The verdict in three sentences
For a hotel, guesthouse or restaurant in Saint-Louis, Google Maps has become the main shop window: it is where the jazz festival tourist, the Djoudj park visitor or the group coming from Dakar decides where to sleep and eat. Every booking made through a platform costs you 15 to 20% commission, while a Google Business Profile listing is free. The course Get found on Google and Google Maps in your city (level 1 of the track, beginner, 25,000 FCFA, 5 hours, taught in French) teaches you to create, complete and maintain that listing, with a focus on managing reviews.
Why reviews matter so much in Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis lives partly to the rhythm of the tourist season and events: the international jazz festival, the year-end holidays, long weekends. During these peaks, travellers compare three or four places on the map in a few seconds. They look at the rating, the number of reviews, recent photos and whether the manager replies.
| Listing element | Neglected listing | Managed listing (the course goal) | Observed effect (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of reviews | Fewer than 15 | 60 or more, collected every week | More clicks on directions and calls |
| Replies to reviews | None | Reply within 48 h, negative reviews included | Stronger trust from new customers |
| Photos | 3 or 4 old photos | 25 to 40 recent photos: rooms, dishes, river view | More time spent on the listing |
| Opening hours and phone | Incomplete or wrong | Up to date, festival days included | Fewer missed calls |
| Google posts | Never | One a week in season | Listing looks more active to Google |
| Direct booking link | Missing | WhatsApp or the property's website | Commission-free bookings |
The course promises no miracle: its estimates are teaching orders of magnitude, not results measured on your business. But a complete listing costs nothing and works every day, including when you are in the kitchen or at the front desk.
Platform commissions versus direct bookings
| Booking channel | Cost to the business in 2026 | Control over the customer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major hotel booking platforms | 15 to 20% of the room rate | Low, the customer belongs to the platform | Useful for international guests |
| Food delivery platforms | 15 to 25% of the order | Low | Mostly in Dakar, little in Saint-Louis |
| Google Business Profile listing | 0 FCFA | High, the customer calls or messages you | Needs weekly follow-up |
| WhatsApp Business linked to the listing | 0 FCFA | High | Deposit possible via Wave or Orange Money |
| Word of mouth and guidebooks | 0 FCFA | Medium | Strengthened by Google reviews |
The realistic goal is not to leave the platforms, but to move part of your guests to direct bookings. The course targets 10 to 30% more direct bookings for a business starting from a weak listing, as an order of magnitude.
What the course covers, and what comes next
| Module | Content | Concrete result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. How your customers search for you | "Near me" searches, words tourists use | Your keyword list |
| 2. Create and verify your listing | Creation, verification, main category | Verified listing |
| 3. A complete listing that drives calls | Photos, hours, services, menu, WhatsApp link | 100% complete listing |
| 4. Reviews, posts and tracking | Asking for reviews, replying, reading statistics | 30-minute weekly routine |
The course is taught in French, works on a phone and is paid with Wave or Orange Money. It opens the Digital marketing and social media track, whose next levels cover digital marketing for SMEs, Meta and TikTok ads, then the community manager job. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Mini case study
Ousmane, 34, runs a small 12-room hotel on Saint-Louis island. A night costs 30,000 FCFA. In season he sells about 200 room-nights a month, 60% of them through a platform charging 18% commission.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Calculation: 120 platform nights × 30,000 FCFA × 18% = 648,000 FCFA in commission per month. After the course, he completes his listing, replies to every review and adds a WhatsApp link. If only 15% of those 120 nights move to direct booking, that is 18 nights, he saves 18 × 30,000 × 18% = 97,200 FCFA per month (about 148 EUR). The 25,000 FCFA course is covered in under two weeks of high season, provided he keeps up the weekly review routine.
FAQ
My Google listing already exists, is the course still useful?
Yes, most listings in Saint-Louis are incomplete: few photos, wrong hours, no replies to reviews. Module 3 takes an existing listing to 100% in under 2 hours.
How do I get more reviews without buying them?
The course shows how to ask for a review at the right moment, for example at checkout, with a QR code or a WhatsApp link. Buying fake reviews risks having your listing removed, which the course clearly advises against.
What should I do about an unfair negative review?
Reply calmly within 48 hours, without attacking the customer, and offer a solution. Future guests mostly read the manager's reply.
How much time does it take each week?
After the 5 hours of training, a 30-minute weekly routine is enough: reply to reviews, post a photo or an offer, check the statistics.
Can my staff take the course instead of me?
Yes, it is also designed for front desk and dining room staff. At 25,000 FCFA, many businesses train the person who already answers the phone.
Take the next step. Enroll in Get found on Google and Google Maps in your city: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA, verifiable 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.
