Apple Business Connect

Introducing Apple Business Connect SE -

For those local business owners who have not heard of Apple Business Connect, this special edition article is for you. Most local business owners understand the importance of Google Business Profile. They also understand the importance of accurate listing citations. They help a local business brand rank high in local search. Ranking high in local search is vital to attracting new potential local customers. And until last month these were the main two methods of ranking high in local searches.

But now there is a new player in the game. A player that will carry as much weight as the GBP business page and accurate listing citations. That player - Apple Business Connect.

Apple Business Connect is a new free tool that allows business owners with local businesses of all sizes to customize the way their business information appears across Apple apps. Apple introduced this new platform back on the 11th of January. It is a free tool that allows businesses of all sizes to claim their location place cards and customize the way key information appears to more than a billion Apple users across Apple Maps, Messages, wallet, Siri, and other apps.

Apple created Business Connect to provide Apple users around the world with the most accurate information for places to eat, shop, travel, and more. Apple Business Connect gives every business owner the tools they need to connect with customers more directly, and take more control over the way billions of people see and engage with their products and services every day.

Improving Customer Engagement in Apple Maps

With Business Connect, businesses around the world can now directly manage their information in the interactive Apple Maps place card, including adding and updating photos and logos; inviting customers to take actions like ordering food or making a reservation directly from Maps; and presenting customers with special promotions.

Showcases, a new feature in the place card, helps businesses present customers with offers and incentives, like seasonal menu items, product discounts, and more. Businesses can easily update the Showcase section of their place card through Business Connect. Showcases are available to businesses in the US. Later in the year it will be available to other countries.

Businesses can also provide customers with useful information by highlighting actions for them to take directly from the Maps place card, like ordering grocery via Instacart, making a hotel reservation through Booking.com, or reserving a spot for dinner with OpenTable, and more, with just a tap.

Registering for Business Connect

Business owners can use their existing Apple ID – or create a new Apple ID – to register for Business Connect at the self-service website from any desktop or laptop computer. Once a business has logged in and Apple has verified their business, they can claim their location(s) and begin updating and personalizing their place card all for free.

For businesses with many locations, Business Connect includes Business Connect API to easily deliver accurate, up-to-date information to Maps at scale through listing management agencies such as Reputation, Rio, SEO, SOCi, Uberall, and Yext.

Apple Tools for Small Businesses

Apple designed Business Connect with small businesses in mind, offering them the same access and ability to customize their digital presence as global brands. Business Connect complements other Apple services designed to help small businesses grow and reach customers, including Tap to Pay on iPhone – which enables businesses to seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets through a simple tap to their iPhone – and Business Essentials, a subscription that brings together device management, 24/7 support, and cloud storage.

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