Visibility on navigation apps is essential for any business hoping to attract local customers. If you’ve ever wondered how to add my business to Apple Maps, you’re not alone. While most business owners prioritize Google Maps, Apple Maps has grown significantly and now commands a substantial portion of navigation traffic—especially among iPhone users.
This guide will walk you through every step to list your business on Apple Maps, optimize your presence, and ensure you’re discoverable by the millions of iOS users relying on Apple’s ecosystem.
Table of Contents
- Why Apple Maps Matters for Your Business
- Step-by-Step: How to Add My Business to Apple Maps
- Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: What’s Different?
- Tips to Rank Higher on Apple Maps
- What If My Business Is Already on Apple Maps?
- Common Problems and How to Fix Them
- What Is Apple Business Connect (Not to Be Confused with Apple Business Manager)?
- Apple Business Connect: Everything You Need to Know
- Key Features of Apple Business Connect
- Requirements to Use Apple Business Connect
- Managing Multiple Locations or Chains
- Apple Business Manager: Just for Internal IT
- Final Thoughts on Apple Business Connect
- Final Thoughts
Why Apple Maps Matters for Your Business
While Google Maps dominates globally, Apple Maps has become the default navigation app for over 1.5 billion active Apple devices. From Siri voice searches to iPhone navigation, Apple Maps is integrated into every aspect of the Apple user experience. Missing out on this exposure can cost you customers.
Listing your business is free, and maintaining your profile takes minimal effort. But to appear in searches like “coffee near me” or “bookstores in [city],” your business must be verified and correctly listed. This is where understanding how to add my business to Apple Maps becomes critical.
Step-by-Step: How to Add My Business to Apple Maps
Here’s how to get your business listed and visible:
1. Go to Apple Business Connect
Apple’s official tool for managing business listings is Apple Business Connect, previously known as Apple Maps Connect. It’s the Apple equivalent of Google Business Profile.
- Visit: https://businessconnect.apple.com
- Sign in using your Apple ID. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it first.
2. Create or Claim Your Business Location
Once signed in:
- Click “Add Location” if your business does not yet exist on Apple Maps.
- If it does exist, you can claim the business to take ownership and edit details.
You’ll be prompted to provide:
- Business name
- Address (street, city, ZIP code)
- Phone number
- Website
- Business category
- Hours of operation
Make sure everything is 100% accurate—Apple may verify your data with public listings or data aggregators like Yelp and Foursquare.
3. Verify Your Business
Verification ensures that you’re authorized to manage the business listing.
You can verify in one of several ways:
- Phone call to your business number
- Email verification (if your domain matches the business website)
- Documentation upload such as utility bills or business licenses
Apple’s team may manually review your submission, especially if inconsistencies are detected.
4. Customize Your Listing
Once verified, you can enhance your Apple Maps listing with more detail:
- Add photos of your storefront, interior, or menu
- Write a compelling business description
- Add action buttons (like Call, Website, or Book Appointment)
Apple also allows integration with third-party apps like OpenTable or Yelp for reservations and reviews. Use this to your advantage.
Optimizing this data increases your chances of ranking in local Apple Maps searches.
5. Maintain and Monitor Your Listing
Just like SEO, maintaining a digital presence is an ongoing task.
Here’s what to monitor regularly:
- Update business hours during holidays or seasonal changes
- Respond to customer feedback or reviews (where possible via linked platforms)
- Update imagery or menus to reflect current offerings
Remember: Consistency across platforms (Google Maps, Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps) strengthens your business’s legitimacy and local search visibility.
Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: What’s Different?
When thinking about how to add my business to Apple Maps, it’s worth understanding how Apple’s listing system differs from Google’s.
| Feature | Apple Maps | Google Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Default on Devices | iOS, macOS, Apple Watch | Android, Chrome, Google Search |
| Review Source | Yelp, TripAdvisor, others | Native Google Reviews |
| Listing Manager | Apple Business Connect | Google Business Profile |
| Voice Search | Siri | Google Assistant |
Many iPhone users never install Google Maps, meaning Apple Maps may be their only source of navigation and discovery. That makes it even more vital to understand how to add my business to Apple Maps if you want to reach that customer base.
Tips to Rank Higher on Apple Maps
Once listed, here are some smart tactics to increase your chances of being seen:
✅ Get Reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor
Apple uses third-party platforms to supply reviews. Make sure you:
- Claim your business on Yelp and TripAdvisor
- Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews
✅ Add High-Quality Photos
Photos increase engagement. Use well-lit images of your storefront, products, and team.
✅ Ensure Consistent NAP Data
NAP = Name, Address, Phone Number
Make sure this is identical on:
- Your website
- Google Business Profile
- Social media accounts
- Yelp/Foursquare/TripAdvisor
✅ Choose the Right Category
Apple offers limited category options compared to Google. Select the most accurate match, as this determines your visibility in searches.
What If My Business Is Already on Apple Maps?
If you search Apple Maps and find your business listed (but you haven’t claimed it), don’t panic. You can claim it through Apple Business Connect:
- Search for your business in Apple Maps.
- Scroll down and tap “Claim this place”.
- Follow the prompts to verify and customize your listing.
Knowing how to add my business to Apple Maps also means knowing how to claim and clean up existing data to ensure accuracy.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
❌ Duplicate Listings
If you see multiple listings for the same business, report them to Apple Maps and claim the correct one. Duplicate listings confuse customers and dilute search visibility.
❌ Incorrect Location Pin
If the map pin is wrong, you can move it manually within Apple Business Connect. Accuracy is crucial—especially for businesses in busy downtown areas or malls.
❌ Not Showing Up in Searches
This could be due to:
- Lack of reviews
- Incomplete listing info
- Inconsistent NAP across platforms
Make sure your profile is complete and keep improving your local SEO game.
What Is Apple Business Connect (Not to Be Confused with Apple Business Manager)?
Many business owners confuse Apple Business Connect with Apple Business Manager, but these are two entirely different tools:
- Apple Business Connect is for managing your public business listings on Apple Maps.
- Apple Business Manager is for internal device and app management within an organization (like distributing iPhones, iPads, or custom apps to employees).
Since the topic is how to add my business to Apple Maps, the focus should stay on Apple Business Connect.
Apple Business Connect: Everything You Need to Know
📍 What It Does
Apple Business Connect is the official dashboard for adding, updating, and optimizing your business location across Apple services:
- Apple Maps
- Siri
- Wallet (Apple Pay passes, offers)
- Safari business info cards
- Messages for Business
It gives business owners direct control over how their locations appear in Apple’s ecosystem.
🌍 Who Can Use It?
Any business with a physical location or service area in supported countries can use Apple Business Connect. It supports:
- Local shops
- Restaurants
- Service providers (like dentists, law firms, consultants)
- Chains and franchises
Key Features of Apple Business Connect
🔧 1. Customizable Place Cards
Each business listing (called a Place Card) can include:
- Business logo & photos
- Custom actions (like booking, ordering, calling)
- Hours and holiday updates
- Promotions and special announcements
Place Cards show up in:
- Apple Maps
- Siri queries
- iOS Spotlight Search
📊 2. Performance Insights
Apple provides analytics to help you understand:
- How many people viewed your listing
- How they found it (search, nearby, shared)
- What actions they took (calls, directions, website visits)
This data helps refine your local SEO strategy and gauge customer engagement.
🎯 3. Showcases (Apple Maps Promotions)
Businesses can now use Showcases—small promotional banners on their listing. These can highlight:
- Special events
- Limited-time offers
- New product launches
You can include a headline, photo, short message, and action button. These are ideal for driving real-world foot traffic.
Requirements to Use Apple Business Connect
To successfully sign up and manage your listing:
- You must have an Apple ID.
- Your business must have a physical address or defined service area.
- You may need to upload proof of ownership or legal operation, such as:
- Utility bills
- Business license
- Phone bill with business name and number
Managing Multiple Locations or Chains
If your business has multiple branches, Apple Business Connect allows you to:
- Manage listings at scale
- Upload location data in bulk (via CSV)
- Assign roles (e.g., Marketing Lead for Location A, Ops Manager for Location B)
There’s also an API available for enterprise brands to automate listing updates and analytics.
Apple Business Manager: Just for Internal IT
As a side note, if your organization manages devices or apps internally (for example, you’re a school or enterprise), Apple Business Manager is what you’ll use. It allows:
- Bulk enrollment of company iPhones, iPads, and Macs
- App and software license distribution
- Integration with mobile device management (MDM) systems
However, Apple Business Manager has no role in public business listings on Apple Maps.
Final Thoughts on Apple Business Connect
If you’ve ever asked how to add my business to Apple Maps, then Apple Business Connect is the answer. It’s Apple’s dedicated platform for local business visibility. In an era where mobile-first search and navigation dominate customer behavior, being discoverable on Apple Maps can mean the difference between gaining or losing foot traffic.
Using Apple Business Connect not only helps you get listed, but also allows you to control your brand presence, track performance, and promote offers natively within Apple’s tightly integrated ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
If you’re asking yourself how to add my business to Apple Maps, it’s probably because you recognize the importance of being everywhere your customers search. Apple Maps might not have the exact same reach as Google, but for iPhone users—and there are millions—it’s their primary source of navigation.
By taking just 30–45 minutes to list and verify your business, you position yourself to capture more local traffic, improve credibility, and ensure you’re not invisible on the devices your customers trust most.
Andrej Fedek is the creator and the one-person owner of two blogs: InterCool Studio and CareersMomentum. As an experienced marketer, he is driven by turning leads into customers with White Hat SEO techniques. Besides being a boss, he is a real team player with a great sense of equality.