"Barbershop near me" "Nail salon [neighborhood]" "Best lash extensions [city]"

This is how clients find you. Not Instagram. Not referrals. Google.

73% of consumers use Google to find local businesses. If you're not showing up, you're invisible.

Why Google Business Profile matters

Free visibility to people actively searching for your services.

Trust signals — reviews, photos, info build credibility before they visit.

Direct action — They can call, get directions, or visit your website in one click.

Mobile-first — Most searches happen on phones, near your location.

Setting up (or claiming) your profile

Go to business.google.com
Search for your business
Claim it (if it exists) or create new
Verify (usually via postcard or phone)
Complete every field

If you already have a profile: When did you last update it? Old info kills trust.

The fields that matter most

Business name

Exact legal name. Don't keyword-stuff ("Joe's Barbershop | Best Cuts in Brooklyn" = wrong).

Address & service area

Exact address. Pin in the right spot on the map.

Hours

Keep updated. Mark holidays. Nothing frustrates clients more than showing up when you're closed.

Phone

A number you actually answer.

Website

Link to your booking page—not just your homepage.

Booking link

Direct link to schedule. Removes friction.

Photos that convert

Businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests.

What to post:

Exterior (so people recognize it)
Interior (clean, welcoming)
Team (friendly faces)
Your work (before/after, finished styles)
Products (if you sell)

Quality matters: Well-lit, in-focus, recent. No blurry phone pics.

Frequency: Add new photos monthly. Fresh content signals active business.

The review game

Reviews are the #1 factor in local rankings.

Getting more reviews

Ask happy clients directly
Send follow-up text/email with link
Make it easy (short link, QR code)
Time it right (2-3 days after visit)

Responding to reviews

Positive: Thank them personally. Mention something specific.

"Thanks, Sarah! So glad you loved the balayage. See you in 8 weeks!"

Negative: Respond professionally. Take it offline.

"We're sorry to hear this. Please reach out directly at [phone] so we can make it right."

Posts and updates

Google lets you post updates directly to your profile:

New services
Promotions
Events
Tips and news

Posts show for 7 days. Regular posting signals activity.

Services list

Add every service with:

Name
Description
Price (or price range)

This helps you show up for specific searches ("balayage [city]") and sets expectations.

Q&A section

People ask questions directly on your profile.

Proactive move: Ask and answer your own FAQs:

"Do you take walk-ins?"
"What's parking like?"
"Do I need to book ahead?"

This controls the narrative and helps searchers.

What hurts your ranking

❌ Inconsistent info across the web (different address, phone on different sites)

❌ Old photos or no photos

❌ Few or no reviews

❌ Incorrect hours

❌ No response to reviews

❌ Missing service descriptions

Monthly maintenance

Spend 15 minutes monthly:

Check hours and info for accuracy
Respond to new reviews
Add 2-3 new photos
Post an update
Answer any questions

Connect the loop

Google drives discovery. Your booking system closes the deal.

Make sure your Google profile links directly to online booking—so the path from search to appointment is seamless.

👉 Vinci 26 gives you a professional booking page to link from your Google profile—so searchers become clients in seconds.

Build something that's truly yours.

Google Maps Is Your Best Marketing Channel (If You Set It Up Right)