Why is Google My Business important for businesses in Curaçao?

Aranka van de Sanden
Jul 14
4 min read

Google My Business important for local Curaçao businesses

In an age where everyone Googles before they go, having a strong online presence isn’t optional—it’s essential. Especially if you're running a business on Curaçao, where both locals and tourists rely on their phones to find everything from restaurants to repair shops. That’s where Google My Business Curaçao (now officially called Google Business Profile) comes in.

It’s free, powerful, and still incredibly underused by many small business owners on the island. And yes—we can help you get it right.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that helps your business appear in Google Search and Maps—especially in local results.

It allows you to manage how your business shows up online: your name, location, hours, photos, reviews, and more. When someone searches “café near me” or “taxi Curaçao,” it’s your GMB profile that often appears first—sometimes even before your website. It’s a digital storefront that works 24/7.

Why is Google My Business important for businesses in Curaçao?

Because it helps both locals and tourists find and trust your business—no website required.

Let’s face it: a lot of Curaçao businesses still rely on Instagram or Facebook only. While that helps with social presence, it doesn’t help with Google searches. Tourists looking for local shops won’t find you unless your info is on Google Maps—and GMB is how you get there.

How do I set up a Google Business Profile for my Curaçao business?

You can claim an existing listing or create a new one, then verify and optimize it.

But here’s the thing: there’s a big difference between just claiming your profile and actually optimizing it. That’s where we come in.

Many local businesses miss the full potential of GMB. We help with:

Claiming or creating your profile the right way
Adding accurate business information, opening hours, and contact details
Uploading quality photos
Writing an effective business description
Posting regular updates
Strategizing for positive reviews
Helping you respond to feedback professionally

I want help with GMB

Because of our experience and authority, we’re often able to push updates through faster than first-time users—especially if Google’s verification process gets tricky.

set up Google My Business for local Curaçao businesses

What if I don’t have a physical store?

No worries—you can set up a service-area business and still rank in local searches.

Whether you’re a mobile nail tech, food delivery service, or island tour guide, you don’t need a storefront to use GMB. You simply hide your physical address and list the areas you serve—like Jan Thiel, Otrobanda, or the whole island. We’ve done this for multiple service-based businesses and can help tailor your setup accordingly.

Can I use Google My Business without a website?

Yes. Your GMB profile can act as your main online presence.

Many entrepreneurs in Curaçao don’t have a website yet, and that’s fine—especially when you’re just starting. With a well-set-up GMB, customers can still call you, get directions, browse your photos, and read reviews. We can also help you link to your social profiles or a simple landing page if needed.

reviews Google My Business important for local Curaçao businesses

How do reviews affect my Google Business Profile?

They play a huge role in your visibility and reputation.

The more quality reviews you have, the higher you’ll rank in local searches. We offer review strategies to help you:

Encourage happy customers to leave reviews
Avoid common mistakes (like asking everyone at once)
Respond to feedback—both good and bad—in a professional and personal way

Reviews aren’t just about stars—they’re social proof. And they show up prominently when someone Googles your name.

How do we help optimize your profile?

By going beyond the basics and creating a local SEO strategy that fits your business.

Here’s what we often do for our clients:

Add high-impact photos
Select the best categories (which many businesses get wrong)
Include service keywords like “wedding planner Curaçao” or “boat rental Spanish Water”
Post weekly updates or promotions
Track and update performance

If your profile has been dormant for a while—or never touched—we’ll get it cleaned up and working for you.

I want help with GMB

Why do so many Curaçao businesses get this wrong?

Because they either don’t know how it works or don’t have the time.

It’s surprisingly easy to set up a GMB profile… poorly. We’ve seen outdated phone numbers, wrong opening hours, blurry photos, or profiles with zero reviews. These small things can lose you big business.

We help you avoid those pitfalls and get it done right from the start. Whether we’re claiming an old listing or creating one from scratch, we handle the technical stuff—so you can focus on running your business.

Final thoughts

If you’re running a business on Curaçao and still haven’t taken control of your Google presence, this is your sign. GMB is one of the simplest, most impactful (and free!) tools to get noticed online.

💡 Want help? That’s exactly what we do. From setting up your profile to managing reviews and updates—we’ve got you covered. And we’re local, so we know what works on the island.