A customer calls and says, "I couldn't find you on the map and got lost." You are surprised, because your Google Maps listing has reviews and photos. You ask, "Which phone are you using?" The answer: an iPhone. And the app was not Google.
Most business owners think only of Google when it comes to maps. But people use the app that comes with their phone, the screen in their car, or another guide. This article covers how your business appears in maps beyond Google, why it matters, and who should keep an eye on it.
Not everyone uses Google Maps
Look around you. One person has an iPhone and usually opens the phone's built-in map app for directions. Another uses the navigation screen in the car. A third prefers a different app altogether. None of them sees your Google profile.
I cannot give a reliable share or percentage of who uses which app. But I do know this: if your business is missing from Apple Maps, or the details are wrong, an iPhone user will have trouble finding you. They rarely call to complain. They usually just go somewhere else.
Which maps are there?
Depending on your market, these are worth a look:
- Apple Maps: the built-in map on iPhone, iPad and Mac. You claim your listing through Apple's own business tool. An Apple Maps business listing usually needs your business name, address, phone number and some proof that you are the owner.
- Bing Maps: it appears on Windows computers and in some searches. It has fewer users, but the listing is free, and other services draw on its data.
- In-car navigation: many car makers take their data from the large map providers or their partners. You may not register there directly, but when the main sources are correct, it is more likely to carry through.
- Industry directories: hotels, restaurants and healthcare have their own listing and booking sites. Someone who knows your industry can tell you which ones matter for you. Depending on your country, there may also be local directories that people still use to look up businesses.
Features and sign-up screens change over time, so I am not giving step-by-step instructions. What matters is the logic of the job.
The key rule: the same details everywhere
Maps pass information to each other. If your name is "Red Door Hair Studio" in one place, "Red Door Hairdresser for Men and Women" in another and a phone number from years ago in a third, both customers and Google get confused. Put yourself in the customer's shoes: seeing two phone numbers, which one do they call?
These details should match everywhere:
- Business name, as on your sign.
- Address, including floor and unit.
- Phone number.
- Opening hours, including holidays.
- Website address.
Name, address and phone are the identity card of your business. In local SEO this is called consistency, and the more sure a map is of your details, the more comfortably it shows you. I cannot promise a higher ranking, but inconsistency never helps.
How to check your own situation
You can do this in ten minutes:
- Take an iPhone, yours or a friend's, open the map app and search for your business name.
- If it is missing or wrong, make a note.
- Do the same in Bing on a computer.
- For each one, check whether the address, phone number, hours and map pin are right.
- The pin often points to the next street or an old address. This is the most common mistake.
Then write the results in a simple table:
| Map | Does it show up? | Are the details right? |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | ||
| Apple Maps | ||
| Bing | ||
| Local directory |
What does "claiming" mean?
Your business may already appear on maps without your knowledge. The information is often collected from other sources. So a wrong detail can sit there for a long time, because nobody checks it. Claiming means verifying the listing and taking the details under your control. Verification may involve a phone call, a letter or a document, and the process and timing vary.
To avoid trouble, use official contact details that belong to you when you register. An account opened with someone else's email address, such as your former web designer's, can put you in a difficult spot years later.
Three common mistakes
The three mistakes I see most often on maps:
- Old address or phone: you moved, but one map still shows the old place. The customer ends up at an empty door.
- A pin in the wrong place: the address is right, but the marker is on the next street. If you work inside a large office building or complex, add the floor and unit too.
- Two listings for the same business: you created one, and someone else created another with a different spelling. Both stay online, and reviews and details are split.
None of these is a big technical job. They are small tasks that nobody checks regularly. Looking twice a year, for example when your opening hours change, is enough.
What to ask your specialist
If you hand this job to someone, ask for:
- A short list of the maps where you are listed.
- A check that all the details are identical.
- Accounts opened in your name and with your email.
- Every map updated together whenever something changes: a move, new hours, a new phone number.
Frequently asked questions
My business is not showing on Apple Maps. What should I do?
First search for your name and address with different spellings, because the listing may exist under a wrong spelling. If not, you can start the listing yourself, or with someone's help, through Apple's business tool.
Do these cost money?
A basic business listing is generally offered free of charge. Conditions can change, so read the information on the official page when you register.
Do I need Bing for my business?
If people around you use it, a listing is good to have. The best approach is to ask your target customers which app they use.
Isn't it too hard to keep everything current?
If you keep your business details in one place, such as a short note file, updating is easy. When something changes, apply the same list to every listing.
Conclusion
Google Maps matters, but it is not the only map. To avoid missing the iPhone customer, the car screen and other apps, your details must be correct and identical everywhere. If you would like to go through your listings together and fill in the gaps, you can reach me through my local SEO page.