Guide
Reserve with Google: how it works, what it costs and how to set it up
You have seen the "Reserve a table" button on Google Maps. Here is what it is, how venues get it, what it costs, and the free booking link you can put on Google today. Honest note up front: Tablez has the Reserve with Google connection built and is waiting on Google's partner approval, so the button is not live for Tablez venues yet.
Watch: Reserve with Google
What Reserve with Google is, why it is not live for Tablez yet, and the free booking link you can add today. 48 sec
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You have seen the Reserve a table button on Google Maps. Here is what it is, and how to get ready for it. Reserve with Google lets people book a table inside Google Search and Maps, without visiting a website. Google does not charge for it. A restaurant cannot switch it on alone. It comes through a booking system that Google has approved. Tablez has the connection built, but we are still waiting for Google's approval, so the button is not live yet. Meanwhile, keep your venue name, address and phone the same as on your Google Business Profile. Then add your Tablez booking link as the reservation link on Google. That is free, and works today. Tablez never charges per booking, wherever it came from. Start free at tablez.co.uk.
Watch: Add a booking link to Google
Put a Book button on your Google Business Profile in two minutes, for free. 1 min
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The easiest way to get more bookings is to put your booking link where people already look for you on Google. In the next couple of minutes I'll show you how to add a booking link to your Google business profile for free. First, copy your Tablez booking link in your dashboard, open share and embed and press copy next to your booking link. Now on a computer, sign into the Google account that manages your business and search for your business name. Your business profile tools appear at the top. Choose edit profile. Look for bookings or reservations. Press add link, paste your Tablez booking link and press save. If you see a reservations link box instead, paste it in there. On a phone, it works the same way in the Google Maps app. Open your business profile, Tap Edit Profile, find bookings and add your link. Google can take a day or two to show it, then anyone who finds you on Google search or maps can tap to book and it lands straight in your Tablez diary. Put the same link on Instagram, Facebook and your website too. That's it. It's free and it takes two minutes. If you'd like a hand, send us a message from the Help page at...
How does Reserve with Google work?
Reserve with Google is Google's system for booking directly inside Google Search and Google Maps. When a venue is connected, its listing shows a "Reserve a table" button, and the diner picks a party size, date and time in a Google interface and confirms without visiting anyone's website. The booking is passed to the venue's booking system, which confirms it and sends the emails.
It is not something a restaurant signs up for directly. Google works with booking system providers, who integrate with Google's API and then enable their venues. So whether you can have the button depends on which booking system you use, not on anything you do in your Google Business Profile.
How much does Reserve with Google cost?
Google does not charge diners or venues for Reserve with Google itself. Some booking providers include it in their subscription; some marketplaces treat a booking that arrives through Google as a network booking and charge their per diner fee on it. Check the terms of whatever system you use. A booking that came from someone searching your name on Google, and then attracts a marketplace fee, is a poor deal.
How do I add a "Reserve a table" link to Google today?
Separate from Reserve with Google, every Google Business Profile can have a reservation link. It appears as a "Reserve" or "Book a table" style link on your listing and takes the diner to whatever page you give it. It is set by you, in your Business Profile under links, and works with any booking page, including Tablez.
The difference for the diner is one tap. With Reserve with Google they book inside Google; with a reservation link they tap through to your booking page, which on Tablez takes under a minute. For the venue, the reservation link means the booking happens on your page, with your wording, your policies and no third party in between.
- Search your venue's name on Google while logged in to the account that manages it, or open business.google.com.
- Choose Edit profile, then the section for bookings or links (Google moves it around; look for "Reservations" or "Bookings").
- Paste your booking page address, for example
yourpub.tablez.uk, and save. - Check your listing on your phone a day or two later. A "Reserve" or "Book online" link should appear.
If someone else's booking link shows instead (an old marketplace, for example), you can remove it in the same place and set your own.
Does the button matter for search ranking?
Google has not said that having Reserve with Google improves where you appear in local results. What does help your listing is being complete: hours, menu, photos, reviews, and a working reservation link. Reviews and photos do far more for you than which booking button you have.
Pros and cons of Reserve with Google
For it
- One tap fewer for the diner.
- Feels official and trusted.
- Availability shown inside Google, so a full night is not a wasted click.
- Google Assistant and Maps can suggest booking.
Against it
- Depends on your booking provider supporting it.
- Some providers charge per diner on it.
- Google's booking screen, not yours: no room for your notes or policies.
- Google decides what gets shown; features have been added and removed over the years.
Does Tablez work with Reserve with Google?
Not yet, but it is close. The connection is built into Tablez, and the remaining step is Google approving Tablez as a partner. When that happens we will switch it on for venues with no per booking fee, because we do not charge per cover on anything. In the meantime, put your Tablez link as the reservation link on your Google Business Profile. Diners tap it, land on your booking page, and book in under a minute. In practice the difference in bookings between the two is small; the difference in fees on some other platforms is not.
Checklist for your Google listing
- Claim and verify your Business Profile if you have not.
- Set your hours accurately, including holiday hours.
- Add your booking link as the reservation link.
- Add a menu link or menu photos.
- Post a few good photos of the room and the food.
- Ask happy customers for reviews and reply to them.
- Check the listing on your own phone once a month.
FAQ
Reserve with Google questions
Can I get the Reserve button with Tablez?
Not yet. It is built and waiting on Google's partner approval. You can add your Tablez link as the reservation link on your Google Business Profile today, which puts a booking link on your listing.
How do I set up Reserve with Google for my restaurant?
You do it through your booking system, not through Google directly. Use a booking system that is an approved Reserve with Google partner and switch it on there; your venue then needs to match your Google Business Profile (same name, address and phone). If your system is not a partner, add your booking link as the reservation link on your Business Profile instead.
Is Reserve with Google free?
Google does not charge for it. Your booking provider may. Some marketplaces charge per diner on bookings that arrive through Google.
Why does my listing show a Reserve button I did not set up?
Marketplaces sometimes list venues and enable booking through their own platform. You can ask Google to remove a third party link from your profile and set your own reservation link instead.
Will a reservation link get me fewer bookings than the button?
Slightly fewer taps complete on the button, but the difference is small for a booking page that takes under a minute. Reviews, photos and accurate hours matter far more.
Does Tablez charge for bookings from Google?
No. Tablez never charges per booking or per cover, wherever the booking came from.