions.
Strategies That Work:
- Bundle offers (e.g., “Family Biryani Combo for ₹499”)
- Promote time-sensitive offers during off-peak hours
- Use Swiggy Boost Ads or Zomato Sponsored Listings for as little as ₹1000–₹1500 per week to test performance
Avoid permanent discounts and use ads only when launching new items or during high-traffic weekends.
Work with Food Influencers
Even if your brand only delivers, influencer content can help drive massive visibility.
Action Steps:
- Send your top-selling delivery items to local food influencers
- Ask for Reels or reviews showing the unboxing and packaging experience
- Repost the content across your social media channels
Example:
A Mumbai-based burger brand saw a 45% jump in delivery orders within 3 days of a local influencer sharing their experience.
Want to explore influencer marketing for your restaurant? See our influencer campaign services.
Track, Learn, and Improve with Data
Delivery platforms provide dashboards packed with insights. Use this data to make smarter menu, pricing, and marketing decisions.
Weekly Metrics to Monitor:
- Order rejection rate
- Most-ordered dishes
- Repeat order percentage
- Average delivery time
Tools to Use:
Zomato Business App, Swiggy Partner Hub, Petpooja POS, DotPe
Promote Your Listings Off-Platform
While Zomato and Swiggy generate organic traffic, promoting your listings externally increases visibility and encourages repeat orders.
Off-App Promotion Ideas:
- Add swipe-up links to your delivery menu on Instagram Stories
- Share special offers via WhatsApp broadcast lists
- Run Facebook or Google Ads targeting customers in a 3–5 km radius
Cross-promotion helps establish your delivery link as the go-to option for nearby customers.
Conclusion
Food delivery apps offer a massive growth opportunity—but only if you know how to play the game. From enhancing food photography and optimizing your menu to engaging with customers and influencers, every detail contributes to your ranking and order volume.
Start with small changes, measure performance consistently, and scale what works. Delivery success isn’t just about being listed—it’s about being seen, trusted, and chosen.
Ready to boost your delivery orders? Let Mango Marketing optimize your listing now.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Optimize your profile, use real and appealing food images, maintain strong ratings, and offer relevant value-driven combos.
Yes. Paid ads are especially effective during high-demand weekends, festive launches, or when introducing new dishes.
Absolutely. Focus on unboxing videos, delivery hygiene, and showcasing your food packaging experience.
Yes. Promoting your delivery link outside the app boosts visibility and helps attract repeat customers, especially in your delivery radius.
