The verdict in three sentences
In Louga, the manager of a hardware store, restaurant, pharmacy or garage loses customers every day if their Google Business Profile is missing, incomplete or poorly ranked: as a 2026 order of magnitude, 40 to 60% of "near me" searches end with a call or a directions request. The profile is free, and the Kolonell course Get found on Google and Google Maps in your city, taught in French, costs 25,000 FCFA for 5 hours, against 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA charged by a local provider just to create the profile. It is level 1 Essential, payable by Wave or Orange Money, and you stay in control of your profile.
Paying someone to create it, or learning to manage it
Many Louga traders pay someone to create the profile, then never touch it again. Yet what pushes a profile up is reviews, photos and regular updates.
| Option | 2026 price | What is included | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell course, level 1 Essential | 25,000 FCFA | 4 modules, 5 h, exercises on your profile, certificate | You do the work yourself |
| Local provider, creation only | 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA | Creation and verification | No follow-up, access sometimes kept by the provider |
| Provider with monthly follow-up | 15,000 to 40,000 FCFA per month | Posts, review replies | 180,000 to 480,000 FCFA per year |
| Free tutorials | 0 FCFA (excluding data) | Variable | Rarely adapted to Senegal and local verification |
| Doing nothing | 0 FCFA | Profile created by strangers or missing | Wrong hours, wrong number, lost customers |
The program has four modules: understanding how customers search for you in your city, creating, claiming and verifying your profile, completing it so it makes people call, message and visit, then managing reviews, posts and follow-up to stay on top over time.
This course opens the Digital marketing and social media track, which goes up to the digital marketing manager role. All 5 levels together cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
What a well-kept profile changes, by type of business
Local searches in Louga are about immediate needs: a pharmacy on duty, a spare part, a meal. The benchmarks below are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Profile element | 2026 benchmark | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|
| Up-to-date hours, including holidays | Complete profiles viewed up to 2 times more | Fewer customers facing a closed door |
| 10 photos or more | Noticeably more directions requests | Customers recognize the storefront |
| Rating of 4.2 or more with 20 reviews | A threshold customers often mention | More clicks than competitors with 3 reviews |
| Replying to reviews within 48 h | Signal of an active business | Better trust, better ranking |
| WhatsApp number and exact category | Direct call from Maps | Fewer customers lost between two searches |
| Weekly post | 5 minutes a week | Promotions and new items visible |
Mini case study
Modou, 41, runs a hardware store near Louga's central market. His Google profile was created by a customer two years ago, with an old number and no photos. He mostly gets walk-in customers.
He takes the 25,000 FCFA course, claims his profile, fixes the number, adds 15 photos and his hours, then asks every satisfied customer for a review. In 8 weeks, he gets 25 reviews.
- Assumption: 4 extra calls a week from Google Maps, 2 of which turn into purchases.
- Average margin per sale: 3,500 FCFA, i.e. 7,000 FCFA a week.
- Payback: about 4 weeks, with no subscription to pay afterwards.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
This calculation is an illustrative scenario; the number of calls depends on your sector and the competition around you.
FAQ
Is a Google Business Profile really free?
Yes, Google charges nothing for creating or managing it. Only Google Ads advertising is paid, and it is not needed to appear on Maps.
How does verification work in Louga?
Depending on the case, Google offers a video of the storefront, a call or an SMS. Module 2 details each method; allow a few days to 2 weeks depending on the option.
Someone already created my profile, what should I do?
You can claim it by proving you are the manager. The procedure usually takes 3 to 7 days and the course shows it step by step.
How do I pay for the course?
The 25,000 FCFA payment is made by Wave or Orange Money. Online access opens as soon as it is confirmed.
What comes after level 1?
Level 2, Digital marketing for SMEs, costs 50,000 FCFA and adds social media and content. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Get found on Google and Google Maps in your city: 5 hours online, taught in French, 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
