Podcast Summary: Side Hustle Squad – Ep 314: Set Up Your Google Business ASAP!

Host: Mike Garvey
Date: March 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Side Hustle Squad, hosted by Mike Garvey, focuses on a crucial yet often overlooked tool for lawn care business owners: setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile. Mike, who is in the process of launching a new branch of his own business, shares real-world experience and insights on why this digital storefront is essential for attracting local customers, building trust, and differentiating your side hustle—especially before the busy spring season hits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Google Business Profile Is Non-Negotiable

• Digital Front Door:
  Mike emphasizes, "If you don't have one of these yet in 2026, it's hard to see you don't really exist. It is your digital front door. Every business needs a Google Business Profile." (01:38)
• Customer Decision-Making:
  Most customers will search for your business online before calling. The profile displays important info—reviews, photos, phone number, website, and directions—that helps potential clients decide to contact you.
• Building Trust Pre-Contact:
  "It really is your 24/7 reception. It is providing people with more information and it builds trust before you ever even speak to those people." (02:58)

2. What a Google Business Profile Does for You

• Map Pack Visibility:
  When someone Google searches, "lawn fertilization near me," those with robust, active profiles show up in the maps listing (the “Map Pack”), with trust signals like quality reviews and recent photos front-and-center.
• Impressions & Red Flags:
  No reviews, no photos, or out-of-date info? Major red flag. "If you have no reviews, if you have no photos, if you have no updates, if you have no responses. Those are red flags. You probably won't even get a phone call from that." (03:33)

3. Practical Steps to Optimize Your Profile

• First Moves for a New Branch/Business:
  • Form your LLC
  • Set up your Google Business Profile
• What to Check and Update:
  Mike’s recommended checklist (06:13):
  • Business Name: Is it correct?
  • Phone Number: Is it accurate and working?
  • Website Link: Is it correct?
  • Service Areas: Is your coverage accurate?
  • Business Description & Services Listed: Up to date? Include all you offer.
  • Photos: Mike urges, "Get 20 photos and get them up there." (04:05)
    • Trucks, equipment, lawns, staff—make it real and obvious.
  • Logo & Cover Photo: Professional and recognizable.
  • Videos: Increasingly important for engagement.
  • Messaging: Is it enabled? Where do inquiries go?
  • Hours: Are they listed and accurate?
  • Post Updates: Promotions, new services, reminders.
• Frequency:
  "Treat it like a credibility engine... something that needs to be updated monthly, weekly, however, whatever your cadence wants to be. It is a sales tool." (08:14)

4. The Power of Reviews

• Automate the Ask:
  Mike shares his process: "When a customer gets a job completed by us, we click complete. They get a text saying, please, if you love what we're doing, please leave a five star rating and review." (03:54)
• Goal-Setting:
  • 170 reviews currently; goal is 200+ by July 1.
  • If you’re starting out: "If you have five customers, get a review from each of those five customers. You can text them right now, send them the link and say, please fill this out. It would really help me. Boom, you have five reviews. Five is better than none." (07:37)
• Impact on Trust & Ranking:
  "Reviews impact ranking. Reviews impact trust. Get as many reviews as you can." (07:24)

5. Common Mistakes

• Set and Forget:
  Biggest misstep is setting up your profile and never touching it again. "Some people set this up, they never touch it again, never think about it again. Instead, I think treat it like a credibility engine..." (08:09)
• Not Asking for Reviews:
  Most businesses are inconsistent in review requests. Build it into your workflow.

6. Spring Cleanup Challenge

• Mike issues a challenge to listeners (his “homework” too):
  • Clean up and update your Google Business Profile before the spring rush.
  • Add fresh photos, get new reviews, check all business info for accuracy.

"If someone Google's your business tonight, what do they see? And if the answer is not much, then set up a Google business profile or update it. That's your homework. And I'm going to do it myself too, because I'm doing it with you."
— Mike Garvey (09:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On digital presence:
  "It is your digital storefront. So when someone searches lawn fertilization near me... this is where decisions are being made on whether they're going to pull the trigger and call you or visit your website." (02:10)
• On review collection:
  "Reviews drive everything." (03:42)
• On proactive profile management:
  "Treat [your Google Business Profile] like a credibility engine, right? That it's something that needs to be updated monthly, weekly." (08:16)
• Final motivational push:
  "This is time sensitive. This should be done before the spring rush. It's not hard. We got snow on the ground still, we can be doing these things and optimizing, setting up our Google business profiles and really making them look great." (09:51)

Important Timestamps

• [01:38] – Why Google Business Profile is essential
• [03:33] – Red flags: what drives customers away
• [03:54] – Mike’s process for getting reviews
• [06:13] – Step-by-step Google Business Profile optimization checklist
• [07:24] – The impact of reviews
• [08:09] – Most common mistakes
• [09:17] – The “spring cleanup” and homework for listeners
• [09:51] – Final practical advice and encouragement

Action Items for Listeners

• Audit and update your Google Business Profile now.
• Add at least 20 new photos.
• Actively request reviews from every customer.
• Treat your profile as a living sales tool—not set-and-forget.
• Complete this before the spring rush hits!

This episode delivers practical, straightforward steps with real-life anecdotes and encouragement from a host who’s hustling right alongside his listeners. If you haven’t touched your online presence in a while, now’s the time to act!