SEO strategy with no website access

[AFaulkner98]

Hi everyone, 

I work in the hospitality industry and am looking at ways to improve our website's SEO. The problem is that we (tenants of a pub) don't have editorial access to the website. All we can do is ask the website owners to upload new menus/ event descriptions. This makes optimising the SEO as well as tracking any performance practically impossible. Does anyone know of a way that I can improve the site's SEO within these limitations?

It would also be good to know if there is a way of tracking anything to do with the website/ click rates/ views/ click-throughs on certain pages without editorial access. 

Thanks in advance!

[JRemodelingCo]

Hey — I’ve worked with businesses in the same position, especially in hospitality where you don’t always have full control of the main website.

Here are a few strategies you can still use to improve SEO and track performance, even without direct access:

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🔧SEO Without Website Access

1. Google Business Profile (GBP):
   Make sure your Google Business Profile is fully optimized. Add all services, photos, keywords, and post weekly updates (events, menus, specials). Google pulls a lot of local SEO signals directly from GBP — not just the main site.

2. Leverage Third-Party Listings:
   Sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, Facebook, OpenTable, etc., often rank high. Optimize these with detailed, keyword-rich content. You can even create unique descriptions for each one.

3. Build Local Citations:
   Get listed on as many accurate, reputable local directories as you can (with consistent NAP: Name, Address, Phone). These help build authority for your brand name and GBP even if the site isn’t updated.

4. Create Events Pages Elsewhere:
   Use platforms like Eventbrite or even social media to create pages for events. These often rank and can link to the main site — giving it a small boost and funneling clicks.

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📈Tracking Without Access

• Google Search Console (via GBP):
  If your GBP is linked to your domain email or someone with access, you can sometimes request GSC access.

• Use UTM Parameters:
  If the website owner uploads your menus or event links, ask them to include UTM-tagged URLs so you can track clicks in Google Analytics (if you have access to that).

• Track GMB Insights:
  You’ll still get data like search views, direction requests, website clicks, and call volume from your Google Business dashboard. Not perfect, but helpful.

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We recently used this exact approach for a client offering interior remodeling service in Mid Island, Port Richmond, and Midland Beach ). Even though we couldn’t touch the website, optimizing the business profile, building citations, and adding content to high-authority directories still improved local rankings.

[HKoch]

Hi @AFaulkner98! There are a few ways you can boost SEO without website edit access. Here are few ideas:

If those editing the site are receptive - I would run the site through an SEO tool and give them a really simple list of exactly what to update. List out technical SEO issues, meta updates, H1s with keywords, etc. Sometimes if you give people a really easy to-do list that they don't have to think about, they knock it out 🙂

[HKoch · Accepted solution]

Outside of the site, you can address: 

• Local SEO Focus: Since you're a physical location, local SEO is crucial. You can influence this even without direct website access:
  • Business Profile (GBP): This is extremely important. Ensure your pub's Business Profile is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. Encourage customers to leave reviews. This significantly impacts local search rankings.
  • Online Directories: Make sure your pub is listed accurately in online review directories  and industry-specific directories. Consistency in name, address, and phone number (NAP) is essential.
  • Encourage Linking: If you have any partnerships with local businesses or organizations, ask them to link to your pub's website. Inbound links are a significant ranking factor.
• Social Media
• YouTube Videos
• Co-branded partnerships (cross-posting, promoting or even podcasts)
• Content Suggestions: While you can't upload content yourself, you can provide the website owners with well-written, SEO-friendly content suggestions:
  • Blog Posts: Suggest blog post ideas that would be relevant to your target audience and include local keywords (e.g., "Best Craft Beers in [Your City]," "Guide to Local Pubs with Outdoor Seating," "Live Music Nights at [Your Pub Name]").
  • FAQ Page: Create a comprehensive FAQ page that answers common customer questions. This can improve your site's authority and relevance.
  • About Us: Provide a detailed and engaging description of your pub's history, atmosphere, and unique selling points.

Tracking Performance with Limited Access:

• Business Profile Insights: You have some control over this. Your Business Profile provides insights into how customers find your business (e.g., search queries, maps), website clicks, and phone calls. Monitor this regularly.
• Manual Tracking:
  • This is less precise but can provide some data:
    • Track increases in phone calls or online orders around specific promotions or events.
    • Monitor social media engagement and correlate it with website activity (if possible).
• Focus on What You Can Control:
  • Since website tracking is limited, focus on maximizing your impact in areas you can control, such as:
    • Customer service and experience (which can indirectly influence online reviews)
    • Social media presence (even if it's separate from the website)
    • Local SEO efforts (Google Business Profile, directories)

Hope this helps!

[AFaulkner98]

Thank you so much for the detailed response, it's so helpful! 

I have been working heavily on our business profiles as well as other online listing. I am working on brand partnerships to try and increase the inbound links. 

Content-wise, we can't upload blog posts, however, we are looking into getting an FAQ page if we are allowed. 

I wasn't aware that there were analytics for business profiles so will definitely look into that! 

Again, thank you for your response, it's really useful.

Abby

[HKoch]

@AFaulkner98 the HS response was giving me a hard time about promoting Google Business Profiles, so anywhere I state Business Profile, assume Google is attached to that... I had to remove to post 😵‍💫

[GiantFocal]

Hi @AFaulkner98,

To be clear, why not build a website for your tenant?

The main aspect of SEO involves optimizing the website itself. Without backend access, tracking anything on the website isn't possible unless you have access to the website owner's analytics tool, such as Google Analytics.

[AFaulkner98]

Hi Ernesto, 

I am the tenant. The parent company does not let tenants have access to the website. 

I understand that this may be a question that does not have a solution, I just wanted to pick the brains of some people on here. 

Thanks, 

Abby

[kennedyp]

Hi @AFaulkner98! Welcome to the Community-- happy to have you here 😊

SEO can be very unique for each site. I understand that not having access to edit the website poses a challenge for you. Is this a HubSpot website? If not, is the domain connected to HubSpot in any way? 

@SNigam5, @Ben_M, and @kmcready have given valuable insights on the topic of SEO in the past. I'd like to invite them to share any resources or best practices they can! 

Best,

Kennedy

[AFaulkner98]

Hi Kennedy, 

Thank you for the welcome!

Unfortunately, there is no link to Hubspot. I am just doing some courses on the academy and thought I would ask a question - maybe I posted in the wrong place!

Many thanks, 

Abby

[Ben_M]

@AFaulkner98 - The courses do correspond to functionality within Hubspot and while they are general in nature at times are typically taken only by customers or those interested in exploring the use of Hubspot. 

In short tracking can be done without editorial access, but it would require access to the analytics platform (Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, etc.).

As far as boosting SEO on the tenant, that is a larger question for the SEO strategy of the overall organization. From your description it does not sound as those SEO is necessarily your responsibility given the restrictions around your role and how you are only editing a menu and event description. In a similar sense, it would be like a restaurant who shares a menu with all locations but has local specialties in their regional market. Because of this, the SEO structure seems to be align to drive recognition to the overall brand, with finding a local location the secondary objective to the overall brand. This could also be a strategy where a brand employs the use of the franchisor/franchisee structure. In this instance, SEO is likely not a priority, but the franchisee may need other ways to gain regonition such as local partnerships and sponsorships, direct mail, etc. as a means to drive local business and web traffic.

[AFaulkner98]

Hi Ben, 

I am personally interested in Hubspot as an option for my business, hence taking the courses, it is just not currently used by the brewery. 

As my pub is tenanted, we are responsible for driving all marketing in-house, which is why I am looking at SEO. We are running the site completely independently of the brewery, and they just keep control of the website. Tenanted pubs are run differently from franchises, making all of these processes more complicated.  

Thank you for your response though, 

Abby