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2011 Bing Business Portal

Posted by Colleen Frye

UPDATE: Are business listings you created in Bing Local missing when you log into the new Bing Business Portal?  We’ve noticed across several clients that business listings claimed before April 1 have not migrated into the Bing Business Portal.  Others have also noted this in Bing’s forums.  Bing recommends that you fill out this online form if previously-claimed locations are missing from the Bing Business Portal.

ORIGINAL POST: Microsoft, a multinational corporation, has released its newly upgraded version of Bing’s directory of local businesses, which allows users to update, claim and manage their business listings for free.

What was once called Bing Local Listing Center is now being referred to as Bing Business Portal Beta.  The platform is in beta, which means it’s still in the testing phase.

The portal allows for business owners to dress up their listings by adding their company logo, photos and basic information.  In addition, you can add store hours, parking availability, and types of payments accepted.  This might sound familiar because you could do this in past versions, but Bing Business Portal has added even more features:

  • Mobile Products (refer to first image below)- where you can add product descriptions to your profile page for mobile use
  • Specialties (refer to second image below) – where you scan decide a percentage portion of your business efforts
  • Facebook – enabling users to post information from the portal to their Facebook page
  • Coupons – the option to share your best deals with the public

…plus MORE!

Like other prominent search engines (i.e. Google and Yahoo), Bing has created this tool to assist businesses in obtaining professional relationships with those in their local areas, online.

We will keep you updated on any new changes the Beta version has in store for us!  We encourage you to explore your account, and if you don’t have one- it’s easy and free to sign up.