Everything your business needs to get found online
Nine things. Eight of them are free. Here is the whole list, in order.
- 9
- platforms that matter
- 8 of 9
- are completely free
- 45%
- now ask AI to find local
A new business starts off the map. Here is the list that puts it on.
- Not listed
Google Maps
No pin. No three-pack. No calls.
- Not listed
Bing and Copilot
Unclaimed, so ChatGPT reads nothing.
- Not listed
Apple Maps and Siri
Wrong hours on every iPhone in town.
The whole job is nine things
Not forty. Nine. Time and cost on every line, so you can see the job before you start it.
-
Your website
A weekend
The one thing you own. Everything else is rented.
Paid -
Google Business Profile
45 min
The map pin. Your single biggest source of local calls.
Free -
Google Search Console
20 min
Shows you what people search before they find you.
Free How to read it -
Google Analytics
1 hour
Tells you which pages turn visitors into calls.
Free How to read it -
Bing Places
15 min
Feeds Copilot and ChatGPT. Imports from Google in one click.
Free -
Apple Business Connect
30 min
Every iPhone. Maps and Siri.
Free -
Yelp
30 min
Feeds Apple Maps. Claim it, never beg for reviews on it.
Free -
Your listings everywhere else
2 hours
Same name, address, phone. Every single time.
Free -
Reviews
Ongoing
The thing that decides whether anyone picks you.
Free
Eight of the nine are free. The ninth is your website.
Every step for all nine, in one PDF.
Now they ask AI first
used ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity to find a local business this year
Up from 6% a year earlier. And AI names far fewer businesses than Google's map pack does.
- 1.2%
- Of businesses ChatGPT names
- 36%
- Get into Google's map pack
- 30x
- Pickier than the map pack
45% and 6%: BrightLocal, 2026. 1.2% and 36%: one study of more than 350,000 locations.
Twenty-three boxes
Tick them here or print the list. Your progress stays in this browser.
Website 7
Google 6
Everywhere else 6
Growth 4
The how behind every box, step by step.
The page is the summary. The PDF is the one you work through.
Look inside
Read the first 5 pages before you buy.
The cover, the full table of contents, and the first two sections. The other 28 pages arrive by email after checkout.
Local businesses we have built for
Reviews
What our clients say
Verbatim from our Google Business Profile, where all 12 reviews are 5 stars.
Amazing work plus he goes through seo, ads, competition etc. They are really detailed and informative. Would recommend Since working with Robert, I've seen a noticeable improvement in my business. He's very detail-oriented and always takes the time to do his research before proposing any changes. He manages my blog with informative, well-written content backed by real scientific data. I can reach him anytime, and he's always professional, kind, and genuinely passionate about his work. … We recently had our website designed by Roberto at Digital Vibes Design, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the process was fast, professional, and stress-free. What impressed us most was how well Roberto understood our vision with very little direction from us. … The finished website looks clean, modern, professional, and exceeded our expectations. … What is inside
Every screen, every button, every field. Written for an owner who has never done this before.
- Every step with the exact screens, buttons, and fields
- The thirteen accounts to claim, in the order to claim them
- What you can and cannot do when asking for reviews in 2026
- The ten mistakes that keep a new business off the map
- The pitches to decline, from Google's own published guidance
- A 90-day plan broken into weekly tasks
- Copy-and-paste schema, plus review scripts in English and Spanish
- A worksheet for your name, address, and phone, and a tracker for every account
Questions people ask
How do I get the PDF?
Pick English or Spanish, check out through our secure Shopify checkout, and the PDF is emailed to the address you use at checkout. It is a one-time payment of $19, with no subscription.
What's the difference between the English and Spanish editions?
Only the language. Both are the same 33-page guide at the same $19 price. Pick the one you want to work in.
Is the guide different from the free checklist on this page?
Yes. The checklist is the 23 boxes to tick. The guide is the how: every step with the exact screens, buttons, and fields, the thirteen accounts in the order to claim them, the review rules, a 90-day plan, and worksheets.
Does it work outside Salinas?
Yes. It is written for Salinas and Monterey County owners and works anywhere in the US.
How do I get my business found on Google?
Claim and verify your Google Business Profile, pick the right primary category, fill in every field, keep your name, address, and phone identical everywhere, and collect real reviews. Then make sure you have a fast mobile website with a page for each service.
How long does Google Business Profile verification take?
It depends on the method Google assigns you. Video verification usually takes a few days to review. Postcards take longer. You do not get to pick the method.
How many reviews do I need to rank on Google Maps?
There is no fixed number. More genuine, recent reviews help, and steady velocity beats a one-time burst.
Do I need Bing and Apple listings if I already have Google?
Yes. Bing feeds Copilot and ChatGPT. Apple Business Connect powers Maps and Siri on every iPhone. Both are free and take under thirty minutes each.
Should I build a Spanish version of my website?
In a market like Salinas, usually yes. Spanish keywords are often less competitive. Use folders, add hreflang, research keywords in Spanish, and make sure someone can answer the phone in Spanish.
How much does all of this cost if I do it myself?
The listings and tools are free. Your real costs are a domain at roughly $12 to $20 a year, hosting at roughly $5 to $30 a month, an optional chamber membership, and your time.
The 33-page guide, in English or Spanish
Get found, one step at a time $19 one-time payment
Digital Vibes Design, Salinas CA. Bilingual web design and local SEO.
. Platform rules change. We update this guide.