Bing Places and Apple Business: get on every map, not just Google

Google gets most of the attention, but it isn't the only map in your customers' pockets. Every iPhone comes with Apple Maps as the default, and Siri and Spotlight pull business information from it. Bing powers Microsoft's search and maps, Windows search and other services that license Bing data.

Both listings are free and, with the shortcuts below, can be set up in an evening. Doing it means more customers see correct details for your business, wherever they search.

Before you start

Have your "master record" ready: business name exactly as you trade, one phone number, address (and whether customers visit you), website, opening hours, categories, a short description and a few good photos. Your details should match your Google Business Profile exactly. See our NAP consistency guide for why.

Get your Google Business Profile right first. It makes the Bing step much faster.

Part 1: Bing Places for Business

Option A: Import from Google (fastest)

Bing Places (at bing.com/forbusiness) lets you import your listing from Google Business Profile:

1. Sign in to Bing Places. You can use a Microsoft, Google or Facebook account; using the same Google account that manages your Business Profile keeps things simple.
2. Choose the option to import from your Google Business Profile.
3. Pick how often to sync updates from Google.
4. Sign in to Google and allow access.
5. Select and import the listings Bing finds.

According to Bing's help guidance, if your Google listing is already verified, the imported listing is verified automatically. Publishing can take days to a couple of weeks.

Things to know about the sync (from Bing's own help pages):

• Edit in Google, not Bing. While a listing is linked to Google, you can't edit it directly in the Bing Places dashboard. Update Google, and the change syncs across.
• Google data can overwrite Bing data. If Bing matches your Google listing to an existing Bing listing, the Google details replace what was there. So make sure Google is correct first.
• Watch for duplicates. If you're already on Bing, the import can create a second listing. Check after publishing.
• Check your category. Some fields, including categories, may not map exactly. Look at your live Bing listing once it's published.
• Clean your Google account first. If your Google account manages old listings or other businesses' profiles, those can be imported too.

Option B: Create or claim a listing manually

If you're not on Google yet, or want to manage Bing separately:

1. In Bing Places, search for your business. If it exists, claim it; if not, add a new business.
2. Enter your name, address, phone, website, category and hours.
3. If you visit customers rather than them visiting you, you can hide your address and list service areas. Bing still needs a valid address to verify you.
4. Add photos and a description.
5. Verify. Bing offers verification methods such as phone, text, email or postcard depending on your business; the options available are decided by Bing.

After you're live

• Search for your business on Bing and Bing Maps and check every detail.
• Add your website to Bing Webmaster Tools (free) to see how your site performs in Bing search. You can import your site from Google Search Console to save time.
• If you used the Google sync, keep Google up to date and Bing will follow.

Part 2: Apple Business (formerly Apple Business Connect)

What changed in 2026

In March 2026 Apple announced Apple Business, a single free platform combining Apple Business Connect, Apple Business Essentials and Apple Business Manager. It launched on 14 April 2026 in the US and more than 200 countries and regions. Existing Business Connect data, including claimed locations and place card information, was migrated automatically. If you'd previously claimed your place card, it should now appear in Apple Business.

Apple Business controls your place card: the panel that appears in Apple Maps (and in Siri, Spotlight and Safari results) with your name, photos, hours, phone, website and action buttons.

Step 1: Sign up

1. Go to business.apple.com and sign in with an Apple Account. Using one dedicated to the business, rather than a personal one, is sensible.
2. Set up your organisation. If this is your first location, Apple verifies your organisation. Apple's guide describes options including a company registration number (for UK companies, your Companies House number) or confirming your website domain with a DNS TXT record.

Step 2: Add or claim your location

1. In Apple Business, go to Brands → Locations → Add location.
2. Search for your business. If it already appears on Apple Maps, select it rather than creating a new one.
3. Confirm the address and drop the map pin precisely on your entrance.
4. Add your category, phone number, website and hours.
5. For an existing listing, Apple may verify by calling the phone number it already has on record and asking you to enter a code. If that number isn't yours (for example, an old number), contact Apple Business support rather than creating a duplicate.

Service-area businesses: Apple's place cards are designed around physical locations with an address on the map. If you work from home and don't see customers there, check Apple's current guidance carefully before listing your home address publicly.

Step 3: Make your place card great

• Cover photo and logo: Apple's image style guide asks for high-quality, well-lit photos without text, prices or collages. Logos are square.
• Location photos: real photos of the premises, products or services.
• Hours including special hours.
• Action buttons: Call, Website, and where relevant actions like Order or Book linking to the service you use.

Step 4: Use showcases (optional)

A showcase is a promotional module on your place card: a headline, short text, a photo and a call-to-action button. Apple's guide says:

• Headlines are limited to 38 characters, body text to 100 characters.
• Showcases are reviewed by Apple; allow at least three days before you want it live.
• A showcase can run for up to 365 days (default 90).

Example showcase (illustration only): headline "Autumn boiler services now booking", body "Book a service before the cold snap. Slots across Guildford and Woking.", button Book.

Step 5: Check insights

Apple Business shows location insights: how customers find and interact with your place card, including searches, views and taps on actions. Check monthly alongside your Google and Bing data.

Keep all three in sync

The simplest system:

1. Update your website and Google Business Profile first.
2. If Bing is synced with Google, it follows automatically. If not, update Bing.
3. Update Apple Business manually.
4. Note the change and date in your listings spreadsheet.

Do this whenever your hours, phone number, address, services or name change, and before every bank holiday.

Sources

• Bing Places for Business: bing.com/forbusiness
• Bing Webmaster Tools: bing.com/webmasters
• Apple Newsroom: Introducing Apple Business (March 2026)
• Apple Support: Add a single location in Apple Business
• Apple Support: Create your first showcase in Apple Business
• Apple Support: Apple Business image style guide

This guide is general information, written to be accurate as of October 2026. Platforms and rules change, so check the official sources linked above. Examples are illustrations, not real businesses or results. Nobody, including BizBoost AI, can guarantee a ranking position on Google, Bing or Apple Maps.