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Maintaining an accurate Apple Maps business listing is critical for a local business serving customers face-to-face. Despite the fact that Google Maps is considered to be a leading mapping platform by downloads in the US, Apple users are likely to use Apple Maps on their iOS devices to search for local businesses.
When users do a local search on their iPhones or iPads or use Siri for the same purpose, the top result will be from Apple Maps. To put it short, with over 113 million Apple users in the US, you just can’t ignore this audience.
Learn how to claim and optimize your Apple Maps business listing to gain more local traffic, boost sales, and earn more revenue.
What Is Apple Maps Listing and Why Is It Important?
Apple Maps is an in-built search, maps, and navigation program on Apple devices. By being listed on Apple Maps, you make it easier for ardent iPhone and iPad fans to reach your business.
Whether you are a small restaurant or a large real estate agency, claiming your Apple Maps business listing will be beneficial in a number of ways. Here they are:
- Positive impact on your online visibility. According to SEO Tribunal, 97% of consumers learn about a local business via the Internet. That means, that by not adding your business to Apple Maps, you lose a chance to acquire new clients.
- Providing accurate information about your business. Getting listed in this online local directory helps you share accurate up-to-date business details such as opening hours, address, the list of services, etc. with your potential customers, which positively impacts customer loyalty and contributes to your company’s credibility. According to SEO Tribunal, 88% of local searches on mobile result in either a visit or a phone call. That’s why keeping your business details up to date is critical for better customer acquisition.
- Building trust with your audience. For 49% of consumers, reviews appear to be as significant as personal recommendations when making their purchase decisions. By having your business on Apple Maps, you get an opportunity to establish trust with your customers due to the in-built rating system and existing integrations with Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Foursquare.
Eager to know how to develop and implement an effective Yelp strategy to generate more sales and revenue? Read our blog post on 12 best practices to generate 5-star Yelp business reviews.
How to Get Listed on Apple Maps [Step-by-Step Instructions]
Now that we’ve explained the importance of claiming your business on Apple’s directory, let’s see what steps you should follow to actually get listed there.
Apple Places on Maps and Apple Business Register Explained
To claim your business on Apple Maps, you should first have your company information on a self-service portal Apple Places on Maps (known previously as Apple Maps Connect). You can claim your business place if it hasn’t been added before. However, it’s likely Apple already has information about your company from other sources.
It’s highly recommended that you claim your own listing to ensure the information gathered by Apple is relevant and complete. That’s critical because Siri relies on those details to provide users with information on the company’s location, phone number, and more.
Apple’s Business Register is an analog of Google My Business service designed to allow business owners to manage how their company is presented in Apple’s ecosystem and provide role-based access to their brand’s information.
Want to know how the Google My Business service can improve the visibility of your multi-location company? Read our guide on managing your Google My Business profile to generate a steady flow of reviews, boost customer loyalty, and skyrocket your business.
Now let’s see how to claim your business on Apple Maps in 3 easy steps.
Step 1. Ensure You Have Your Apple ID
Having an Apple ID allows you to enjoy all Apple services. To create your Apple ID, you need to provide some basic information like your name, birthday, and email address. If you already have your business-associated Apple ID, then just sign in.
Step 2. Add Your Location on Apple Maps
You can enter your business name to check whether Apple has any information about your company. If yes, claim this place by clicking the corresponding button. If not, choose the “Add a missing place” option and enter your business details like your company name, phone number, and status (open/closed).
Also, you need to choose your business category (or suggest one if it’s not on the list) and specify whether you accept payments with Apple Pay.
Step 3. Verify Your Company With Apple Business Register
This step includes verification of your company by phone to ensure you’re a legitimate business representative. During this automated call on the phone number you indicated, you’ll be provided a four-digit PIN code to enter.
Congrats! You’re now listed on Apple Maps.
Optimizing Your Apple Maps Business Listing
When your business listing is already there, you might want to get it corrected or updated. Change necessary details about your company:
- opening hours;
- display name;
- address;
- place status;
- links to your company’s website, social media networks, and your official app if you have any in the App Store.
Provide as much information as possible so your listing is better optimized and has more chances to be given preference in search results.
New listings should show up within about a week after Apple’s approval process. And if they need anything else from you, they’ll contact you through the email address associated with your Apple ID.
Ratings on Apple Maps: How They Work
Apple users can rate places on the Apple Maps app. The in-built rating system works alongside existing integrations with Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Foursquare. It uses a thumbs up and thumbs down system to rate the overall quality of the company.
Users can’t leave any written feedback. However, they can add their own photos of places that will be displayed alongside reviews provided by the above-mentioned review platforms.
Reviews are an important part of your reputation management. Learn how to enhance your reputation management in 6 simple steps.
The Bottom Line
Adding a listing for businesses with one location is pretty simple. However, claiming and keeping up-to-date an Apple Maps business listing for multi-location brands can be overwhelming and challenging. Working with platforms like PromoRepublic will make it easier to manage brand data and effectively optimize your local online presence across the network of 130+ global-local search platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, etc. Forget about manually filling in data. Content disseminates automatically, ensuring consistency.
Apart from managing all your listings in one place, PromoRepublic allows you to monitor and respond to customer feedback left on any of the 130+ review sites. Finally, the platform lets you oversee what’s happening with your online listings across all locations via performance dashboards.
Book a demo with our expert to see how PromoRepublic can help your business drive local engagement and bring new customers to your business.
