Business listing in Bing can be tremendously beneficial for increasing your business visibility and driving more traffic to your website. Unlike paid search ads, Bing's business listings are free and provide your business with a presence on a major search engine.
But,
Is it worth using Bing for a business listing? Does the business listing in Bing give my business more exposure before my targeted audience? Bing or Google - Which one should I use for business listing?
If such kinds of questions are hitting your mind, then you’re at the right place.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to use Bing places for business and also a step-by-step guide to business listing in Bing. At the end of the article, you will also come to know which one you should choose, Bing or Google for listing. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Bing Business Listing.
What is a Bing Business Listing?
The business listing in Bing is similar to the business listing on Google My Business. It provides all of the key details about your business, like your name, address, phone number, website, opening hours, photos, and more.
When someone searches for a business on Bing, these listings appear in search results, often above organic search results. This gives customers easy access to your critical information and enables them to either visit your website or contact you directly from the search engine.
Listings also allow you to give customers driving or walking directions straight to your location. Overall, a complete and optimized Bing business listing makes your business stand out and gives it an authoritative presence on a major search platform.
Why Claim Your Business Listing in Bing
There are several key reasons why you should make sure to claim or create your business listing on Bing:
Increased visibility - By getting your business on Bing, you expand your visibility to Bing’s millions of monthly searchers. This exposes you to a new audience and more potential customers.
Enhanced search presence - Listings can appear above organic results to gain prime real estate in the search results for relevant queries.
Improved search ranking - Verified listings may improve your overall local SEO ranking factors. This can help you rank higher in local pack and map results.
Customer trust - Customers rely on robust business listings that provide accurate information. A complete listing helps build trust and credibility.
Business control - Claiming your listing allows you to control how your business information appears on Bing. You can update, optimize, and manage the listing.
Competitive edge - If competitors have claimed their Bing listings, but you haven’t, they could gain an advantage in visibility and click-throughs.
As you can see, there are plenty of excellent reasons to ensure your business is on Bing.
Let's dive deeper into the specifics of getting your business listed.
How to Claim or Create a Bing Business Listing
Claiming an existing Bing business listing or creating a new one is straightforward. Bing offers you two ways to get started. You can either import the details from your Google Business Profile (if you’ve already created one) or start listing your business manually.
Let’s move to the detailed process below.
How to Search for Your Listing in Bing
The first step is to search for your business on Bing to see if you already have a listing.
Go to Bing.com and enter your full business name and location into the search bar. For example, "Nick's Restaurant Pacifica."
Carefully scan the map and local pack results to see if your business name, address, and phone number appear. If you see a listing that matches your business details, you likely have an existing listing that can be claimed.
How to Claim Your Existing Listing on Bing
If your business is already listed on Bing, click "Claim or add your business manually" on the listing. This will redirect you to the Bing Places dashboard and begin the verification process.
Here are the steps you'll need to take:
First, select your business category from the list of options. Choose the one that most closely matches your business.
Next, you'll need to enter your official business website URL. This helps confirm that you are the legitimate owner.
Check the box confirming you are authorized to manage this Bing local business listing.
Select how you want Bing to verify your listing ownership. The options are receiving a verification code on your website, sending a code to your email address, or receiving a postcard with a PIN code by mail.
Enter the verification code that Bing sends based on the method you chose.
Once the verification code is confirmed, you will have full control to manage and optimize your Bing business listing.
How to Create a New Business Listing in Bing
If you don’t find an existing Bing listing for your business, you can easily create a completely new one.
Here is the step-by-step guide to Bing business listing:
Go to Bing places for business and either sign in with a Microsoft account or create a new account.
Click "Add a business" and fill out all the important information about your business in each section.
Include your full business name, complete address, phone number, website, operating hours, and categories.
For verification, you will need to confirm your phone number, email address and website. Bing will send a postcard with a PIN code to the address you provide.
Enter the PIN code on the Bing site when you receive the verification postcard in the mail.
Once your new listing is verified and published, it may take a few days to appear in local Bing search results.
Optimize Your Bing Local Business Listing
Now that your business is listed on Bing, it's time to optimize your listing to make it as robust and informative as possible.
Here are some key tips:
Complete all info - Fill out every section of your listing, including website, address, categories, photos, hours, specialties, and more. Don't leave any fields blank.
Add photos - Images help bring your listing to life. Add exterior and interior photos, product shots, headshots, and more. Aim for 10-15 high-quality images.
Monitor reviews - Encourage customers to leave detailed reviews on your listing to build trust and social proof. Respond professionally to any negative feedback.
Update regularly - Keep all listing details up-to-date if you make changes like new hours, phone numbers, offerings, etc. This shows customers that you are active.
Highlight offerings - Select relevant categories and include specialties or amenities to enable customers to find you for specific searches. Be detailed.
Enhance listing - Consider Bing's enhanced listing options, such as offering coupons, promoting events, or enabling customer bookings.
Sync with sites - Sync your Bing listing data with your websites and apps so changes are reflected everywhere.
Analyze performance - Check your listing analytics within the Bing business dashboard to see how your listing performs with views and clicks.
Regularly monitoring and optimizing all aspects of your Bing business listing can maximize its effectiveness in driving new leads and customers.
Bing Listings vs Google My Business
Many businesses may already be familiar with Google My Business listings. So, how does Bing compare? Here are some key differences:
Bing relies on manual verification via postcard PIN codes, while Google uses automated verification.
Bing listings focus heavily on local search presence, while GMB also includes discovery features like broader maps and Q&A sections.
The Bing dashboard and app are less robust and detailed than Google's options.
However, core listing management and customization capabilities are similar across both platforms.
A Google and Bing listing allows you to cover the majority of local searchers and maximize visibility. Each platform reaches different audiences, so it's ideal not to limit yourself to just one or the other.
FAQs
What is a Bing Business Listing?
Bing Business Listing is a free service from Microsoft that allows businesses to create and manage their business profiles on Bing. It helps customers find accurate business information and contact details when searching on Bing.
How do I claim my business listing on Bing?
You can claim your Bing business listing by searching for your business name on Bing and selecting 'claim this business.' You will need to verify ownership of the business by providing information like your business phone number, email address or mail sent to your business address.
Should I list my business on Bing?
Listing your business on Bing can improve your visibility and help you connect with customers searching for businesses like yours. It's free and easy to set up, so it's worth claiming your Bing business profile.
How do I set up Bing for my business?
Setting up Bing for your business involves claiming your Bing business listing, verifying your business details, and adding photos, business hours, services and products. This helps customers find accurate information about your business on Bing.
Is Bing listing free?
Yes, creating and managing a Bing business listing is free. You can claim and update your business listing on Bing at no cost. Additional advertising and targeting options are available at a cost.
How do I get listed on Bing Shopping?
To list products on Bing Shopping, you need to set up a Microsoft Merchant Center account and submit your product feed. Your products will then appear in relevant search results on Bing.
Which is better: Bing or Google?
Google currently has a significantly higher market share than Bing for web searches. However, listing on both can help maximize your visibility. Bing is still a major search engine.
Is Google Shopping better than Bing?
Google Shopping generally has higher visibility and traffic for product listings than Bing Product Shopping. But listing on both can help reach more potential customers.
How do I list my website on Bing?
To get your website listed on Bing, you need to claim your business listing and verify website ownership. This will connect your Bing listing to your site. Search engine optimization helps improve rankings.
Conclusion
This article explicitly explains step-by-step instructions for claiming or adding your business listing in Bing.
As per an industry report, Bing is another prominent search engine after Google. Gaining visibility on Bing through a complete local business listing benefits companies of all sizes across every industry. Once you know the steps, getting your business listed on Bing is relatively quick and easy. And the impact on new customer awareness and lead generation can certainly be significant.
We suggest you be sure to optimize your Bing listing fully continuously. Add engaging photos, details, special offers, and information that helps searchers find and trust your business. Keep everything updated regularly. With an enhanced presence on both Google and Bing, you can reach the widest possible local search audience.
In today's online world, there is no good reason not to make sure customers can find you in local search results on top search engines. A well-optimized business listing on Bing is a free and effective way to boost your Bing local SEO and expand your internet visibility.
