How to List Your Business on Google and Bing Places
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Switzerland, being visible online is essential. Customers no longer look in phone books – they search on Google and Bing for services, products, and businesses near them. Listing your company on Google Business Profile and Bing Places is therefore a must-have step to make your business more popular and attract new customers – and it’s completely free.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up your business listing on Google and Bing, explain the benefits for your visibility, and show you how to optimize your profiles. You’ll also find useful tips on how CURIAWEB can support you with SEO tools, SSL certificates, fast Swiss hosting, and professional email solutions to get the most out of your business listings.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free online business listing that appears directly in Google Search and Google Maps. It displays key information such as:
- Business name, address, and phone number (NAP data)
- Opening hours
- Photos and videos
- Customer reviews
- Posts and promotions
Benefits for SMEs in Switzerland:
- Appear directly in local search results (“Hairdresser Zurich” or “Plumber St. Gallen”).
- Get visibility on Google Maps.
- Boost trust with customer reviews.
- Free marketing channel – you pay nothing for the listing.
Important: Customers expect businesses to present themselves professionally. With your own .ch domain, SSL certificate, and reliable Swiss hosting, your listing will look even more trustworthy.
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Setting up a Google Business Profile is simple. Follow these steps:
- Go to Google Business Profile.
- Sign in with your Google account (or create one).
- Enter your business name. If your company already exists in the database, you can claim it.
- Add your address. Service businesses without a storefront (e.g., plumbers) can define a service area.
- Select a category (e.g., “Restaurant”, “Web Designer”, “Lawyer”).
- Enter your phone number and website. Tip: Use a professional .ch domain instead of a free subdomain for better credibility.
- Verify your business. Google usually sends a postcard with a code to your address. Sometimes verification is possible via phone or email.
- Add photos, opening hours, and services.
- Keep your profile updated with posts, promotions, or events.
Optimization tip: Ensure your website loads quickly. With 360 Monitoring and Swiss hosting, you can guarantee uptime and performance.
Bing Places: The Other Important Listing
Although Google dominates in Switzerland, many people – especially those using Windows devices – rely on Bing Search. Having a listing in Bing Places is therefore highly recommended.
Benefits of Bing Places:
- Free business listing on Bing Search and Bing Maps.
- Option to import data directly from Google Business Profile.
- Additional reach for your business.
How to add your business to Bing Places:
- Go to Bing Places.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account.
- Select “Add a business” or “Import from Google My Business”.
- Enter your business details (similar to Google Business).
- Verify your business – usually via postcard, phone, or email.
Best Practices: Consistency and Optimization
Whether on Google or Bing, complete and consistent data is critical.
What you should pay attention to:
- NAP data (Name, Address, Phone) must be identical everywhere.
- Use local keywords (“Dentist Zurich Enge” instead of just “Dentist”).
- Regularly update photos, videos, and posts.
- Respond to reviews – even critical ones.
- Monitor performance with SEO tools.
Additional Measures for Greater Success
A listing alone is not enough. To maximize the success of your Google and Bing profiles, consider these additional measures:
- Professional domain: A .ch domain enhances trust and emphasizes your local presence.
- Security: Protect your site with SSL certificates.
- Hosting: Fast Swiss hosting improves loading speed and SEO.
- Monitoring: Ensure uptime with 360 Monitoring.
- Communication: Use professional email hosting for credibility and GDPR compliance.
Conclusion
Listing your business on Google Business Profile and Bing Places is an essential step for SMEs in Switzerland. It boosts your visibility, builds trust, and brings more visitors to your website – all for free.
Combined with a professional online presence – including domains, SSL certificates, hosting, and SEO tools – you can secure long-term digital growth. Contact CURIAWEB if you need help setting up or optimizing your business listings.
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