Why Your Barber Shop Needs a Google Business Profile: Stand Out Locally
Why Your Barber Shop Needs a Google Business Profile: Stand Out Locally
When someone needs a haircut, they grab their phone and search "barber near me." If your barber shop doesn't have a Google Business Profile, you're invisible to these potential customers and losing business to competitors who do appear in search results. A Google Business Profile is your free ticket to showing up when people search for barbers in your area.
This simple online tool connects directly to Google Maps and Search, making it easy for customers to find your shop, read reviews, and get directions. Without it, you're missing out on the steady stream of new clients who discover local businesses through Google every single day.
Setting up and optimising your profile takes just a few hours but can transform how customers find and choose your barber shop. From managing reviews to showcasing your best work, a well-crafted Google Business Profile becomes one of your most powerful marketing tools.
What Is a Google Business Profile and Why It Matters
Google Business Profile is a free tool that lets you control how your barbershop appears on Google Search and Maps. For barber businesses, this platform serves as your digital shopfront that potential clients see first.
Understanding Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
Google Business Profile is Google's free service that helps barbershops manage their online presence. The platform was previously called Google My Business but changed its name whilst keeping the same powerful features.
Key features include:
Business information management (address, phone, hours)
Customer review collection and responses
Photo and video uploads
Google Posts for updates and offers
Messaging with potential clients
With Google holding over 90% of the search market, your barbershop needs this visibility. When someone searches "barber near me" or "barbershop in [your area]", your profile can appear at the top of results.
The profile acts as your first impression. It shows your location, opening hours, services, and customer reviews before people visit your shop.
How Google Business Profile Works for Barber Shops
Your barber business profile appears when customers search for haircuts or grooming services in your area. Google uses your location and business category to match you with nearby searchers.
For barbershops specifically, the profile helps by:
Showing your exact location on Google Maps
Displaying your speciality services (beard trims, classic cuts, fades)
Featuring customer photos of your work
Highlighting busy times so clients can plan visits
Customers can book appointments directly through your profile if you enable this feature. They can also call your barbershop with one tap on mobile devices.
Your profile builds trust through authentic customer reviews. Positive feedback from satisfied clients encourages new customers to choose your barber business over competitors.
Regular updates through Google Posts keep your barbershop visible in search results whilst showcasing new services or special offers.
Boosting Local Visibility and Attracting More Clients
Your Google Business Profile helps local customers find your barber shop when they search online. It puts your business on Google Maps and makes you stand out in local search results with complete business information.
Improving Your Presence in Local Search Results
Local SEO makes your barber shop appear higher in search results when people look for barbers nearby. Your Google Business Profile is the foundation of local SEO success.
Complete all sections of your profile with accurate information. Add your business category as "Barber Shop" or "Hair Salon" to help Google understand your services.
Key profile elements for local searches:
Exact business name and address
Phone number that matches your website
Business hours including special holiday times
Service descriptions with local keywords
Post regular updates to keep your profile active. Share photos of recent haircuts, announce special offers, or highlight new services. Active profiles rank better in local search results.
Your business listing needs to match information on other websites. Use the same name, address, and phone number everywhere online. This consistency helps Google trust your business information.
Getting Found on Google Maps
Google Maps shows your barber shop to customers searching for nearby services. Your Business Profile controls how you appear on the map.
Add your exact location with precise coordinates. Verify your address through Google's verification process to appear on Maps. Customers can then get directions straight to your shop.
Upload photos of your shop's exterior and interior. Google gives more visibility to businesses with photos. Customers also get 42% more direction requests when you add images to your profile.
Essential Google Maps features:
Street view of your shopfront
Interior photos showing chairs and workspace
Before and after photos of haircuts
Team photos with barber names
Encourage customers to check in when they visit. Location check-ins signal to Google that real customers visit your business regularly.
Standing Out with Enhanced Business Listings
Enhanced business listings help you compete with other local barber shops. Use all available features to make your profile more attractive than competitors.
Add detailed service descriptions for each haircut style you offer. Include popular services like beard trimming, hot towel shaves, or hair washing. Specific services help you appear for more local searches.
Collect and respond to customer reviews regularly. Positive reviews boost your visibility and attract new clients. Reply to all reviews within 24 hours to show you care about customer feedback.
Use Google Posts to share weekly specials or announce new services. Posts appear directly in search results and keep your listing fresh. Create posts about seasonal offers or trending haircut styles.
Set up the Questions & Answers section with common customer questions. Answer questions about pricing, booking methods, or available services. This information helps customers choose your shop over others.
Building Trust with Customer Reviews and Social Proof
Customer reviews on your Google Business Profile act as powerful social proof that helps potential clients trust your barber shop. Positive feedback shows search engines and customers that your business provides quality service.
Why Customer Reviews Are Essential
Reviews work like digital word-of-mouth recommendations for your barber shop. When people search for barbers on Google, they see your reviews right next to your business information.
Google uses reviews to decide how high your shop appears in search results. More positive reviews help your business rank higher when locals search for barber services.
Customer reviews provide several key benefits:
• Build trust with potential clients • Improve your local search rankings • Give you feedback to improve your services • Help customers choose your shop over competitors
People trust businesses with many positive reviews more than shops with no reviews at all. Reviews act as social proof that real customers had good experiences at your barber shop.
Your Google Business Profile reviews reach more people than reviews on booking apps or other platforms. These reviews show up in Google searches and Google Maps results where most customers will find you.
Responding to Feedback and Engaging Customers
How you respond to reviews shows potential customers what kind of business owner you are. Always reply to both positive and negative reviews professionally.
For positive reviews: • Thank the customer by name • Mention specific services they received • Invite them to return
For negative reviews: • Wait before responding so you stay calm • Thank them for their feedback • Apologise for any problems • Offer to fix the situation
Responding to reviews shows you care about customer satisfaction. Future clients will see how you handle feedback and feel more confident booking with you.
Quick responses work better than slow ones. Try to reply to new reviews within a few days of them being posted.
Leveraging Positive Reviews to Attract New Clients
Great reviews make excellent marketing content for your barber shop. Display your best reviews on your website and social media to attract new customers.
You can embed Google reviews directly on your website using third-party tools. Put short positive reviews on your homepage where visitors will see them first.
Ways to encourage more reviews: • Ask satisfied customers personally • Explain how reviews help your business • Show appreciation on social media • Tag customers when you share their reviews
Feature your favourite reviews on Instagram or Facebook. Ask the customer's permission first, then share their feedback with a thank you message.
Keep your displayed reviews fresh and recent. Update them regularly so potential customers see current feedback about your services.
Don't push too hard for reviews as this can put customers off. A gentle request works better than being pushy about it.
Setting Up and Optimising Your Barber Shop's Google Business Profile
Creating your Google Business Profile involves three key steps: setting up and verifying your business listing, selecting the correct business category with a compelling description, and adding your services with booking options to make it easy for customers to book with you.
Creating and Verifying Your Business Listing
Start by visiting the Google Business Profile website and clicking "Manage now". You'll need to enter your barber shop's name and address.
Google will ask if you operate from a physical location that customers visit. Choose "Yes" since customers come to your shop. Enter your complete address including postcode.
Choose your verification method:
Phone call (most common)
Text message
Email
Video verification
Most barber shops receive a phone call from Google. Answer the call and enter the verification code on your screen. This usually happens within minutes.
After verification, your business listing becomes active on Google Search and Maps. Without verification, your profile won't appear in search results.
Upload a profile photo of your shop's exterior. This helps customers identify your location when they arrive.
Choosing the Right Business Category and Description
Select "Barber shop" as your primary business category. This tells Google exactly what type of business you run and helps you appear in relevant searches.
You can add secondary categories like "Hair salon" or "Men's hairdresser" if they fit your services. Stick to categories that accurately describe what you offer.
Write a clear business description in 750 characters or less. Mention your specialities, experience, and what makes your shop unique.
Example description elements:
Years in business
Speciality cuts (fades, beard trims, traditional cuts)
Atmosphere (traditional, modern, family-friendly)
Any unique services
Keep your description simple and honest. Avoid stuffing it with keywords that don't naturally fit.
Adding Services and Booking Features
List your main services with clear names and prices. Common barber services include haircuts, beard trims, hot towel shaves, and styling.
Create a service menu that's easy to understand:
Haircut - £15
Beard Trim - £8
Cut & Beard - £20
Add your booking link if you use online scheduling. This appears as a "Book Online" button on your profile, making it simple for customers to book with you.
Include your phone number and opening hours. Double-check these details are correct since customers rely on them to contact you.
Upload photos of your work, shop interior, and team. Good photos show potential customers what to expect and build trust in your services.
Enhancing Your Profile with Photos and Engaging Content
Great photos and well-written descriptions help your barbershop stand out in Google search results. Promoting your profile on social media brings even more customers through your door.
Showcasing High-Quality Photos of Your Work
High-quality photos are the heart of your Google Business Profile. They show potential clients what to expect before they visit your shop.
Take photos with good lighting. Natural light works best for showing true colours and details. Avoid dim or yellow lighting that makes everything look dull.
Photo types you should include:
Before and after haircuts
Your workspace and shop interior
Action shots of you cutting hair
Close-ups of your best work
Your team in action
Upload at least 10-15 photos to start. Google favours profiles with more visual content. Update your photos monthly with fresh cuts and styles.
Show different haircut styles you offer. Include fades, beard trims, traditional cuts, and modern styles. This helps clients see your range of skills.
Take photos from different angles. Front views, side profiles, and back shots give a complete picture of your work.
Writing Compelling Business Descriptions
Your business description appears in Google search results. Make it count with clear, simple language that explains what makes you special.
Start with what you do best. Mention your specialities like fades, beard grooming, or traditional cuts. Keep sentences short and easy to read.
Include practical details clients need. Mention if you take walk-ins, offer online booking, or have wheelchair access. List your busiest times to help people plan visits.
Key elements to include:
Years of experience
Speciality services
Unique selling points
Atmosphere of your shop
Use local keywords naturally. Phrases like "best barber in [your area]" help you appear in local searches. Don't stuff keywords everywhere though.
Write like you're talking to a friend. A friendly tone makes people feel welcome before they even visit.
Promoting Your Profile on Social Media
Social media drives more views to your Google Business Profile. Cross-promotion helps you reach customers on multiple platforms.
Share your Google reviews on Instagram and Facebook. Screenshots of five-star reviews build trust with new followers. Always ask permission before sharing client photos.
Post your Google Business Profile link in your social media bios. Make it easy for people to find your address, phone number, and opening hours.
Effective promotion strategies:
Share behind-the-scenes content
Post client transformations
Show your workspace
Highlight positive reviews
Create content that encourages engagement. Ask clients to leave Google reviews after sharing their photos on social media. Offer small discounts for reviews and tags.
Use location tags on Instagram and Facebook. This helps local people discover your barbershop when browsing nearby businesses.
Cross-post your best content. Photos that perform well on Instagram can also be added to your Google Business Profile. This saves time whilst keeping all platforms updated.
Using Insights and Reviews to Refine Your Marketing Strategies
Your Google Business Profile provides valuable data about how customers find and interact with your barber shop. This information helps you make smarter marketing decisions and improve customer engagement.
Understanding Customer Behaviour Through Profile Insights
Google Business Profile insights show you exactly how customers discover your barber shop. You can see whether people find you through direct searches or discovery searches.
Direct searches happen when someone types your shop name. Discovery searches occur when people look for "barber near me" or similar terms.
The insights reveal which photos get the most views. If customers look at your team photos more than your shop interior, focus on showcasing your barbers' skills.
You'll also see peak times when people view your profile. This data helps you post content when your audience is most active.
Key metrics to track:
Photo views and engagement
Direction requests to your shop
Phone calls from your profile
Website clicks
Use this data to understand what attracts customers most. If your before-and-after photos get high engagement, create more similar content for your marketing strategies.
Adapting Your Approach Based on Analytics
Review patterns in your customer behaviour data monthly. Look for trends in how people interact with your online presence.
If customers often call instead of booking online, make your phone number more prominent. Add it to your social media profiles and website.
Weekly analytics tasks:
Check which posts get the most engagement
Monitor peak viewing times
Track customer actions (calls, visits, bookings)
When you notice customers asking similar questions in reviews, create content that answers these queries. This improves customer engagement before they even visit.
Adjust your posting schedule based on when customers are most active online. If your insights show high activity on Tuesday evenings, schedule your best content for then.
Test different types of content and measure the response. Post styling videos one week and customer testimonials the next. Compare the engagement rates.
Maximising Your Local Marketing Opportunities
Your Google Business Profile connects you with local customers actively searching for barber shops. Use location-based insights to target nearby areas.
Check which areas your customers travel from. If many come from a specific neighbourhood, consider advertising there or partnering with local businesses.
Respond to all reviews within 24 hours. Thank positive reviewers and address concerns professionally. This shows potential customers you care about service quality.
Local optimisation tactics:
Use local landmarks in your business description
Post about community events you attend
Share photos of local customers (with permission)
Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews. Research shows that 46% of Google searches seek local information, making reviews crucial for visibility.
Monitor competitor profiles to see what works in your area. Notice which services they highlight and how they engage with customers.
Create posts about local events or seasonal trends. This keeps your profile active and relevant to your community.
At Clipper Code we set up automations which ask your customer for a review shortly after they've had their haircut. Check out what else is included in our Barber Shop websites.
