Getting Found Online: Search, Reviews, and Social
Set up the free and low-cost basics that help local customers find you, trust you, and choose you.
When someone needs a plumber, a nail salon, or lunch nearby, they usually pull out a phone and search. In a few seconds they see a map, a handful of names, star ratings, and photos. If your business is not there, or looks neglected, they move on.
The good news: the basics of getting found are mostly free. They take a few hours to set up and a little time each week to keep fresh.
Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile is a free listing that controls how your business appears in Google Search and Google Maps. Claim it at google.com/business and verify that you own the business.
- 1
Fill in every field
Correct name, address or service area, phone, hours (including holidays), website, and the categories that best describe you.
- 2
Add real photos
Your storefront, team, workspace, and finished work. Update them every few months.
- 3
List services and prices
Describe what you offer in the words customers actually search, such as "brake repair" or "kids haircuts".
- 4
Post updates
Share specials, seasonal hours, or new services. Regular activity shows the business is open and engaged.
Keep your details identical
Make sure your business name, address, and phone number match exactly across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, and your website. Inconsistent details confuse customers and search engines.
Reviews: asking and responding
Most happy customers will leave a review if you ask at the right moment and make it easy. The best time is right after a good experience: at checkout, when a job is finished, or in a follow-up text that same day.
- Get your direct review link from your Google Business Profile and put it in texts, emails, and receipts.
- Ask every customer, not just the ones you think will be happy. Steady, honest reviews look more trustworthy.
- Do not pay for reviews or offer rewards only for positive ones. Platforms prohibit it and the FTC treats fake reviews as deceptive.
- Reply to every review within a few days. Thank people by name and mention something specific.
Handling a negative review
Stay calm and reply publicly in two or three sentences: thank them, acknowledge the problem without arguing, and offer to fix it offline with a phone number or email. Future customers read your reply more than the complaint.
Owner story
Thanh had 14 reviews after five years in business. She added a small sign at the front desk with a QR code to her review page and started texting a thank-you with the link after each appointment. Within six months she had over 120 reviews, replied to each one, and new clients regularly said they chose her because of what they read.
Illustrative composite, not a real customer.
Website essentials
Your website does not need to be elaborate. It needs to load fast on a phone and answer the questions a new customer has in the first ten seconds.
| Must have | Nice to have |
|---|---|
| What you do and where you serve | Online booking or ordering |
| Phone number that taps to call | Before and after photos or a portfolio |
| Hours and address or service area | Short answers to common questions |
| A few reviews or testimonials | A simple email sign-up |
Social media basics
You do not need to be on every platform. Pick one or two where your customers already spend time, such as Instagram for visual work like food, beauty, and design, or Facebook for neighborhood services. Post consistently, show real work and real people, and answer messages quickly.
Track which channels actually bring in customers. Marketing That Pays for Itself shows how.
Get found online
0/7 doneWords to know
- Google Business Profile
- A free Google listing that shows your business details, photos, and reviews in Search and Maps.
- Local search
- Searches for products or services near a location, such as "pizza near me".
- Review link
- A direct web address that opens your review form so customers can leave a review in one tap.
Finished reading?
Track your progress through Stage 4: Grow.
Related lessons
From Hobby to Business: When Your Side Hustle Gets Serious
How the IRS tells a hobby from a business, why the difference matters for your taxes, and the first moves to make when your side hustle starts to grow up.
Pricing for Profit: What to Charge
Three ways to set prices, how to make sure your own pay is built in, and the markup versus margin mix-up that quietly drains profit.
A One-Page Business Plan You'll Actually Use
Skip the 40-page binder. A single page that captures who you serve, how you make money, and what you will do next keeps you focused and helps lenders understand you.