Story Based Question
Imagine you own a local hardware store. You’ve done the basics for local SEO—claimed your Google My Business profile, optimized your website, and gotten some great reviews. Business is improving, but one day, a customer walks in and says, “I found you on Bing!”
This catches you off guard. Bing? You hadn’t even considered that people use it. You quickly search your business on Bing and find an outdated listing with an incorrect phone number and no reviews. That’s when you realize you’re missing an opportunity with Bing Places.
You start to wonder: What is Bing Places, and how can it help my local SEO strategy?
Exact Answer
Bing Places is a free local business listing service by Microsoft, similar to Google My Business, that helps businesses improve their visibility on Bing’s search engine and maps. It plays a significant role in local SEO by ensuring your business information—such as name, address, phone number (NAP), hours, and photos—is accurate and accessible to Bing users. Bing Places listings can increase local search visibility, attract new customers, and drive traffic to your website or physical location.
Explanation
Bing Places might not be as popular as Google My Business, but it’s still essential for a well-rounded local SEO strategy. Here’s why:
1. Reach a Different Audience:
Bing accounts for roughly 6-8% of the global search engine market, which translates to millions of users. Many of these users rely on Bing because it’s the default search engine for Microsoft Edge, Windows devices, and even some voice assistants like Cortana. Optimizing for Bing ensures you don’t miss out on this segment of users.
2. Improved Local Visibility:
Claiming and optimizing your Bing Places profile allows your business to appear in Bing’s local search results, maps, and directories. When people search for “hardware store near me” on Bing, your listing ensures you’re in the running to be found.
3. Accurate Business Information:
A Bing Places profile lets you control critical details like your phone number, address, hours, and website link. Consistency across platforms (Bing, Google, and others) improves search engine trust and boosts your rankings.
4. Syncs with Google My Business:
Bing Places allows you to import your Google My Business data, making it easy to keep your listings consistent across both platforms. This saves time and ensures your information is up to date.
5. Voice Search Optimization:
Bing powers search on many voice-activated devices, including Microsoft Cortana and some Alexa devices. Having an optimized Bing Places listing improves your chances of being found through voice search queries.
Example
Let’s return to your hardware store. You claim your Bing Places listing and update it with your accurate business name, address, phone number, and website. You also upload a few high-quality photos of your store and products.
To stand out, you add details like special promotions, “DIY workshops every Saturday,” and your business’s eco-friendly mission statement. Within weeks, you notice more foot traffic from customers who mention they found you on Bing Maps. You also see a slight uptick in website visits coming from Bing search results, which had previously been negligible.
By syncing your Bing Places profile with Google My Business, you save time while ensuring consistent information across platforms. This consistency strengthens your local SEO presence overall, improving your visibility in both Bing and Google.
Bing Places helps businesses enhance their visibility on Bing’s search engine, ensuring accurate information and boosting local SEO efforts. While often overlooked, it’s a valuable tool to capture additional customers and strengthen your overall local search presence.