Get found when Kovai searches "near me"

Think about how you find a place yourself. “Bakery near me.” “Gym in Peelamedu.” “Medical shop open now.” Google shows a map, three or four shops, their stars and timings. Most people tap one of those — they rarely scroll further.

Being in that list is not luck. It’s a profile, filled in properly.

What Google needs from you

A Google Business Profile is free. It’s the card that appears on Maps and Search. To show up well, it needs:

• The right name — the same name as your board. No extra keywords stuffed in.
• The right category — “Bakery”, “Gym”, “Pharmacy”. Pick the main one carefully; it matters most.
• Exact location — the pin on the right building, not the main road.
• Hours — including Sundays and festival days.
• Photos — the board, the inside, the counter, your best products.
• Phone and website — a number someone actually answers.

Verification: proving you’re real

Google asks you to confirm the shop exists before the profile goes fully live. The method varies — often a short video showing your board, street and inside, sometimes a phone or postal check. It’s simple once you know what to film.

Reviews: the new word of mouth

Stars and reviews are what people read before they walk in.

1. Ask happy customers at the counter, the moment they’re smiling.
2. Make it easy — a small QR standee that opens your review page.
3. Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and quickly.

Reply to the bad review too. The next customer is reading your reply.

Keep it alive

A profile that was set up once and forgotten slowly falls behind. Add new photos when you add new products. Update hours on holidays. Post an offer now and then.

What we do in HeadStart Grow

We set up the profile with the right category, photos and hours, help you through verification, and give you a review QR standee for the counter. You just keep being good at what you do.