A Simple Guide to Setting Up Google Business and Bing Places for Startups

If you are just starting out, one of the easiest, free ways to get found is to claim your business on the two big search engines. Setting up Bing Places for Business and your Google Business Profile puts you on the map, literally, so local customers can find you from day one, before you have spent a penny on ads.

Most people set up Google and stop there. That is a mistake. Bing Places is free, quick, and far less crowded, which means it is often easier to stand out on Bing than on Google. Bing also powers results across Windows, Microsoft Copilot and other AI tools, so a Bing listing increasingly feeds the answers people get from AI assistants too.

This guide walks you through claiming both listings step by step, starting with Bing, plus the tips that actually make a listing stand out. It takes about 20 minutes total.

Bing Places vs Google Business Profile: Which First?

Do both. But here is how they compare, and why Bing is the quick win people skip:

	Bing Places for Business	Google Business Profile
Cost	Free	Free
Reach	Smaller, but powers Windows and AI search	Largest local search audience
Competition	Lower, easier to stand out	High, everyone is on it
Setup time	~5 min (can import from Google)	~15 min plus verification
Best for	Quick win, AI and Windows visibility	Your main local search presence

Step 1: Set Up Bing Places for Business

Why it is worth doing first. Bing still powers a real chunk of searches, especially on Windows devices where it is the default, and it feeds Microsoft Copilot and other AI answers. Because far fewer businesses bother to claim their Bing listing, you can rank and get noticed with much less effort than on Google. It is genuinely one of the best five-minute jobs a new business can do.

How to claim your Bing business listing

1. Visit bingplaces.com

2. Click “Get Started”

3. If you have already set up your Google Business Profile, you can import your details directly, which saves a lot of typing

4. If not, enter your business information manually

5. Add your photos, contact details and working hours

6. Verify your business by phone or email

7. Once set up, check in now and again to keep your info current

Essential tips

• Use the same details you used on your Google listing. Tip: Copy and paste your business name, phone number and description so they match exactly. Consistent details across the web help you rank.

• Upload high-quality photos, just like on Google. Tip: Reuse the same pictures so your brand looks consistent everywhere.

• Check your profile every few weeks. Tip: Add a diary note or phone reminder to log in once a month and make sure everything still looks right.

Step 2: Set Up Your Google Business Profile

Why it is important. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is what shows up when someone searches your business or “[your service] near me” on Google. It controls your appearance on Google Maps and in the local results, so it is the single most important free listing you can own. It will not rank overnight for the biggest terms, but for your own name and local searches it is essential.

How to set it up

1. Go to google.com/business

2. Sign in using your Google account

3. Click “Manage now” and type in your business name

4. Choose your business category

5. Add your location or service area

6. Enter your contact details, including phone number and website if you have one

7. Choose how you would like to verify your business

8. Once verified, add your business hours, photos and a short description

Essential tips

• Include keywords people are likely to search for. Tip: Instead of just “local builder”, use “Kent-based builder for extensions and renovations”.

• Add real photos of your work, team or premises. Tip: Use your phone to take 3 or 4 clear photos of your products, services or setup and upload them straight away.

• Ask for reviews from happy customers. Tip: Send a quick message after each job or sale asking if they would mind leaving a review. People are usually happy to help, and reviews are a big ranking factor.

• Keep your opening hours accurate. Tip: Set a calendar reminder once a month to double-check your listed hours, especially around holidays.

• Use Google Posts to share updates or offers. Tip: Add a short weekly update with a photo, special offer or tip to show that your business is active and open.

One Rule That Makes Both Work: Keep Your Details Identical

Whatever you do, make sure your business name, address and phone number are written exactly the same way on Bing, Google, your website and anywhere else you appear online. Search engines use that consistency to trust that you are a real, established business. Mismatched details (“Street” on one, “St” on another) quietly hold your local ranking back.

What If You Don’t Have a Website Yet?

You can still use Bing Places and Google Business Profile without a website, and it is well worth doing. But having even a simple website makes a big difference. It gives customers somewhere to learn more, builds trust, and gives your listings a link to point to, which strengthens both profiles.

A simple website helps you look more established and gives customers the confidence to get in touch or buy. If you are a startup and need one, have a chat with The Wix Guys. We build clean, affordable sites for new businesses that are set up to be found in local search from day one.

Bing Places and Google Business: FAQs

Is Bing Places for Business free?

Yes, completely free. You claim and manage your Bing business listing at no cost, the same as Google Business Profile. There is no catch and no paid tier needed to appear in local results.

What is Bing Places for Business?

Bing Places for Business is Microsoft’s free local listing tool, the Bing equivalent of Google Business Profile. It controls how your business appears in Bing search and Bing Maps, and increasingly feeds AI tools like Microsoft Copilot that pull from Bing’s data.

How do I add my business to Bing?

Go to bingplaces.com, click Get Started, and either import your details from an existing Google Business Profile or enter them manually. Add photos and hours, then verify by phone or email. The whole thing takes about five minutes.

Is a Bing business listing worth it if I already have Google?

Yes. It takes five minutes, it is free, and far fewer competitors bother with it, so you get easy extra visibility, including in Windows search and AI assistants that rely on Bing. There is no reason to skip it once your Google profile is done.

Final Thoughts

Claiming your Bing Places for Business and Google Business Profile listings is one of the best free ways to start showing up in local search. Do Bing first for the quick win, then Google as your main presence, keep your details identical across both, and add photos and reviews to stand out.

Follow the steps above, use the tips to make your listings pop, and do not forget to keep them updated. It is a small bit of effort now that keeps paying off every time someone searches for what you do.