Most tenants find a PG in one of three places: Google Maps, listing websites and apps, and word of mouth through college and office groups. A clear listing and a well-kept Google Business Profile do most of the work in all three. This guide shows how to write the listing, which photos to take, and how to set up Google Business Profile step by step.
Where tenants look
- Google Search and Maps: searches like "boys PG near KIIT" or "girls PG in Koramangala". The map results, with photos and reviews, are often the first thing people see.
- Listing websites and apps: the large rental platforms and PG-specific apps.
- Groups and referrals: college WhatsApp groups, office groups, and friends of your current tenants.
The same listing text and photos can be reused across all three, so write them once and write them well.
How to write a PG listing that gets calls
Use a title that answers the search
A good title says who it is for, where it is, and the one thing that makes it stand out.
Girls PG near [college or office], 5 minutes' walk, with home-style food
Avoid titles like "Best PG in the city". They say nothing, and every listing claims it.
Put the price up front
Tenants filter by budget first. Show the monthly rent for each room type and say what it includes. Listings that hide the price get fewer serious enquiries and more time-wasting calls.
| Room type | Rent per month | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Single | ₹[amount] | Meals, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, laundry twice a week |
| Double sharing | ₹[amount] each | Same as above |
| Triple sharing | ₹[amount] each | Same as above |
Describe the stay in short lines
People read listings on a phone, so use short lines, not paragraphs. Cover:
- Distance to the nearest college, office hub or metro stop
- Meals: how many, veg or non-veg, and a sample menu
- Wi-Fi speed, power backup, hot water, AC or non-AC
- Security: CCTV, entry timings, warden on site
- House rules that matter: guests, timings, smoking
- Deposit amount and notice period
Be honest
Do not use photos of another property, and do not claim facilities you do not have. Tenants who feel misled leave early and leave bad reviews, which cost you far more than the enquiries you gained.
Photos that work
Take photos in daylight, with the room clean and the bed made. Hold the phone horizontally at chest height, from a corner of the room. Aim for 10 to 15 photos:
- The building from outside, with the entrance
- Each room type, from the corner, showing beds, cupboards and windows
- The bathroom, clean and dry
- The dining area, and a plate of a typical meal
- Common areas: TV room, terrace, study area
- Safety: CCTV cameras, fire extinguisher, the entrance gate
- The street or landmark nearby, so people can picture the location
A short walkthrough video, under a minute, works well too, especially for people who cannot visit in person.
Set up Google Business Profile, step by step
Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows your PG on Google Maps and in local search. It is the single most useful free marketing step for most PGs.
- Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account you will keep using. Use a business account, not one a staff member might leave with.
- Search for your PG's name. If a listing already exists, request ownership. If not, create a new one.
- Choose the right category. Pick the closest match Google offers for what you run, such as a hostel or boarding house. Choose the most specific option available.
- Add the exact address and place the pin carefully on your building's entrance.
- Add your phone number and, if you have one, your website or property page.
- Verify the profile. Google may ask for a short video of the property and signboard, a phone call or a postcard. Follow its instructions; you cannot manage the profile fully until it is verified.
- Complete everything: opening hours (or a note that it is a residence), a short description, amenities and room types.
- Upload your best 10 to 15 photos, the same set as your listing.
Keep it active
- Ask current tenants for reviews. Ask at good moments, such as after a complaint is fixed quickly or after a festival celebration. Never pay for reviews or post fake ones. It is against Google's rules and can get your profile suspended.
- Reply to every review, politely, within a few days. For a negative review, apologise for the experience, say what you have changed, and invite them to talk to you directly.
- Post updates once or twice a month: an available bed, a new menu, a festival celebration or new facilities.
- Add new photos whenever you renovate or add facilities.
Track what works
Ask every new enquiry where they found you, and keep a simple record. After two or three months you will know which source brings tenants who actually move in, and you can put your time and money there.
HostelKeeper keeps every enquiry, visit and booking in one list, so no lead is lost in a WhatsApp chat. Each PG also gets its own property page to share in listings and on Google. Book a free demo to see it.