Helping R & S Bar Get Discovered in Rome with Google My Business

How I Ended Up Doing SEO for a Coffee Shop in Rome?

A few months back, I was walking around with my laptop Via Licinio Murena in Rome.

I was just exploring the neighborhood for a quiet place to work and having some coffee. 

I stepped into this warm little spot called R & S Bar. A cozy Bangladeshi-owned coffee shop run by a friendly lady named Sorna and her husband Rakib.

I wasn’t there for business, honestly. I was just taking a break and having a cappuccino. But as I sat at the counter, chatting with Sorna about her place, I asked, “Have you set up your bar on Google yet?”

She looked confused and said, “Not really… I don’t even know where to start.”

And that’s how it began.

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The Problem: They didn’t have any Online Presence

At that point, R & S Bar wasn’t even listed on Google Maps.
That meant:

• No one could find them when searching for “bars near me”
  
• No reviews to build trust
  
• No business info like hours, phone number, or photos online
  

Sorna told me some new customers often said, “We didn’t even know you were here!” despite walking past the place daily.

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The Goal: Get R & S Bar Online and On the Map

We had three main goals:

1. Set up and verify their Google My Business (GMB) profile
   
2. Optimize the listing for maximum local visibility
   
3. Start collecting genuine customer reviews
   

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What I Did (And How We Did It Together)

Here’s how I approached the project step by step:

1. Setup & Verification

• Created the Google My Business profile from scratch
  
• Submitted the address for postcard verification (waited about 5 days)
  
• Added all the essential info: address, hours, contact details, and website placeholder
  

2. Full Optimization

• Wrote a strong, keyword-rich business description highlighting “Bangladeshi bar,” “coffee,” “local drinks,” and “friendly vibe”
  
• Uploaded real photos of the bar, coffee, food, and the staff (I even helped take a few myself!)
  
• Added attributes like “outdoor seating,” “free Wi-Fi,” “friendly staff,” etc.
  
• Set the correct business categories: “Bar,” “Coffee Shop,” “Bangladeshi Cuisine”
  

3. Collecting First Reviews

• Designed a simple QR code card and placed it on the counter to make it easy for regulars to leave reviews
  
• Encouraged Sorna to ask happy customers for reviews after each visit
  

4. Ongoing Updates

• Posted weekly updates about specials (like “chai and samosa combo”), photos, and small events
  
• Showed Sorna how to post so she could stay active even after I finished the work
  

Results After 1 Month

Here’s what happened in just 30 days:

🔍 Over 1242 views on search and map

👇 154 Business Profile Interactions

📍148 direction requests

🔑 Ranking for these keywords like ( Coffee, Cafe etc.. )

This is exactly what we all wanted. The best part is recently one italian customer even said, “I found you on Google! So glad I came by.”

What Sorna Said?

“Before, I had no idea people could find my bar like this online. Thanks to Ahmed, we’re finally on the map. I feel like I’m part of the digital world now. Even my regular customers are happy to leave reviews!”

What I Learned?

• Never underestimate the power of Google My Business for small local businesses
  
• Personal relationships build trust—Sorna wasn’t just a client, she became a friend
  

Just showing a business owner what’s possible can completely change their mindset

Final Thoughts

This experience reminded me why I love what I do. Helping real people, with real businesses, and seeing real growth—it’s priceless.

If you’re a local business owner and want to get discovered like R & S Bar did, let’s talk.