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How to get ahead of the shop next door on Google

Last updated 22 October 2026 · By Autonova Solutions, Mumbai

You stand on the pavement outside your salon. The shop across the road has a busy counter and three customers waiting. You wonder what they do that you do not. Part of the answer sits on Google, and your phone can show it in minutes. Here is how to compare your page with three nearby shops and fix the gaps you control. To see why customers pick one shop over another, read how customers choose between shops on Google.

How do I check the shops near me on Google Maps?

To compare your shop with others on Google, open Google Maps on your phone, search your shop type in your area, and note six things for three nearby shops: rating, number of reviews, reply rate, last post date, photos, and opening hours. Write them next to your own numbers.

1. Open Google Maps and type, for example, "beauty salon Dombivli". Tap three shops like yours.
2. Note the star rating and number of reviews under each name.
3. Tap Reviews and sort by Newest. Count how many of the last 20 reviews have a reply from the owner.
4. Find Updates or Posts and note the latest date.
5. Check how many Photos are recent, then read the hours under About.
6. Repeat for your own shop, honestly.

Where can a small shop beat a bigger one?

A small shop can match a bigger one on things that need care, not size: replying to every review, adding fresh posts, and filling in every part of the page. Those three depend on attention, not budget or location. They can make your page look active and cared for.

• Replies. Google's help page says, "When you reply to customer reviews, it shows that you value their feedback."
• Fresh posts. A recent update shows someone looks after the page.
• A complete page. Every section filled in.

What does the comparison table look like?

A comparison table has one column for your shop and one for each rival, with a row for each thing you check. Fill it from your phone in about 15 minutes. Once the numbers sit side by side, the easiest gap to fix usually shows itself.

What is the 12 of 20 versus 20 of 20 race?

It is a simple race against the shop with the best reply record. In this example, Glow Beauty Salon replied to 12 of its last 20 reviews, and one rival replied to 20 of 20. The gap is 8 replies, and it is the easiest gap to close because it needs only your time.

Glow Beauty Salon cannot add 170 reviews by Friday, but it can answer 8 this week. For a complaint, say sorry for the experience and ask the person to call you.

What can I fix in 30 minutes?

You can fix the most visible gaps in 30 minutes: check your opening hours, reply to your last five unanswered reviews, add three fresh photos, write one short update, and test your phone number and website link. Do it once now, then repeat it each month.

1. 5 min, check hours. Confirm Sunday and any Diwali closing.
2. 10 min, reply to the last 5 unanswered reviews. Mention one thing the customer said.
3. 5 min, add 3 fresh photos. Real pictures taken this week.
4. 5 min, write one update. A new service or your festival timings.
5. 5 min, check phone and website. Tap both yourself. Do they work?

Prefer not to do this by hand? See how ReviewSaathi compares with doing it yourself and other tools.

What you cannot change (and should stop worrying about)

Distance. Google's help page says, "Distance refers to how far each business is from the customer who’s searching." You cannot move your shop.

Your rival's stars. You cannot change them, and you should never try to match them with fake reviews.

Close the reply gap