Bumping up local visibility has never been more important. With 9 out of 10 consumers turning to online searches to find businesses, being present in local search results is crucial for getting customers through your doors. Sure, everyone knows that Google My Business is a big deal in the local SEO game, but are you missing out by overlooking Bing Places for Business? Spoiler alert: you might be.
Bing Places may not get as much love as Google My Business, but it’s a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your local search presence. If your goal is to attract more orders and sales from potential clients in your area, having a Bing Places listing is a must.
What Is Bing Places for Business?
At its core, Bing Places for Business is a free listing service that helps your business show up on Bing search results and Bing Maps across desktop, voice, and mobile devices. Think of it as your digital storefront where you can share vital information such as your physical address, phone number, website URL, and operating hours.
Bing has confirmed that a well-maintained listing acts as a local ranking factor, stating, “Bing Places helps the Local ranking algorithm to accurately match your business listing to user searches.” Just like its rival Google, Bing Places allows you to manage your listing online or through an app, add images, share offers, and even link to your social media profiles.
While Bing Places doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles of Google My Business, it’s still incredibly relevant and a key component of your local visibility strategy.
Why Set Up a Bing Places for Business Listing?
Let’s not kid ourselves; Google is the heavyweight champion of search engines. But it’s crucial to remember that search behaviors are evolving. Millions of users still turn to Bing to find what they need. In fact, it’s the third most popular search engine after Google and YouTube, handling billions of searches each month.
Microsoft, the parent company of Bing, has invested significantly in enhancing its search capabilities. From visual search advancements to robust API integrations, Bing is growing its market share and functionality. In 2020, Microsoft reported that its search network handled 12.2 billion searches from desktop users alone per month. That’s a huge potential audience!
Moreover, Bing is the default search engine on all Windows devices—over 1.5 billion of them. When users open their browser, Bing is right there waiting for them, whether they’re at home or in the office.
How to Add Your Business to Bing Places for Business
Setting up a Bing Places for Business listing is a walk in the park. First, sign in or create an account. You can check if a listing already exists and claim it. If not, follow the wizard to input your business details.
Already optimized your Google My Business listing? Good news! You can import all that info to Bing Places with just one click. It’s that easy!
Where Is Bing Places for Business Data Used?
Bing Places data is used across a range of platforms. It powers Bing Maps and Bing-enabled voice devices like Amazon Alexa. That means your business info could reach users on their Echo devices, Fire TVs, and even smart cars. With voice search becoming increasingly popular, having your business listed on Bing is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
And remember, Bing data also feeds into Yahoo search results—so optimizing your Bing listing gives you double the visibility.
Do Reviews Matter on Bing Places for Business?
Absolutely! Just like Google, Bing recognizes the power of reviews in local search visibility. Bing Places pulls reviews from trusted third-party platforms, showcasing them alongside your business listing. This not only builds consumer trust but also increases your chances of being chosen over competitors.
As Bing puts it, “Adding detailed business information in Bing Places helps the Local ranking algorithm to accurately match your business listing to user searches.” So, more reviews can lead to better visibility and potentially more customers.
Conclusion
In a digital world where visibility is everything, GMB Fox ensures your business isn’t just online—it’s the first choice customers make. Let us handle the complexities of digital marketing, so you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business.
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