In response to Connect Live 2020, I want to share an exciting story about a new nail salon in El Poblado, a popping suburb within Medellin, Colombia.
Months ago, a friend reached out for help with managing their website, I quickly realized like many business owners, they needed a little more than a website. Being fairly familiar with Google My Business & Maps, I offered to also manage their business profile at no additional charge (you know, friend price).
While I was still based in Atlanta, we did well and generated business. Things didnāt really take off until the father asked me to fly to Colombia at a moments notice for a contract opportunity. While the work he had for me was part time software consulting, I found my days rather open and kept working away at updating every single item I could in the business profile. The most challenging part of this was that I spoke absolutely zero spanish before moving the Medellin. I had to learn the local dialect quickly, while also translating the menu, and amenities the restaurant offered to Spanish.
Things really seemed to start booming once I got the street view app, and added a 360 degree view of the business. Maybe it was a coincidence, but things really took off.
Now, I know I told you this was a story about a nail salon. Poblanos Cocina Mexicana is located in a quaint shopping mall that was previously overrun and shuttered. Everything is open air at Jardin Latino, and the owner has does an amazing job reviving the building with fresh paint as well as architecture.
I had helped a few of the other local shops out by adding information in my spare time.
One day, I saw a new storefront was opening. I had no idea what was going on. It ended up being one of the most beautiful modern nail salons I had seen in a shoebox sized space.
After a few days, I asked Alejandro what the name of the business was. Being both not local, and speaking awful Spanish at this point, it is very intimidating to approach people you do not know.
I learned this awkward lesson the hard way while attending a business meeting when I tried to make conversation with a lady working at the car dealership and she promptly returned with armed security.
After learning the salon was called ESTEFAN1 through my introduction I grabbed her business card, some basic information, and headed to Google Maps.
I added a missing place, and updated as much information as I could. Once I got the notification my change had been automatically accepted, I went ahead and claimed the business for her, and invited her to be the owner.
I told her it was very important every single customer left her kind words with a 5 star review, and pictures.
To my amazement, the customer having her nails done while I had said this left an amazing review. Reviews kept popping up.
As a few short days go by, the amount of options opened up. We listed services, added pictures daily.
While searching my trusty street view app, I just couldnāt seem to find her business. I am sure it had to do with lack of postcard verification or the business being so new.
After taking my 360 degree photo, I felt defeated. I wanted to show the world how lovely and perfect her shop was. Estefani is such a sweet lady. We traded a manicure in exchange for me setting up her business profile.
I had chewed my nails my entire 30 year life, and after such an amazing manicure, I am happy to report I havenāt touched them since.
I finally had a breakthrough idea when viewing the photo. I had updated all photosphere meta data I could and saw the share button.
What ifā¦ YES! Share to maps! Holy cow I had no freaking clue this was an option!
I knew from my previous failures that uploading a photosphere directly to a business profile would not be compatible.
I excitedly clicked the share to map button, and found her business in the search box.
Waitingā¦ Waiting. YES! Success! when Estefani showed up that morning, I showed her the sphere, she was beyond excited.
Itās been a few weeks now. Iām currently sitting in quarantine under Colombiaās national lockdown 2 towns away. Searching exact name 25 minutes away without location settings turned on in incognito shows both her website, and business profile at the top of Google search, where 2 weeks ago her business was nearly nowhere to be found.
The most exciting things for me was on day 4, when I typed in ānail salon near me, manicure near me, and pedicure near meā while I was still located in El Poblado. With location services on, in an incognito search, ESTEFAN1 had entered the 3 pack. Now, there are tons of nail salons within the 400 square meter region of her, and chances are walking a few short blocks would change results.
However, this brought me so much joy to see that a brand new shop, from an honest business owner trying to build their own empire, had ranked so quickly.
Since then, Iāve made it my mission to help local business that either donāt have a computer, or donāt know exactly how to make their location POP online. I charge them absolutely nothing, because helping people feels good. I someday hope other business owners visiting their establishment will see how well done their profile is and ask how they did it.
For me, figuring out how to best serve businesses that need it is the most interesting part of being a local guide.
