You’ve heard of Yelp and Google My Business, but have you heard of Apple Business Connect? What is it, what do you need to know, and more importantly, do you need to set it up for your business? We answer all of these questions and more.
What Is Apple Business Connect?
In a nutshell, Apple Business Connect allows you to create a business profile so potential customers can find more information about your business on Apple Maps.
You are not wrong if you think this sounds and looks like Google My Business and Google Maps. However, there are some significant differences, which we will cover shortly.
Apple Business Connect Features
While relatively new, Apple Business Connect has many useful features to help increase your online presence on Apple Maps. For example:
- Website Link
- Call
- Chat
- Announcements
- Special Offers
- Manage Reservations (or Schedule Appointments)
Should You Create A Profile For Your Business On Apple Business Connect?
Absolutely. Nearly 50% of users in the US use iPhones, and while it’s true that many of them prefer Google Maps over Apple Maps, more and more are using Apple Maps as their default map.
Considering the number of users and, more importantly, potential customers that use an iPhone and Apple Maps daily, it would be foolish to ignore them all.
There is no downside in setting up Apple Business Connect. Yes – it’s another marketing channel you have to manage. Still, platforms like Apple Business Connect and Google My Business are much less labor-intensive than other marketing channels (e.g., Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.).
Most of the legwork will happen upfront (setting up the account). From then on, you just have to respond to customer inquiries and post important announcements.
Apple Business Connect vs. Google My Business
Currently, Google My Business is much more mature and advanced than Apple Business Connect—for example, features, analytics, platform, etc.
Also, it’s important to remember that Google Search has over 90% of the search market share, so if a customer is searching for a business, service, or product, they are far more likely to find you on Google Maps vs. Apple Maps. Therefore, as a tool to promote your business online, Google My Business is much more powerful than Apple Business Connect.
Lastly, if you pay close attention to data and analytics, Google My Business data is much more comprehensive than Apple Business Connect.
Summary
Small businesses and startups should seize every free opportunity to boost their visibility online. Creating an Apple Business Connect account won’t incur any charges, and it only takes about an hour to set up. Moreover, being an early adopter of new platforms with less competition can give your business a distinct competitive edge.
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