16/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 17/08/2024 03:28
The secret is out! Google continues to dominate online search. (OK, that wasn't really a secret, was it?) But there's another search engine small business owners can't afford to ignore - Microsoft's Bing.
So, are you asking yourself "why list my business on Bing?" Well, Bing accounts for 5 billion searches every month in the U.S. alone. Bing also powers other smaller (but still important) search engines like yahoo.com and aol.com. So, when you list with Bing, you have a greater chance of reaching even more users.
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Try NowSo how do you help your business show up more often on Bing? The answer is Bing Places for Business. Bing Places is free. And it allows you to add and manage your own Bing business listing on the search engine.
So how can you Bing my business? Here's how it works. When Bing users search for businesses like yours, Bing chooses its top 5 local options and highlights them in a tiled format. For example, let's look for pest control services. Bing serves up the local options in Dallas, Texas like this:
Bing displays these local results below the paid ads, but they appear before any organic search results. So as far as search engine optimization (SEO) goes, you can't rank any higher than these local options. There are other factors that go into ranking in the top local search results, but registering your business with Bing Places is the first step.
You may not make it into the top local results right away, and that's OK. Users also frequently search businesses like yours by name to do more research on your business. When they do, your Bing Places listing will show up like Moxie Pest Control's does here:
There are 3 steps to registering your business with Bing Places.
The first step is to go to bingplaces.com and click New user.
Here, you'll have two options:
If you've already claimed your Google My Business listing, claiming your Bing Places listing will be a breeze. You'll simply sign in to your Google My Business account, allow Bing access to your listing, and import your business's most important information.
Luckily, adding your business to Bing Places manually isn't much tougher. Choose that option and select your business type (size), country/region, and enter a phone number, address or business name to search for an existing listing.
If Bing successfully finds your business, it will prompt you to claim the listing and edit the details. It will also notify you if you aren't already listed in the search results.
From there, you can sign up using Google, Facebook, Microsoft or another email address.
Once your listing is in your control, take a moment to enjoy a sigh of relief. The most important step is done!
Now, it's time to perfect your listing's details.
A breakdown of the type of information you'll need:
Once you're happy with your business listing, you've got to prove to Bing you have the right to make these changes. Bing does this to protect both businesses and consumers from the publication of false information online.
Bing does this with a verification personal identification number (PIN). They offer a few options for receiving your PIN:
The good news is - once you add your business to Bing it should automatically appear on Bing Maps. This interface operates similarly to your Google Business Profile where users can see your location, reviews, website, and other information about your business,
While Bing users skew a bit older than the average online searcher, at 45 to 54 years old, their average annual household income also skews higher at over $100,000.
If we're to generalize, these searchers are more established Americans, likely with some expendable income. Many or most of them have significant financial responsibility for and investments in things like vehicles and homes.
With that demographic in mind, Bing is a great resource for business owners in the following industries looking to attract customers online:
If you enter your PIN and all goes right, you'll have claimed your Bing Places profile. Congrats! Keep your listing current by visiting your Bing dashboard periodically and updating holiday hours or even adding a Bing offer.
Remember, updating your Bing Places listing with correct and complete information makes it easier for prospective customers to choose your business.
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