Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Microsoft Rolls Out New Bing Places for Business Experience
Microsoft has launched an updated Bing Places for Business platform featuring a redesigned dashboard and enhanced tools. The update includes a domain change to bing.com/forbusiness, improved listing imports from Google, and a new Recommendation Tool offering tailored suggestions to boost business visibility. Some previously visible details like address and hours have been removed, sparking user discussion.
Optimixed’s Overview: Enhanced Bing Places Experience Aims to Empower Local Businesses
Introduction to the New Bing Places for Business
Microsoft has officially rolled out the revamped Bing Places for Business experience, marking a significant upgrade designed to assist business owners in optimizing their local search presence. This update reflects extensive user research and design improvements to streamline business management on Bing.
Key Features and Changes
- Domain Transition: The platform has shifted from
www.bingplaces.com
towww.bing.com/forbusiness
, centralizing access to business tools. - Google Listing Import: Business owners can now import their listings directly from Google, simplifying the setup process.
- Recommendation Tool: This new feature provides customized suggestions such as adding photos, completing business details, and specific actions like linking menus or enabling online ordering for restaurants, aimed at increasing customer engagement.
- Dashboard Modifications: Some information previously visible—such as address, category, bios, and operating hours—has been removed, which has prompted mixed reactions within the local SEO community.
Community Response and Implications
Local SEO experts have shared early impressions and screenshots on forums and social media, highlighting both excitement for the new features and concerns about removed data points. The update encourages business owners to actively explore the new dashboard to leverage its potential benefits for enhancing their local search performance.