Add or Claim Your Bing Places for Business Listing: Steps

Discovering how to add or claim your Bing Places for Business listing is an essential step for businesses looking to improve their online presence. In this blog post, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide on how to claim and manage your business’s Bing Places listing, so customers can easily find accurate information about your company.

We’ll begin by explaining the importance of Bing Places for Business and its role in helping your organization appear in local search results. Next, we’ll walk you through creating a Microsoft account and searching for your existing listing on Bing Maps. After locating your business, we’ll discuss how to claim ownership and update critical information such as address, phone number, hours of operation, and more.

Finally, our comprehensive guide will cover verifying your listing with Bing’s verification process so that it appears accurately in search results. We will also provide tips on managing multiple locations if necessary. By following these steps diligently, you can maximize the benefits of having a well-maintained Bing Places listing for increased visibility among potential customers using this popular default search engine.

Understanding The Importance Of Bing Places for Business

Bing Places for Business is a free listing service from Microsoft that allows businesses to create and manage their online presence on the Bing search engine. Businesses can leverage this platform to increase their visibility in local searches, exhibit critical information regarding their offerings, and communicate with prospective customers more effectively, as Bing gets more than 1 billion monthly visits and is the second-largest search engine worldwide.

By capitalizing on Bing’s growing user base, businesses can leverage this platform to gain greater visibility and reach a wider audience. In fact, according to recent statistics from Statista, Bing holds approximately 6% of the US desktop search market share as of January 2023.

Key Benefits of Using Bing Places for Business

Increase Visibility: A well-optimized business listing on Bing can help your company appear higher in local search results when users are looking for products or services similar to yours.
Showcase Essential Information: Provide potential customers with all the necessary details about your business – such as location, contact information, and hours of operation – directly within the search results page.
Earn Customer Trust: Display customer reviews and ratings alongside your business listing to build credibility among prospective clients who may be researching options before making a purchase decision.
Analyze Performance Metrics: Track important data like clicks and impressions through the dashboard provided by Bing Places for Business. This will allow you to make informed decisions regarding future marketing strategies based on real-time performance insights.

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance and benefits of Bing Places for Business, it’s time to learn how to create or claim your listing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of the process to help ensure that your online presence on Bing is managed effectively.

1. Create a Microsoft Account

To begin using Bing Places for Business, you must first create a Microsoft account. This will grant you access to the dashboard and allow you to manage your business listing effectively. Creating an account is simple and can be done in just a few steps:

Navigate to the Microsoft account sign-up page.
Enter your email address or click on “Get a new email address” if you’d like to create one specifically for managing your Bing Places for Business listing.
Create a strong password that adheres to Microsoft’s guidelines.
Provide your name, birthdate, and location information.
Solve the captcha challenge provided by Microsoft.
Click “Next” and follow any further instructions sent via email from Microsoft to complete the registration process.

Or if you already possess a Microsoft account (e.g., Outlook or Xbox Live), there is no need to set up another one – just use those details when logging in to Bing Places for Business. Once logged in, navigate directly over to the Bing Places homepage, where we’ll begin searching for your business next.

2. Search for Your Business

Before you can claim or add your Bing Places for Business listing, it’s essential to search for your business using the name, address, or phone number associated with it. This step will help you determine if your business is already listed on Bing and whether you need to claim an existing listing or create a new one.

To start searching for your business:

Navigate to the Bing Places homepage.
Click on “Get Started.”
Choose the nation of your business from the list provided.
Type in either your business name, address, or phone number in the search bar.
Press “Search” and review any matching results that appear below.

If there are no matches found after conducting this search process, don’t worry. You can still proceed by adding a new listing. However, if there’s an existing match for your company information – even if some details may be incorrect – then claiming that listing should be prioritized.

3. Finding Duplicate Listings

Duplicate listings can negatively impact both user experience and local SEO efforts. To avoid confusion among potential customers and ensure accurate representation of their businesses online, it’s important to:

Analyze variations of names: Sometimes, different spellings or abbreviations might lead to multiple entries under slightly different titles.
Mismatched contact information: Look for listings with outdated or incorrect phone numbers, addresses, and website URLs.
Check previous business names: If your company has undergone a rebranding or name change, there might be lingering listings under the old name.

If you discover duplicate entries during your search process, you must claim all of them and consolidate the information into one accurate listing. This will help improve overall online visibility and maintain consistency across Bing Places for Business.

4. Claim Your Listing

This step is crucial to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to edit and manage your Bing Places listing. Follow these steps to claim your existing listing:

Find Your Existing Listing: Log in to your Microsoft account and navigate to the Bing Places dashboard. Search for your business using its name, address, or phone number associated with it.
Select Your Business: If you find a matching result, click “Claim this business” next to the relevant entry.
Verify Ownership: Choose one of two available methods – either via an automated phone call or email – depending on which contact information is publicly displayed in the search results. For instance:

If you opt for a phone call, Bing will dial the registered business phone number with a unique verification code that must be entered into their system within five minutes.
In case you choose email verification instead, check both your inbox and spam folders for an email from Bing containing instructions along with another unique code required during this process.

Note: It’s essential not just to claim but also to maintain accurate online listings across all platforms, including Google My Business and other local directories like Yelp since they play vital roles when users conduct searches about specific businesses or services nearby them.

Troubleshooting Issues While Claiming Listings

Sometimes businesses may face challenges while trying to claim their existing listings due mainly to incorrect data being provided initially or changes made afterward without updating them across all platforms. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

Incorrect Business Information: If the information displayed on your Bing Places listing is incorrect, you can request an update by clicking the “Suggest an edit” link available next to it.
Duplicate Listing: In case of multiple listings for the same business, select the most accurate one and claim it while reporting others as duplicates through Bing’s support system.
Verification Issues: If you face any difficulties during the verification process, such as not receiving phone calls or emails from Bing, contact their customer support team to resolve these matters promptly.

In conclusion, claiming your existing Bing Places for Business listing is crucial to managing your online presence effectively. By verifying ownership of your listing, you gain control over critical aspects like contact details and photos that help potential customers find and connect with your business easily via local search results on Bing Maps or default search engine results pages (SERPs).

5. Add Your Information

Provide the necessary details to list your business on Bing Places for Business, such as name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation. This will help potential customers find your business easily when they search for products or services related to your industry on the Bing search engine. Here’s how you can create a new listing on Bing Places for Business.

Create a New Listing

Navigate to the Bing Places for Business homepage.
Click “Get Started” and sign in with your Microsoft account.
Select “Create new business.”
Enter the required details about your business, including:

Name of the business
Address (including city and zip code)
Contact information (phone number and email)
Website URL
Hours of operation
Categories that best describe what you offer

Bing verifies your business information by sending a postcard to your provided address. Once you receive the postcard, follow the instructions to verify your business and complete the listing process.

Claim an Existing Listing

If your business is already listed on Bing Places, you can claim the existing listing and update the information as needed. This is important to ensure that your business data is accurate and up-to-date.

Navigate to the Bing Places for Business homepage.
Click “Get Started” and sign in with your Microsoft account.
Search for your business using the name and location.
Select a suitable business from the search results.
Click “Claim Business” and follow the instructions to verify your ownership.
Update the business information as needed.

Or, if you have multiple locations for your business, you can add them all to Bing Places for Business. You can either add each listing manually or upload them in bulk using a spreadsheet.

Having your business listed on Bing Places for Business can improve your visibility in Bing search results and other online listings. Make sure to keep your business data accurate and up-to-date to attract potential customers and improve your local search results. Bing Places for Business is a great way to get your business online and in front of potential customers who are searching for your business type or segment.

6. Verify Your Listing

After adding or claiming your Bing Places for Business listing, it’s essential to verify it to ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date. Verifying your listing also helps improve its visibility on Bing search results and builds trust with potential customers. In this section, we’ll guide you through the verification process via an automated phone call or email.

Automated Phone Call Verification

Login to your Bing Places for Business dashboard.
Select the business listing you want to verify.
Click “Verify Now.”
Select “Phone” as your preferred method of verification.
Bing will send an automated call to the phone number associated with your business listing. Make sure someone is available at that number during regular business hours.
During the call, note down the unique PIN Bing’s automated system provided.
Enter this PIN in your Bing Places dashboard within five minutes of receiving it and click “Submit.”

Your business listing should now be verified on Bing Places for Business.

Email Verification

If you prefer email verification, follow steps one through three from above but select “Email” instead of “Phone.”
Bing will send a verification link and a unique code to the registered email address associated with your Microsoft account.
Open the email from Bing and click on the verification link provided with the unique code. Alternatively, you can enter the code manually in your Bing Places dashboard.
Once verified, your business listing will be activated on Bing Places.

Keep in mind that it could take up to two days for your authenticated listing to appear on Bing searches. Keep an eye on your email inbox and Bing Places dashboard for any notifications or updates regarding the status of your listing.

In addition to phone and email verification methods, some businesses might be eligible for alternative verification options, such as postal mail or bulk verification. Check the Bing Places Help Center to see if these options are available for your business type and location.

Verifying your listing is the first step to ensuring customers can find you on Bing Places for Business. With a verified listing, you can manage and update it as needed.

7. Manage Your Listing

Once you have successfully verified your Bing Places for Business listing, it is essential to manage and optimize it regularly to ensure its accuracy and improve visibility in search results. In this section, we will discuss various aspects of managing your listing effectively.

A. Update Information

Keep your business information up-to-date by making necessary changes whenever required. Updating your business information is essential, which could include modifying contact info (e.g., phone numbers, emails, physical addresses), adjusting service hours, introducing new products/services offered, and any other relevant details that might affect the customer experience.

B. Add Photos and Videos

Visual content plays a crucial role in attracting potential customers online. Studies show that visual content can significantly boost user engagement rates compared to text-only content. Therefore, make sure to add high-quality photos showcasing the interior and exterior of your business location along with images highlighting key products or services offered by your company.

C. Respond to Customer Reviews

Research indicates that 87% of consumers read online reviews before deciding on a local business they want to visit or purchase from – making them an important factor influencing their decision-making process. To maintain a positive reputation among customers:

Maintain regular monitoring of customer reviews posted on Bing Places for Business.
Acknowledge both positive feedback as well as negative ones promptly with professional responses addressing concerns raised by dissatisfied customers while expressing gratitude towards those who left favorable comments about their experiences at your establishment.

D. Track Performance Metrics

Bing Places for Business provides valuable insights into your listing’s performance, including the number of clicks and impressions it receives over time. By monitoring these metrics regularly, you can identify trends and make data-driven decisions to optimize your listing further for better visibility in search results.

Managing your Bing Places for Business listing effectively ensures that potential customers find accurate information about your business when searching online. Maintaining your Bing Places for Business entry and engaging with customer feedback are both key to enhancing not only search engine visibility but also the overall client experience.

FAQs Related to How to Add or Claim Your Bing Places for Business Listing

Bing Places for Business is a free directory service from Microsoft’s search engine, Bing. It allows businesses to manage their online presence by creating and optimizing business listings that appear in search results on Bing.com and map results on Bing Maps.

Yes, it’s completely free to use. Businesses can create a listing and manage their information without any cost.

To increase your visibility on Bing, make sure your website is optimized for the search engine. This means creating high-quality content with relevant keywords that people are likely to use when searching for your type of business on Bing. You should also submit your website to be indexed by going to the Bing Webmaster Tools site. Once you’ve done this, create or claim your business listing following the above steps.

If you have more than one location, you can add them all under one account using either manual entry or bulk upload through a spreadsheet template available in Excel format. Simply follow the instructions provided by clicking “Add new location” within your dashboard after logging into bingplaces.com.

Bing verifies your business address by sending a postcard with a verification code to the address listed on your account. You will need to enter this code for your listing to be published. If you don’t receive the postcard within 14 days, contact Bing support for assistance.

You can only add one phone number and one website link per location on Bing Places for Business. However, if you have multiple locations under one account, each location can have its own unique phone number and website link.

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you can quickly create a Microsoft account, search for your business, add and verify information on your listing, and manage it efficiently.

Don’t miss out on potential customers by neglecting this crucial aspect of local SEO. Take action today and optimize your Bing Places for Business listing with Optilocal’s expert help.

factorialdigital now to learn how we can boost your online presence and drive more traffic to your website!