How to list your business on Google

Do you run a shop, a practice or a workshop open to the public in French-speaking Switzerland? Here is how to get your Google listing for free — the one that shows up with the map, the opening hours and the reviews.

What it actually does for you

When someone types "hairdresser Carouge" or "plumber Lausanne" into Google, the first results often show a map with nearby businesses. That listing is what appears there. Without one, that spot goes to your competitors, free of charge.

What a visitor sees in that map is typically:

• The business name — the one you entered, not your domain name.
• The rating and reviews — four or five stars weigh heavily on the decision.
• The municipality — this is what ties you to the local search.
• Live opening hours — "open until 6:30pm" or "by appointment".

It is often the very first impression you make, before anyone even visits your site.

The steps to create your listing

• Create or sign in to a Google account — if you already have one for your business, use that rather than a personal account.
• Go to the Google Business Profile page — available directly at google.com/business.
• Fill in your business details — name, business category, address, service area, phone, website. The category you pick matters for showing up in the right searches.
• Verify your business — usually by postal mail with a code to enter, sometimes by phone or email. Allow a few days.
• Complete your profile — good photos, accurate hours, a description of what you do and your services.
• Stay active — reply to reviews, update your hours around public holidays, post a photo now and then. Google treats a living listing better than an abandoned one.

Our advice

Many freelancers and small businesses in this region lose customers simply because their listing is incomplete or missing. It is one of the highest-return levers out there: free, and done in a few minutes.

At Atelier Web Romand, whenever we build a showcase site for a tradesperson or a freelancer, we always check that their Google presence is in order alongside it. A site without a Google listing is a bit like a beautiful shopfront on a street with no footfall.