How to Add Your Business to Apple Maps: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve landed on this article, you probably don’t have your local business listed on Apple Maps- just yet.

Not having your business added to Apple Maps means that you are being denied access to over 2 billion Apple users, many of whom are looking for products and services you sell.

Worry not. You are just minutes away from adding your business to Apple Maps.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through every detail about listing and optimizing your local business in Apple Maps for higher search rankings. Let’s begin.

How Apple Maps Business Listing Can Complement Local SEO

Before jumping to the how-to part, allow me to quickly explain the bunch of local SEO benefits Apple Maps has in store for your business. Here’s how leveraging Apple Maps can bolster your local SEO efforts.

Gain Greater Access to Apple Users

The Apple ecosystem is growing. From 1.8 billion active users in 2022, Apple now boasts an all-time high of 2.2 billion active users.

Apple Maps is the default navigation app on iPhones and iPads. This means you will miss out on a huge chunk of potential customers if your business is not listed in Apple Maps.

With billions of users relying on Apple devices for everyday activities like finding businesses, restaurants, or directions, listing your business on Apple Maps opens doors for you to tap into a massive unexplored customer base.

As the number of Apple users continues to grow, adding your business to Apple Maps can be a proactive step to build a future-proof SEO strategy.

Increased Visibility

When it comes to local SEO, visibility is key. 

Given Apple’s growing customer base, being listed on Apple Maps improves your online discoverability and creates more opportunities to show up in front of potential customers who are actively looking for your products or services in specific locations via Apple devices.

Imagine iPhone users asking for the nearest café or store on the go. When your business is listed in Apple Maps, it has high chances of popping up for these local searches. This can direct profitable traffic to your brick-and-mortar store.

Voice Search Integration

Have you noticed how people are increasingly using voice search? In fact, the global market for speech and voice recognition is expected to grow from $17 billion in 2023 to an estimated $83 billion by 2032 at an annual growth rate of 20%.

Think of an iPhone user asking, “Hey Siri, find me a good coffee shop nearby.” That’s where Apple Maps comes into play. Apple’s Siri works hand in hand with Apple Maps and comes up with relevant search results.

By optimizing your Apple Maps business listing, you can make your business more discoverable through such voice-based searches. This can make a significant difference in how often your business shows up for local searches.

Additionally, implementing effective voice search optimization strategies can help boost your search appearances further. 

Maintaining Business Information Accuracy

What happens if your online profile still features your old address while you have shifted your store to a new one?

When customers finding your business through local search visit your store, they will be frustrated because they end up in the wrong place. This will result in poor user experience and can hurt your online reputation.

That’s why maintaining accuracy in everything about your storefront is important.

Listing your business on Apple Maps with accurate and consistent business name, address and phone number (NAP) information helps you ensure that search engines won’t get confused about your location or contact information. 

This consistency helps improve your local search rankings not only in Apple Maps but also on leading search engines like Google. 

How to Add Your Business to Apple Maps

Now that you know how Apple Maps can impact your local SEO, let’s delve into the steps to add your business to Apple Maps.

Step 1: Create Your Apple Account

You need an Apple account (formerly Apple ID) to add your business to Apple Maps. If you don’t have an Apple account yet, visit the Apple Account sign-in page and create one.

Step 2: Access Apple Business Connect

Next, go to Apple Business Connect and click “ Get Started. This is the platform you will use to list your business and manage its presence in Apple Maps. 

Note: You don’t necessarily need an Apple device to carry out this process. You can access this page on your internet browser, irrespective of the device you use to create your business listing in Apple Maps.

Step 3: Choose Your Business Type

On the page that follows, choose your business type- Small Business, Enterprise, Third-Party Partner- based on what suits the size and nature of your organization.

And then click “Next”.

Step 4: Check if Your Business is Listed on Apple Maps 

Before adding your business to Apple Maps, search for it. If it’s already listed, you can claim ownership using Apple Business Connect to manage your business profile.

Step 5: Add Your Business (If Not Listed)

If your business isn’t listed, simply add your business location to create a new Apple Maps listing. Enter your business location particulars, including region, street, city, state and postal code.

Step 6: Include Additional Business Information

Input additional business details, such as business category, your contact number and website URL.

Step 7: Update Working Hours

Include details about your company’s operational times, for example, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday.

Step 8: Review Your Company Details

The page that follows is a consolidation of all the business information you entered in the previous steps. Check it carefully and make necessary changes.

Step 9: Initiate Verification

Once you complete the process, Apple will verify your business information and send you a confirmation email in four to five days. A successful verification signals that your business is listed in Apple Maps.

Tips to Optimize Your Apple Maps Business Listing

Having your business listed on Apple Maps is a great first step, but if you want to maximize your local SEO benefits, it’s essential to optimize your listing. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Apple Maps business profile.

Ensure Business Information Accuracy

As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to local SEO, it is crucial to keep your business information accurate at all times.

Make sure you update your business name, address, phone number, working hours and more on Apple Maps as and when there are changes.

Accurate and consistent information makes it easier for your potential customers to find you and drive foot traffic to your local store.

Incorporate Relevant Keywords

Incorporate appropriate keywords into your business description to improve its visibility for relevant online searches.

Think about what potential customers might search for and include those terms naturally in your business description.

For example, if you own an Italian restaurant, you can include keywords like Italian breakfast, Italian food dishes and best Italian restaurant in [your location].

This will help your business show up for specific local searches on Apple devices.

Add High-Quality Images

High-quality images help your Apple Maps business listing stand out and create a positive first impression. 

Upload professional photos of your storefront, products and services to give your customers a clear idea of what you offer. 

Remember, attractive visuals not only engage users but can also increase the likelihood of them visiting your local store.

Create Showcase Posts to Highlight Offers

Apple Maps allows you to create showcase posts. This feature is ideal for promoting seasonal offers, new products or services and other related events.

These posts make way for you to add dynamic content to your Apple Maps business listing. Update showcase posts regularly to improve user engagement and prompt your potential customers to choose you over your local competitors.

Monitor User Reviews

Customer reviews play a vital role in making or breaking the online reputation of your business.

That said, you need to monitor and respond to user reviews on your Apple Maps as soon as possible.

Responding to user reviews tells your prospects that you value customer feedback. It demonstrates your commitment to providing a good customer experience and acts as a trust factor, especially for new visitors.

Getting your business listed on Apple Maps is a must if you want to capture the attention of the growing number of iPhone users searching for local businesses like yours.

Following the steps I’ve mentioned above will help you get your business up and running on Apple Maps in no time. 

But don’t stop there. Make sure you also implement the best practices to optimize your Apple Maps business listing to accelerate your local visibility for relevant searches and magnetize more customers.