How to Add a Business to Apple Maps

Have you ever done a local business search on your iPhone only to come across inaccurate, partial or nonexistent information?

You are at disadvantage when one of your customers cannot easily find out what hours you are open, or even worse, your phone number and location.

When it does happen, Apple's Business Connect offers a free platform for local businesses to manage their information across Apple apps.

This in-depth guide educates you on building a complete and verified Apple Business Connect listing to help ignite your visibility so customers can connect with your brand more easily.

What Are the Benefits of Apple Business Connect?

The following are the main benefits of using Apple Business Connect for your local business:

Improved Visibility: Correct information about your business is directly related to relevant searches that customers make on Apple Maps, Siri, and other applications.
Customer Augmentation: Include offers and call-to-action buttons to generate visits, calls, or directions to your business.
Data Insights: Ability to understand insight metrics for views, taps, calls and directions so you can make informed marketing decisions.
Automatic Updates: Changes made will be updated automatically across Apple platforms, saving you time while ensuring consistency.

Only verified listings can create trust and confidence in customers about opting for your business.

Now, here’s the step by step guide!

Step 1: Create an Apple Account

First, you'll need an Apple Account, which acts as your account login for Apple Business Connect.

If you already have an Apple Account you use for other Apple services, feel free to use that same one. If you lack an account then head to https://account.apple.com/ to sign up for a new one.

Since you will be putting your business information on this account, I would use an email and password that you have easy access to.

Step 2: Open Apple Business Connect

Visit Apple Business Connect at https://businessconnect.apple.com/.

Here you'll find tailored options for:

Small Businesses: For companies with fewer than 25 locations.
Enterprise Brands: For major brands with 25+ locations.
Partners: 3rd parties who manage listings for other businesses.

Choose a category relevant to your type of business

Step 3: Select yourself as a "Small Business" or "Enterprise Brand"

To start the process, discover which option you should select based on your business type; if your business has under 25 locations select "Small Business."

Choose “Enterprise Brand” for bigger brands which will need more verification steps like asking you to send in your D-U-N-S number.

In this guide, we will address the "Small Business" workflow.

Step 4: Search for Your Existing Listing

Search your exact business name and location in the search bar. Example: "Sally's Coffee Shop San Francisco"

If your business shows up, click it. If not, select "Add New Location" in order to create it.

Tip: If your hours, phone number or other information is already listed but incorrect, claim the listing to edit it.

Step 5: Add Location Details

For businesses that were not found in Apple Maps, you must add your business location information.

Accurately enter your:

Full business name
Complete street address
City
State
ZIP code

And then check that the map pin appears exactly at your storefront door. Drag and drop it if needed.

Step 6: Enter Business Hours

The only detail you need to include is the correct business hours.

In the Hours Section, you can fill in:

Primary Hours: Your normal hours every day of the week.
Holiday Hours: If you're open on holidays but outside of your primary hours
Temporary Schedule Changes: Adjustments such as early closures or special events.

Because if all someone needs is detailed hours to know when your business is open — and thus can visit.

Step 7: Include Necessary Info

Then, add in other important information:

Categories: Choose the main category in which your business operates, along with 5 other categories from the list.

Phone Number: Enter your main phone number appearing in your area.
Business website: Just add your business URL so customers know about you more.
Photos: Add attractive pictures of your business, service, products etc.
Showcases: promote limited-time offers and fresh products.
Action Buttons: Drive calls, directions, ordering, booking & etc.

Step 8: Verify Your Listing

Verify that you are indeed the rightful owner of this business.

You could directly check it through:

An automated phone call.
Providing formal proof of ownership paperwork.

Verification validates your listing which earns the trust of customers.

Step 9: Review and Submit

Check all your details to ensure accuracy before passing to Apple.

After the approval, it may take not more than 3 days for the updates to reflect so be patient. You will get emails on whether you are selected or not.

And that's it! Your business has been added to Apple Business Connect.

How to Manage Your Listing (Best Practices)

Maximize your Apple Business Connect listing with these top tips

Update Hours Quickly: Incorrect hours annoy customers. Update any changes asap.
Photo Refresh: Replace photos with seasonal ones, or whenever you completely switch up your interior decor to maintain an air of freshness.
Take Advantage of Showcases: Use timely Showcases to spend time on fresh products, promos, events and more!
Track your analytics: Review your dashboard for views, checks and directions to see what stands out to customers.
Reply to Apple Maps reviews: Respond to Apple Maps Reviews so that you can let your customers know that their feedback is valuable to you.
Combined Listings: Companies with more than one location can connect the dots by interlinking their locations.
Add with Apps: Connect apps like booked times or menus so your customers can book directly.

By maintaining your listing fully up-to-date, you're gonna be able to have the absolute best opportunity to be discovered and for customers not to lose interest.

Why Complete Business Listings Matter

These days, maintaining healthy online listings is just a necessity for local businesses. Here's why:

According to Google, 76% of shoppers who search nearby will visit a business in one day.
Google says that 28% of local searches result in a purchase.
82% of buyers use phones before purchasing locally.

Online information also allows customers to discover, learn about, and choose to engage with local business through online channels.

A completely optimized and verified Apple Business Connect listing will help you rank higher, build a better reputation, and attract more customers.

Start Adding Your Business Today

By creating a free listing for your local business on Apple Business Connect, you gain fantastic opportunities to reach targeted, purchase-seeking customers day in and out.

Now, you have everything for your polished and seamless Apple listing that represent your business with this complete step by step guide.

Instead of making it hard for customers to locate your fundamental details across Apple platforms. Claim your listing today to showcase what makes you special.