The verdict in three sentences
In San-Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire's second port, a large share of customers are passing through: sailors, truck drivers, sales reps, tourists heading to Grand-Béréby or Sassandra, and they all pull out their phones to search for « maquis », « hotel » or « garage ». The Google Business Profile is free and it decides whether your business appears on the map. In 5 h and 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), you learn to create it, verify it and keep it active, without depending on a provider.
Why Google Maps matters so much in San-Pédro
When someone searches for a trade « near me », Google shows a map and three businesses. Those with a complete profile, recent photos and reviews come first. Here are the trades that benefit most, with 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Type of business | Typical customer searches | What a good profile can bring (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Maquis and restaurants | « maquis San-Pédro », « grilled fish restaurant » | 10 to 40 calls or directions per month |
| Hotels and furnished residences | « hotel San-Pédro port », « Balmer residence » | 5 to 20 direct bookings per month |
| Garages and tyre shops | « truck garage », « tyre repair » | Broken-down drivers, often urgent |
| Hardware and building supplies | « hardware store Bardot », « rebar » | Calls from building sites and artisans |
| Pharmacies and clinics | « pharmacy on duty », « clinic » | Directions in the evening and at weekends |
| Service providers (plumber, electrician, freight forwarder) | « freight forwarder San-Pédro port » | Quote requests by phone |
The profile's statistics (calls, direction requests, website visits) let you measure these results every month, with no paid tool.
Doing it yourself or paying a provider
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | What you get | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doing nothing | 0 FCFA | A profile possibly created by a stranger, often wrong | Wrong hours, wrong number, lost customers |
| Creation by a local provider | 15,000 to 50,000 FCFA | Profile created once | You cannot update it, sometimes the provider keeps access |
| Monthly management by an agency | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month | Regular follow-up | 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA per year |
| Free tutorials | 0 FCFA plus data | Basics | No method for reviews or tracking results |
| Kolonell course Getting found on Google and Google Maps | 25,000 FCFA, one-off | Complete verified profile within a week, review method, reading statistics | Needs 15 to 30 minutes a week afterwards |
The course Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city is level 1 Essential, 25,000 FCFA, of the Digital marketing and social media track; it is taught in French. It covers creating or reclaiming the profile, verification, categories, photos, opening hours, replying to reviews and the method to get 20 to 30 of them in two months.
The eight-week plan
| Week | Action | Measurable goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create or reclaim the profile, start verification | Verified profile |
| 2 | Category, hours, WhatsApp number, 10 photos | 100% complete profile |
| 3 and 4 | Ask every satisfied customer for a review (QR code at the counter) | 10 reviews |
| 5 and 6 | Reply to every review, post one update a week | 20 reviews, 100% replies |
| 7 and 8 | Read the statistics, adjust photos and description | 20 to 30 reviews, calls measured |
This course opens the Digital marketing and social media track, which continues with Meta and TikTok advertising and then the community manager job. The five levels bought together cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Adama, 38, runs a maquis near the port of San-Pédro. His profile, created by a customer three years ago, shows a wrong number and no photos. He takes the course over a weekend, reclaims the profile, adds his WhatsApp number and 12 photos, and sticks a review QR code on every table.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Course cost: 25,000 FCFA
- Reviews obtained in two months: 26
- Calls and directions measured after two months: about 30 per month
- If 10 of these contacts become tables of 4 at 2,500 FCFA per person: 100,000 FCFA of extra monthly revenue
- Compared with agency management at 40,000 FCFA per month: 455,000 FCFA saved over a year
These results are 2026 orders of magnitude and depend on location and service quality.
FAQ
Is the Google Business Profile really free?
Yes, Google charges nothing to create or manage the profile. The 15,000 to 50,000 FCFA some providers ask for pays for their time, not for the profile.
What if someone else already created my profile?
The course explains how to claim and recover ownership of the profile. The process usually takes a few days, sometimes up to two weeks.
How many reviews do I need to appear in the top three?
There is no official figure, but aiming for 20 to 30 recent reviews in two months, with a reply to each, often puts you ahead of competitors in San-Pédro.
Do I need to be comfortable with computers?
No, a smartphone is enough. The course lasts 5 h and is designed for shop owners with no technical skills.
How do I pay for enrollment?
By Wave or Orange Money, in FCFA. The Essential level costs 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate included.
Take the next step. Enroll in Getting found on Google and Google Maps in your city: 5 h, 25,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy 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.