When someone in Accra types "graphic designer near me" or someone in London searches "salon in East Ham", Google shows a map with three businesses at the top. Those three get most of the calls. If your business is not on that map, a lot of customers will never know you exist.

That map listing comes from a free tool called Google Business Profile. Here is why it matters and how to set it up properly.

Why it matters

A Google Business Profile puts your business on Google Search and Google Maps. People can see your opening hours, call you with one tap, get directions, read reviews and look at photos of your work. For many small businesses, it brings in more enquiries than their website does.

It is also free. You do not pay Google to have a profile. You only need to set it up well and keep it active.

How to set it up the right way

1. Go to business.google.com and sign in with a business Google account, not a personal one you might lose access to.

2. Use your real business name. Do not stuff extra words into it like "Best Cheap Salon Accra". Google can suspend profiles for that.

3. Pick the most accurate main category. This is one of the biggest factors in where you show up.

4. Add your address or service area. If you visit clients instead of them coming to you, you can hide your address and show the areas you cover.

5. Add a phone number people actually answer, and your WhatsApp if you take bookings there.

6. Verify the profile. Google will ask you to verify by video, phone or postcard. Until you do, the profile will not show properly.

What to do after setup

Add at least 10 good photos: your shop front, your team, your work and your products. Profiles with real photos get far more clicks than empty ones.

Ask happy customers for reviews. Send them the review link straight after a good experience, while they still feel good about it. Reply to every review, even the bad ones, calmly and politely.

Post updates. You can share offers, new services and events right on your profile. One post a week is enough to show Google you are active.

Keep your hours correct, especially on public holidays. Nothing annoys a customer more than travelling to a shop that turns out to be closed.

Common mistakes we see

Two profiles for the same business. Old phone numbers. No photos. A wrong pin on the map. Reviews that never got a reply. Each one of these quietly costs you customers.

Need a hand?

At MSJ Advertising we set up and manage Google Business Profiles for businesses in Ghana and the UK. We handle the setup, verification, photos, posts and review replies so you can focus on serving customers. Get in touch and we will take a look at your current listing for free.