The verdict in three sentences
In Kaolack, most garages, hardware stores and welding or carpentry workshops do not exist on Google Maps, even though their customers search there every day for a repair, a spare part or a craftsman. A Google Business Profile is free, takes one evening to set up and, when well maintained, can bring 3 to 10 extra calls a week (2026 order of magnitude, depending on the neighborhood and the trade). The course "Être trouvé sur Google et Google Maps dans sa ville" (5 hours, 25,000 FCFA, beginner level, taught in French) walks you through it step by step, with no technical skills required.
Why your workshop is invisible when a customer searches
A trucker crossing Kaolack on the N1 with a flat tire does not know the area. He takes out his phone, searches "tire repair", "garage" or "hardware store" and looks at the map. Google shows nearby, complete and active profiles first: exact name, the right category, opening hours, a tappable number, recent photos, reviews. If your workshop in Médina Baye or Léona has no profile, or one created by a stranger with the wrong number, the call goes to your neighbor.
The most common mistakes on local profiles:
- a vague category ("business" instead of "auto repair shop" or "hardware store");
- a landline nobody answers, instead of the owner's WhatsApp number;
- no storefront photo, so customers cannot find the entrance;
- missing hours, while many customers look for a garage open on Sunday or after 7 pm;
- negative reviews left unanswered for months.
| Profile status | What the customer sees | Likely effect on calls (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| No profile | Nothing, or the competitor across the street | 0 calls from Google |
| Created by a third party, unclaimed | Wrong number, wrong hours | Lost calls, unhappy customers |
| Claimed, no photos | A dot on the map | 1 to 3 calls a week |
| Complete with 10 to 20 photos | Storefront, workshop, visible stock | 3 to 6 calls a week |
| Complete, regular reviews and replies | Rating of 4.5 and above, visible activity | 5 to 10 calls a week |
| Monitored monthly (posts, statistics) | A living business, ranked higher | Steady growth over 6 to 12 months |
Learning alone, paying a consultant or taking a course: what each option costs
You have three paths. Free videos exist, but they often show interfaces from other countries and say nothing about verification in Senegal or the trades of Kaolack. A local consultant can create the profile for you, but you remain dependent on them every time your hours or number change. Learning once lets you manage the profile yourself for years.
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | Time | What you keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA (plus data) | 5 to 15 hours of searching | Bits of information, poorly suited to Senegal |
| Local consultant who creates the profile | 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA (45 to 115 EUR) | 1 to 3 days | A profile, but not the method |
| Google Business Profile alone | 0 FCFA | One evening | A free tool, if you fill it in properly |
| Kolonell course, level 1 | 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR or 41 USD) | 5 hours, at your own pace | Method, review reply templates, follow-up plan, certificate |
| Full Digital marketing track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (about 535 EUR) | Several weeks | Google, social media, advertising, strategy |
The course Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city, taught in French, has four modules: how customers search for you in your city, creating, claiming and verifying your profile, making the profile complete enough to generate calls, messages and visits, then managing reviews, posts and follow-up over time. It is level 1 of the Digital marketing and social media track, which you can continue later if you want to move on to Facebook, Instagram or paid advertising.
What you will be able to do after 5 hours
| Module | Approximate time | Concrete result for a garage or hardware store |
|---|---|---|
| 1. How customers search for you | 1 h | List of the 10 searches that matter ("spare parts Kaolack", "garage open Sunday") |
| 2. Create, claim, verify | 1 h 15 | A verified profile in your name, with the right WhatsApp number |
| 3. Complete profile | 1 h 30 | Categories, services, hours, 15 useful photos, clear description |
| 4. Reviews, posts, follow-up | 1 h 15 | A method to get 2 to 4 reviews a week and reply to them |
| Final assessment | A few minutes | Kolonell Academy certificate |
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Moussa, 41, runs a mechanics and tire repair garage near the central market in Kaolack. An average repair earns him a margin of about 8,000 FCFA. He pays 25,000 FCFA for the course with Wave, creates his profile, adds 18 photos and asks every satisfied customer for a review for one month.
Cautious assumption: 4 extra calls a week from Google Maps, half of which become a repair. That is 2 extra repairs a week, or 16,000 FCFA of margin. The course pays for itself in under 2 weeks, and the gain continues as long as the profile stays active. Had Moussa paid a consultant 50,000 FCFA, he would have needed about 3 weeks to break even, without knowing how to update the profile himself. These figures are an illustration, not a promise: every neighborhood and every trade responds differently.
FAQ
Do I need a website to appear on Google Maps?
No. A Google Business Profile is enough to appear on the map and receive calls. Module 3 shows you how to fill in the fields to make up for not having a site, with a WhatsApp link instead.
How long until the profile appears?
Creating it takes less than an hour, and Google's verification usually a few days. The first calls often come within 2 to 4 weeks, once the profile has photos and its first reviews.
I am not comfortable with my phone, is this for me?
Yes, the course is beginner level and works on a smartphone in 5 hours total. You can spread it over several evenings and replay each lesson as often as you need.
How do I pay?
The 25,000 FCFA fee is paid with Wave or Orange Money. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed, and the certificate is issued after the final assessment.
What comes after level 1?
You can continue the Digital marketing and social media track, which has 5 levels. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 if you buy the levels one by one.
Take the next step. Enroll in Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city: 5 hours online, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate included, course taught in French. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
