Google Business Profile for hair salons — step by step

A hair salon in central Belgrade, excellent stylists, nicely decorated space — and nobody comes from Google. A familiar story. The owner has Instagram with 2,000 followers, but when someone types 'hair salon Vračar' or 'hair colour Belgrade centre', the salon doesn't appear. The reason is almost always the same: Google Business Profile either doesn't exist, or was set up quickly 3 years ago and never touched again. And the Google Maps pack — those three salons that appear on the map before organic results — brings an average of 40 to 60% of local clicks.

Proper setup starts with the category. The primary category for a hair salon is 'Hair salon' — this directly affects what queries you appear for. Add secondary categories by services: 'Beauty salon', 'Barber shop' if you also do men's services, 'Nail salon' if you do nails. The description must contain the city and neighbourhood ('hair salon in Vračar', 'salon in Belgrade centre'), key services (colouring, haircuts, highlights, keratin treatments) and something that differentiates you. Attributes like 'accepts cards', 'Wi-Fi', 'parking available' affect filtering in searches.

Photos are the first impression and Google actively ranks them. Salons with 20+ photos get an average of 35% more clicks than salons with 3 photos. What's needed: exterior (so the client knows they've found the right place), interior (atmosphere), chairs and equipment, finished work (hairstyles, colours — with client permission), the team. Format: horizontal photos minimum 720×540 pixels, natural light where possible. Don't use stock photos — Google doesn't favour them and clients recognise them.

Reviews are the currency of local SEO. A salon with 4.8 stars and 80 reviews will always be ahead of one with 5 stars and 4 reviews — the number of reviews signals activity. How to collect them without begging: QR code at the till leading directly to the review page, WhatsApp message the day after a visit ('Great to have you with us, your feedback means a lot — [link]'), thank-you note with the receipt. Negative reviews — don't delete, don't ignore, respond calmly and professionally. Google sees how you respond.

Google Posts are mini-posts directly on your profile that appear in search. Perfect for: promotions ('30% off colouring during June'), new service, change of opening hours, before/after photos. Q&A section: post questions yourself and answer them ('Do you work weekends?' — 'Yes, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday by arrangement'). This fills the profile and answers questions before a potential client has to call you. Feather Studio sets up and optimises Google Business Profile for hair salons and beauty studios — contact us.