Google My Business is now allowing restaurants to remove links to online ordering from their listings.
The option to opt out of online ordering was discovered by Joy Hawkins, who shared the news on a thread in her Local Search Forum.
To remove links to third-party ordering systems, businesses need to fill out a form. The required information includes your name, email address, and food ordering partner. If you submit the form while signed in with the account used to manage your restaurant listing, Google will have all the necessary details.
You don’t need to provide a reason for wanting to opt out. This leads to the question: why would a restaurant want to remove links to online ordering?
### Why Would a Restaurant Listing Want to Opt Out of Online Orders?
Google’s new form allows restaurants to remove links to online ordering via third-party partners. A restaurant might opt for this if they accept orders directly through their website.
Third-party ordering systems, like DoorDash and Postmates, charge fees to restaurants for using their service. By removing links to these third-party partners, a restaurant could potentially funnel more orders through their website and reduce the fees they pay.
However, many restaurants rely solely on third-parties to fulfill delivery orders. In such cases, it might not be in the restaurant’s best interest to opt out of displaying online ordering links on their Google My Business listing. Nonetheless, the option is available if they choose to use it.
