[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a simple fact that having directory profiles can help your clients\u2019 businesses. Google\u2019s dominance is clear\u2014the tech giant handles 92 percent of all search traffic (Fit Small Business<\/a>). Yet, you should still consider optimizing a Bing Places listing for your clients.<\/p>\n This step-by-step guide will help you create the best business listing on Bing for any of your clients.<\/p>\n [et_pb_section global_module=\"113171 \"][\/et_pb_section]<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”What is Bing Places?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Bing Places for Business (previously known as the Bing Local Listing Center) is a free local listing service. Local search traffic is growing by leaps and bounds\u2014Google<\/a> reported that \u201copen near me now\u201d searches increased 400 percent in 2022. Bing has a smaller share of the search market, but Microsoft still needed to offer users better local search results.<\/p>\n Bing Places is the answer. Businesses can create and optimize their profile to enhance local SEO<\/a> and more. With an optimized profile<\/a>, there\u2019s a better chance Bing will show it in local search results.<\/p>\n Google has the lion\u2019s share of search, so many people overlook Bing. Still, with almost seven percent of the search market by some counts, Bing has plenty of users (Search Engine Journal<\/a>). Getting your clients\u2019 businesses in front of those users is important.<\/p>\n Adding a Bing Places for Business profile also has other benefits, such as boosting local SEO.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”How to create a listing on Bing Places” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Creating a Google Business Profile<\/a> a process in itself, but how intensive is it to create one for Bing Places?<\/p>\n Your first step is to head over to Bing Places for Business and sign in. If you\u2019ve never used Bing business listings before, will you need to create an account? In most cases, no, you won\u2019t need to create a new account just for Bing.<\/p>\n Bing will let you sign in using any of the following:<\/p>\n Chances are high that you have at least one of those. If you\u2019re managing a client\u2019s account, though, you may need to sign in using their account. (You\u2019ll be able to add yourself as an administrator on the profile later.)<\/p>\n If the client doesn\u2019t have any of the above account types, then you\u2019ll need to create a new one for them.<\/p>\n Now that you have an account and are logged in, it\u2019s time to search the existing profiles in Bing\u2019s directory. You don\u2019t want to create duplicate profiles, as these can hurt local SEO performance.<\/p>\n How can you search for existing listings? You can search the directory for the business name, address, or phone number. If the client has recently made changes, check for older information as well. There could be a listing under a previous name or phone number.<\/p>\n Depending on what the search results turned up, you\u2019ll take one of two steps. Bing will offer you two options:<\/p>\n If your search results turned up existing profiles, you\u2019ll want to choose the option to “improve.” This is like claiming a business profile on Google.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t find any listings for your client, then you\u2019ll click \u201cnew listing.\u201d<\/p>\n No matter if you\u2019re improving or adding a listing, your next step is to add the business details to the profile.<\/p>\n Make sure all the information is correct when you add them. Once you\u2019ve added the basic profile information, it\u2019s time to add the \u201cextras.\u201d A more complete profile will help your client\u2019s listing outperform others. You\u2019ll want to add:<\/p>\n Also be sure to check the accuracy of pin placement on Bing Maps. Bing uses this to tell users where you\u2019re located. Users can also save places to their \u201cMy Businesses\u201d list, so they can easily find their favorites.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s an existing listing, then you\u2019ll want to update the information on it as soon as possible. This could include changing the phone number, address, or even the name of the business.<\/p>\n You also have the option to import details and information from the client\u2019s Google Business Profile. This is a great way to ensure all information is consistent across platforms. It’s a lot faster than filling it all out manually too.<\/p>\n If the client doesn\u2019t have a Google Business Profile or you know it’s outdated, then add business details by hand. A great way to do this is to get a listing builder tool<\/a>. This tool allows you to create a base profile, then send it out to various platforms and data aggregators.<\/p>\n Next, you\u2019ll be able to add business categories to the profile. You\u2019re allowed to pick more than one, but Bing advises caution here.<\/p>\n It can be tempting to add as many categories as possible. This can cause the profile to come up in unrelated searches, though, which is frustrating for would-be customers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Be sure to set a primary category that states the main business function. For example, if your client does take-out, list them as \u201ctake-out\u201d versus \u201crestaurant.\u201d The latter category might imply they have seated dining. Some potential customers<\/a> might be surprised when they find there\u2019s only the take-out window.<\/p>\n The same is true of a shop that primarily offers repairs on electronics. If the client also sells some used electronics, you can add a second category to show that. \u201cElectronics repair\u201d would be the primary category though.<\/p>\n Picking the right categories will get your client\u2019s business in front of the people searching for it.<\/p>\n Much like Google Business, you\u2019ll want to verify your client\u2019s Bing Places profile. Bing doesn\u2019t allow publication of a profile unless verification is complete. The sooner you verify the business, the sooner the Bing Places profile can get to work for your clients.<\/p>\n There are a few different ways you can verify the business. Four options focus on receiving and verifying a PIN by:<\/p>\n The final option is to complete web verification. Your client will answer a series of questions about the business. As a manager or owner, they should be the only one who knows the answers.<\/p>\n If you choose to verify by email, SMS, or phone call, the process is similar. In each case, Bing will send the PIN to the contact information provided on the profile. If you want to verify the listing via a phone call, for example, Bing will auto-call the number on the business profile. If you pick SMS, then you’ll get a text instead.<\/p>\n Once the client has received the PIN, they need to enter it into their profile. This tells Bing the contact details provided are accurate.<\/p>\n You might wonder if you can manage verification for your client. A local listing management<\/a> service may be able to help. The team providing the service often knows workarounds to make verification simpler and faster.<\/p>\n The postcard method can take longer to complete. It involves Bing sending a postcard with the PIN to the business address. It typically takes 3 to 5 business days to receive the postcard.<\/p>\n Once your client has the postcard, they can log back in and enter the PIN to verify the business.<\/p>\n If you choose web verification, you or the client will need to answer a series of questions. In some cases, you might have to prove ownership of a web domain by uploading certain files or adding a CNAME to the DNS.<\/p>\n Web verification can be the easiest option, since you may be able to complete it on the client\u2019s behalf. Email may also work, as you may have access to the client\u2019s account. The client may have to complete postcard, email, phone call, or SMS verification, which can cause delays.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Optimizing a business listing on Bing” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Setting up a Bing business profile is a relatively simple process, especially if the client is already on Google Business. How can you make sure the Bing listing is set up for optimal performance? These tips should help you make the profile shine.<\/p>\n The first task is making sure client information is correct and consistent. Ask clients to notify you when something changes, so you can update profiles, including Bing Places.<\/p>\n A great example is hours of operation. You can add the standard hours of operation, but what about holiday hour information? If your client is going to be on vacation or closed on a Monday, you want to be sure their profile reflects this.<\/p>\n You can also add information about promotions to the Bing Places profile. This can be helpful for users who are trying to decide if they want to go with your client or another business.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t do so when you created the profile or claimed an existing listing, one of the best things you can do is add photos. Business profiles with photos perform better than those without.<\/p>\n What kind of photos do users want to see? Try adding some of the following:<\/p>\n Make sure to add photos on a regular basis. New photos help refresh the profile. They give the listing a little boost, too, as it shows the business is still open and active.<\/p>\n Another way to show the business is still active and engaged is responding to reviews. Much like Google, Bing allows users to review the businesses they\u2019ve visited.<\/p>\n Remember to respond to all reviews, both negative and positive. Businesses that respond to reviews perform better than their competition. Those that respond to negative reviews will win over even more prospective customers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Adding business categories is important for more than one reason. Your selection should also include some of the keywords you want to rank for. Your primary category might not include keywords, but secondary categories should.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at the electronics repair shop again. \u201cElectronics repair\u201d may be the primary category. Keywords like \u201claptop repair\u201d and \u201cphone repair\u201d are other categories you can add. Just be sure to pick categories the client operates in. Don\u2019t select \u201cmajor appliance repair\u201d if your client doesn\u2019t offer that.<\/p>\n When you added contact information, you likely included email and phone numbers. You added a mailing address and a web address.<\/p>\n Did you also add the client\u2019s profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, or elsewhere? Linking social media accounts to a client\u2019s Bing Places for Business account is a smart way to boost profile performance.<\/p>\n Part of the boost comes from having more complete information on the profile. You\u2019re listing everywhere your client can be found. Social media also factors into most search algorithms, as a form of \u201csocial proof.\u201d That, in turn, gives your client\u2019s profile another leg up.<\/p>\n Once you’ve created, verified, and published the profile, you\u2019ll want to keep an eye on how it\u2019s doing. Where does it come up in the search results if you look for \u201cphone repair near me\u201d?<\/p>\n If the listing isn\u2019t coming up, there are plenty of steps to take. You can try:<\/p>\n As you can see, there are quite a few steps to take. Monitoring a listing will tell you what\u2019s working and when you need to take action to improve.<\/p>\n Keeping information up to date is a big job. Yet, making sure business information is accurate is part of local SEO success. A listing builder tool can not only help you put together a profile but keep it updated across other platforms too. This makes updating listings across several different business directories<\/a> and platforms much simpler and faster.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Benefits of creating a Bing Places for Business listing” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n This guide shows how easy it is to create a business listing on Bing. Is it worth it? What benefits are there to having a listing on Bing Places? After all, most people use Google and you already created a profile for your clients there.<\/p>\n There are some surprising benefits to listing on Bing Places for Business as well.<\/p>\n Listing on almost any business directory has some benefits for your clients. Profiles increase visibility. They can also increase interaction with the business. About half of people who conducted a local search then visited a local business, for example (FinancesOnline<\/a>).<\/p>\n More than that, listing on Bing Places and other platforms makes your clients more visible. When the client is on several business directories, prospects will likely see their name and logo over and over. That increases stickiness\u2014which can lead to more sales.<\/p>\n You might discount the usefulness of a Bing Places profile, because Bing\u2019s user base is smaller. Yet Bing is the second-most popular search engine, seeing around 900 million searches per day (Truelist<\/a>).<\/p>\n More than that, Bing\u2019s users tend to be loyal. If you want to reach the nearly 2 billion people who use Bing every month (Daily Blogging<\/a>), then you need to go to them.<\/p>\nWhat is Bing Places?<\/h2>\n
Why does a listing on Bing Places for Business matter?<\/h3>\n
How to create a listing on Bing Places<\/h2>\n
1. Create an account<\/h3>\n
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2. Check to see if a listing exists<\/h3>\n
3. Claim (or add) the business<\/h3>\n
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4. Add business details to the profile<\/h3>\n
For creating a new listing<\/h4>\n
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For existing listings<\/h4>\n
Importing details via Google Business Profile<\/h4>\n
5. Add business categories<\/h3>\n
Choose your categories wisely<\/h4>\n
6. Publish and verify the listing<\/h3>\n
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Verification by email, SMS, or phone call<\/h4>\n
Verification by postcard<\/h4>\n
Web verification<\/h4>\n
Optimizing a business listing on Bing<\/h2>\n
Keep client business information up to date<\/h3>\n
Add promotions<\/h3>\n
Add some photos to the listing<\/h3>\n
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Respond to reviews<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t forget about keywords<\/h3>\n
Integrate social media channels<\/h3>\n
Track listing performance<\/h3>\n
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Use a listing builder tool<\/h3>\n
Benefits of creating a Bing Places for Business listing<\/h2>\n
Increase visibility and business interaction<\/h3>\n
Reach Bing search users<\/h3>\n
Boost local SEO for your clients<\/h3>\n