Google Business Profile for a beauty salon: how to make the top three on the map

When someone types "hair salon near me" or "brow lamination Kaunas" on their phone, Google first shows a map with three places underneath. Many people choose from those three and never scroll further. The good news: the biggest ad budget doesn't win here. Three things decide it — relevance (does your profile match the search), distance, and prominence (reviews, photos, activity).

You can't change distance. You can change the other two, and it takes one evening.

1. Create or claim your profile

Go to google.com/business and type your salon's name. If a profile already exists (sometimes clients or Google create one), choose "Claim this business". If not, create a new one.

Google will ask you to verify that the business is real. Most often this is a short video showing your sign, workspace and equipment, or a code sent by phone or post. Until the profile is verified it barely shows up — don't leave this step for later.

2. Primary category — the most important field

The primary category does more than anything else to decide which searches you appear in. Choose the most precise one, not the broadest: if you mostly do nails, pick "Nail salon", not "Beauty salon". Add secondary categories only for services you really offer.

A common mistake is stuffing keywords into the name: "Rasa Nails | Manicure Vilnius Cheap". Google treats this as a violation and may suspend the profile. The name should be exactly what's on your door or your invoices.

3. Address, hours and phone — no mistakes

• Address must be real — where clients actually come. Virtual offices and PO boxes end in suspension.
• Opening hours must be accurate. Set special hours for holidays: a client who arrives at a locked door writes not only to you but also a review.
• Phone — the one you actually answer.

4. Booking link — so nobody has to call

In the "Website" field, add your page where services are listed and people can book. For some categories Google also shows a separate booking link field — if you see it, put the direct booking link there.

Why it matters: some people search the map in the evening, when you no longer pick up. If they can book on their own, they book with you rather than with whoever answers tomorrow.

5. Services with prices

In the "Services" section, list your main services with prices, or at least "from". Service names help Google understand whom to show you to: if you list "Russian manicure" and "gel polish", your profile will appear more often for exactly those searches.

6. Photos: not your logo, but the place and your work

Profiles with photos get more clicks than those without. Upload:

• the front and entrance — so people recognise the place and find the door;
• the interior — cleanliness and comfort sell;
• your work — the best 10–20, in daylight;
• the team — people choose people.

After that, add a few new ones every month. An active profile looks more alive to Google.

7. Reviews and replying to them

Reviews are one of the strongest prominence signals. Two habits make the biggest difference:

1. Ask every happy client on the same day. Your Google profile has an "Ask for reviews" button that creates a short link you can send in a message.
2. Reply to all of them, good and bad. Short, personal, no template. A reply to criticism gets read more carefully than the criticism itself: a calm, specific answer shows a new client how you'll behave if something goes wrong.

Don't buy reviews or ask for them in exchange for a discount — Google forbids it, and fake reviews get removed along with the real ones.

8. Updates — once every two weeks

You can publish posts on your profile: a new service, free slots next week, a before/after. It doesn't take long, but it shows the business is active.

Common mistakes

• Two profiles for the same salon (an old one and a new one) — merge or remove the duplicate through Google support.
• Hours not updated for holidays.
• A link to Facebook instead of a page with prices and booking.
• Reviews with no replies.

What to do tomorrow

1. Check that your profile is verified and that the primary category is the most precise one.
2. Add your booking link.
3. Upload at least 10 photos: the front, the interior, your work, the team.
4. Reply to every unanswered review.
5. This week, ask every client for a review.

If your salon page is built on edapi, put its address (for example, rasa.edapi.io) in the "Website" field. The page shows your services with prices, and clients can book on their own from it. A link from Google also helps a new page show up in search sooner.