Bing Places for Business is a free and easy-to-use tool that helps businesses of all sizes connect with potential customers on Bing and other Microsoft products. By creating a Bing Places for Business listing, you can improve your online visibility, attract new customers, and boost your sales.
In this blog post, we will walk you through the steps of creating your business listing on Bing and tips to optimize it for maximum impact.
What is Bing Places for Business?
Did you know? Over 130 million active users rely on Bing every month, making it a powerful platform to reach potential customers in your local area. But don’t underestimate the power of niche markets! Bing often enjoys less competition compared to Google, offering a strategic advantage for local businesses looking to boost their online presence.
So, what is Bing Places for Business? Think of it as the Bing equivalent of Google My Business. It’s a free local business directory that allows you to claim and manage your business listing on Bing search results and Bing Maps. This essentially becomes your digital storefront on Bing, showcasing essential information like your address, contact details, opening hours, photos, and even customer reviews.
Whenever potential customers search for businesses like yours in their area, a well-optimized Bing Places for Business listing can significantly improve your local search ranking. This means appearing higher in search results, attracting more targeted traffic, and ultimately acquiring new customers who are actively searching for your services.
Where will your listing appear? Your optimized Bing Places for Business listing will be visible in two key locations:
- Bing search results: When users search for relevant keywords related to your business or category, your listing can appear alongside organic search results, increasing your online visibility.
- Bing Maps: When users search for businesses on Bing Maps, your listing will be displayed on the map, making it easy for potential customers to discover your location and navigate their way to your business.
Benefits of using bing places for business
As we mentioned, Bing boasts 130 million active users and potentially less competition compared to Google. This translates to several practical advantages for local businesses when they claim and manage their Bing Places for Business listing:
1. Enhanced Local Visibility:
Optimizing your Bing Places for Business listing can significantly improve your ranking in local search results. This means appearing higher when potential customers in your area search for businesses like yours, leading to increased online visibility and attracting more targeted traffic.
2. Direct Customer Engagement:
Bing Places for Business goes beyond simply showing your listing. It allows you to engage directly with potential customers. Respond to reviews (both positive and negative!), showcase high-quality photos and videos, and highlight special offers, all within your listing itself. This builds trust, encourages interaction, and ultimately guides customers toward choosing your business.
3. Diversified Online Presence:
Claiming your Bing Places for Business listing expands your online reach beyond Google, tapping into a new audience of Bing users. Remember, Bing users often represent a different demographic with unique search habits. This diversification can open doors to a whole new customer base waiting to be discovered.
By actively managing your Bing Places for Business listing, you unlock valuable opportunities to attract local customers, build brand awareness, and ultimately fuel your business growth.
How to List Your Business on Bing
Step 1: Visit the Bing Places for Business website.
Listing your business on Bing is a simple process. To begin, visit bingplaces.com and click “Existing user” to sign in or “New user” to create a new account.
Step 2: Claim Your Business Listing or Create a New One
Bing provides two simple ways to create your local listing.
1. Import from existing Google My Business account
If you have an existing listing on your Google Business profile, then you can directly import it from there, and if you have verified Google listing, then you will get instant verification
2. Claim or add your business Manually
To add your business manually, simply enter your business name and location to search for any existing listings.
If found, select the correct one and click “Claim Business.”. Don’t see your business listed yet? No worries! Creating a new listing is just as straightforward. Click “Create New Business.”
Fill out the form with accurate details about your business, including its name, address, phone number, website URL, and category.
Step 3: Add Your Business Listing Details
1. In this step, if your business is listed, you only need to confirm all the details accurately and edit it if it is not.
2. If you are doing it manually, then you have to fill in certain fields like business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
Note: Focus on the NAP accuracy. NAP (name, address, and place) should be the same all across the directories.
Next, you have to fill out the segment stating what sectors you operate in, and you can add up to 10 categories that relate to what your business does. Provide a detailed description of your business.
Pro tip: Include relevant keywords in your description for more relevancy.
After that, you will be required to fill in your contact details, like your phone number, email, and other additional details.
Then the last step is to add high-quality photos of your business to stand out from the rest of the competition.
Step 4: Verify your business listing
After completing your Bing business profile, you need to verify your listing.
You can verify your account by:
1- Phone number
2- Postcard
3- Email
4 -SMS
5- Web verification
Once your listing has been verified, it will go through a 7–14 day publishing cycle before becoming visible on Bing Maps and Bing’s local SERPs.
Tips to Optimize Your Bing Business Listing
- Keyword Research: Include relevant keywords in your business listing.Instead of saying “Italian restaurant,” use specific keywords like “best lasagna delivery Houston” or “gluten-free pasta options.” Think about the exact terms customers might search for.
- Create More Local Content: Mention upcoming local festivals or offer limited-time discounts available only in your area. Link these to your website and directly to your Bing listing. Create blogs and localised content based on your industry and area.
Pro tip: Include location-specific keywords on each service page.
- Review Response: Encourage customers to leave honest reviews on Bing and respond promptly and professionally, even to negative ones. Acknowledge their feedback and offer solutions where appropriate.
- Use high-quality images: Add photos to your Bing listing that represent your brand and what your business has to offer. High-quality photos can attract searchers. Avoid generic statements with vivid descriptions. Instead of “cosy atmosphere,” use words like “warm lighting, soft music, and comfortable seating.” Use high-quality pictures of your delicious food, inviting space, and friendly staff. If you provide a service, then consider adding a logo, the exterior and interior of your building, team photos, before-and-afters of the services offered, and photos of your team at work.
Bonus Tip: As a local SEO agency, Hustle Marketers can maximize the impact of your Bing Places for Business listing. Contact us today for a free consultation and unlock the full potential of local search!
FAQ’s
- Is Bing Places for Business free?
Yes, Bing Places for Business is a completely free tool that allows businesses to claim and manage their listing on Bing search results and Bing Maps.
- Do I need a Google My Business listing to use Bing Places for Business?
No, you don’t necessarily need a Google My Business listing. Bing Places for Business allows you to create a new listing from scratch. However, if you already have a verified Google My Business profile, you can easily import your information to Bing Places for Business for faster setup.
- How can I improve my ranking in Bing local search results?
Optimizing your Bing Places for Business listing is key to improving your ranking in Bing local search results. Here are some tips mentioned in the blog post:
- Include relevant keywords in your business name, description, and category selection.
- Maintain accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) consistency across all directories.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews and respond to them promptly and professionally.
- Use high-quality photos that showcase your business and offerings.
- How long does it take for my Bing Places for Business listing to appear in search results?
Once you’ve verified your listing, it typically goes through a 7-14 day publishing cycle before becoming visible on Bing Maps and Bing’s local SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).
- Can Bing Places for Business help me reach new customers?
Absolutely! By claiming and optimizing your Bing Places for Business listing, you increase your online visibility on Bing, a platform with over 130 million active users. This allows you to reach potential customers searching for businesses like yours in your local area, even if they don’t typically use Google.
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