Apple Business Connect: Getting Started with Apple’s GMB Competitor

Apple Business Connect (ABC) is a new feature that allows businesses to customize the way their information appears across apps and services. It’s similar to Google My Business in many ways, but it offers a few key advantages.

In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at what Apple Business Connect is, how it works, and how you can use it to put your business on the map.

What is Apple Business Connect?

Apple Business Connect is a free tool that allows businesses to easily create and manage their Apple Maps listing. It enables companies to optimize their listings for local search, manage their business information, and receive insights about customers. It’s a great way for small businesses to increase their visibility on Apple Maps and appear in the top search results.

With Apple Business Connect, you can deliver up-to-date business information, including your:

• COVID-19 response
• Store hours
• Contact information
• Customer reviews
• Sales and promotions
• Website link

Apple Business Connect also allows you to add photos, videos, and other rich content that will help customers find and recognize your business better.

Benefits of Using Apple Business Connect

Using Apple Business Connect can bring your business a number of advantages, such as:

• Increased Visibility: Apple Business Connect is integrated with Apple Maps and Siri, making it easier for customers to find your business when searching for services or products in the area.

• Improved Customer Experience: With Apple Business Connect, customers can access more detailed information about your business before they visit or purchase. ABC also allows companies to customize their profiles with targeted messages and offers, making customers feel more valued and appreciated.

• Increased Engagement: Apple Business Connect allows customers to interact with your business in a variety of ways. They can leave reviews and ratings, ask questions about products or services, and even book appointments directly from the app. This helps you build relationships with your customers and stay connected to them more easily.

Comparison to Other Services

Apple Business Connect’s two biggest competitors are Google My Business and Yelp. All three of these services allow businesses to customize the way their information appears on search engines and apps.

Here’s a quick overview of ABC’s top competitors:

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business (GMB) is a free service that allows business owners to manage their presence across various Google products, such as Google Maps and Search. With GMB, business owners can add information about their business, such as their location, hours of operation, and website.

They can also post photos and updates for customers to see. Additionally, customers can leave reviews about your business in order to increase visibility and build a good reputation online.

What is Yelp?

Yelp is a site where customers can read and leave reviews of local businesses they’ve visited. It’s essentially a crowd-sourced review platform with millions of users worldwide. 

By creating a profile on Yelp, businesses are able to manage their page by adding photos and other details. Customers who leave reviews can also help build their reputation online by leaving positive comments or offering feedback on their services/products.

How Do They Differ From Each Other?

Google My Business, Yelp, and Apple Business Connect all offer different features that are tailored toward different audiences. Here’s a quick comparison:

Google My Business

GMB is best suited for those looking to increase visibility on Google Maps and Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). It offers more detailed insights into analytics data and options for managing customers’ interactions with the page, such as photos, reviews, and more. This allows business owners to better understand the needs of their customers and create a more personalized experience.

Yelp

Yelp mainly caters to individuals seeking informed opinions and recommendations from others within their network before engaging with a business. Consumers use Yelp because it provides them with additional information regarding local establishments and services that help them make better decisions. It also allows them to get discounts and special offers from many businesses using Yelp’s platform (Elite Status).

Apple Business Connect

ABC provides businesses with an easy way to customize their presence across apps powered by Apple Maps. It offers a streamlined way for customers to learn more about the company and even book appointments and services directly from the Apple Maps app. Businesses can also use ABC to improve customer experience thanks to custom messages and targeted offers.

Getting Started with Apple Business Connect

Getting started with Apple Business Connect is simple: just sign up for an account at apple.com/business/connect and follow the instructions provided by the website. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to start customizing the way your business appears across apps and services powered by Apple Maps.

Integrations with Other Services

In addition to being able to customize the way your business appears on Apple Maps directly through ABC, there are also integrations available with other services. For instance, you can use Yext to manage your location data in real-time and Reputation to monitor customer sentiment and track reviews.

These integrations allow you to take advantage of the features offered by ABC while leveraging data to improve your visibility, manage customer relationships, and provide better service.

Conclusion

As you can see, Apple Business Connect is a great tool for businesses looking to increase visibility on Apple Maps and improve customer experience. With its integrations, you can take full advantage of all the features offered by ABC and leverage data from other services to understand your customers better and optimize your visibility. So if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, investing in Apple Business Connect is definitely worth it.

Need help getting started? Ayokay has you covered. Our team of digital marketing experts can help you set up and manage your Apple Business Connect presence, giving you the tools and insights necessary to succeed.

Contact us today to learn more. We look forward to helping you take your business to the next level!