The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, tourists, UGB students and residents type "hotel near me", "restaurant Saint-Louis island" or "hardware store Sor" on their phones, and call the businesses that show up on Google Maps. A service provider charges 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA to create a listing, while the Kolonell level 1 course costs 25,000 FCFA for 5 hours and teaches you to create, complete and maintain it yourself. A complete listing gets on average 2 to 3 times more calls than an empty or missing one.
Do it yourself or pay a provider: 2026 prices in Saint-Louis
| Option | 2026 price | What is included | What is missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do nothing | 0 FCFA | A listing sometimes created by a customer, with errors | Wrong hours, no phone number, no photos |
| Provider, creation only | 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA (46 to 114 EUR) | Creation, verification, basic photos | Reviews and posts over time |
| Provider, monthly management | 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) | Creation steps | Review strategy, category mistakes |
| Kolonell Academy level 1 | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 5 h, full method, certificate | Your time: 30 min a week afterwards |
The Google Business Profile listing itself is free. What you pay for is the know-how to fill it in properly and keep it up to date.
What you learn in the four modules
The course Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city (taught in French) is level 1 Essential of the digital marketing track.
| Module | What you do | Example in Saint-Louis |
|---|---|---|
| How customers search for you in your city | List the "near me" searches for your trade | "guesthouse Guet Ndar", "pharmacy Sor" |
| Create, claim and verify your listing | Recover an existing listing, choose the right category | A hotel wrongly listed as a "restaurant" |
| A complete listing that drives calls, messages and visits | Photos, hours, WhatsApp, services, indicative prices | 15 photos of rooms and the river terrace |
| Reviews, posts and tracking | Get reviews, reply, read the statistics | Go from 3 to 30 reviews in three months |
To go further (social media, Facebook ads, content), the full Digital marketing and social media track (5 levels) costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA (about 534 EUR instead of 686 EUR).
What a complete listing can change by type of business
Illustrative 2026 orders of magnitude, built for the course and not measured: they depend on the trade, the competition and your consistency, with no ranking guarantee.
| Business in Saint-Louis | Extra contacts per month | Average basket | Potential extra revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant on the island | 20 to 40 | 8,000 FCFA | 50,000 to 105,000 FCFA |
| Hotel or guesthouse | 10 to 25 | 35,000 FCFA per night | 115,000 to 290,000 FCFA (175 to 440 EUR) |
| Hardware store in Sor | 15 to 30 | 12,000 FCFA | 60,000 to 120,000 FCFA |
| Medical or dental practice | 10 to 20 | 15,000 FCFA | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA |
| Hair salon | 15 to 30 | 5,000 FCFA | 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA |
Calculation assumption: about one third of contacts become customers. The skill also sells: optimising a shopkeeper's listing is commonly billed at 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Abdoulaye, 34, manager of a 6-room guesthouse on Saint-Louis island, depends on booking platforms that take 15 to 18% commission. His Google listing has only 2 photos and an old phone number.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Course: 25,000 FCFA, versus 60,000 FCFA with a provider
- After 2 months: 4 more direct bookings per month, 2 nights on average at 30,000 FCFA
- Commission avoided: 240,000 FCFA x 15% = 36,000 FCFA per month
The course pays for itself in under three weeks from avoided commissions alone. He can also offer this service to two neighbouring restaurant owners at 30,000 FCFA each. These figures remain an estimate.
FAQ
My listing already exists, created by a customer. Can I claim it?
Yes, module 2 explains how to claim it. Verification is usually by video, SMS or post and takes from a few minutes to 14 days.
Do I need a website to appear on Google Maps?
No, the listing works without a website. A WhatsApp number, accurate hours and at least 10 photos are enough to start.
How long before I see results?
The first calls often come within 2 to 6 weeks of completing the listing. Regular reviews, 2 to 4 a month, make the difference over time.
How do I pay from Saint-Louis?
By Wave or Orange Money, 25,000 FCFA in one go. The 5 hours are available as soon as payment is confirmed, on phone or computer.
I am not a shopkeeper, is this course for me?
Yes, if you want to sell this service to businesses in your city at 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per listing. It is a first marketing skill that is easy to bill.
Take the next step. Enroll in Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city: 5 h online, 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR), certificate included. 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.
