Claiming Your Local Small Business Listings Online

If you’re a small business owner, one of the easiest ways to get more customers is to show up where they’re already looking. That’s where local business listings come in. These listings show your business’s name, address, phone number, hours, and more on sites like Google, Yelp, and Apple Maps.

In many cases, your business might already be listed — even if you never created the listing yourself. That’s why knowing how to claim your business listing matters. When you claim it, you can take control of your information, respond to reviews, and help more people find you online.

Let’s walk through how to claim local business listings in 2025 and why doing so helps you grow your business.

Why claim your local business listing?

Claiming your listings does a few things that can make a big difference:

• Keeps your info accurate. Claimed listings let you update your phone number, hours, and location so customers aren’t misled.
• Improves your search ranking. Google and other search engines want to show trusted businesses. If your name, address, and phone number — often called NAP — match across all your listings, it can help your rankings.
• Lets you respond to reviews. Once you claim your page, you can thank happy customers or address negative reviews — a great way to build trust.
• Builds credibility. Google says customers are 70% more likely to visit businesses with complete profiles.

Start with a quick search

Before creating a new listing, search your business name online. You might already be listed on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook. If so, follow the prompt that says something like “Claim this business” or “Own this business?”

If you don’t find your business, don’t worry — you can usually add it yourself.

RELATED: 11 Ways to Dominate Local Search

How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

Google is where most people start when looking for local businesses. Claiming your listing there is a must.

1. Go to Google Business Profile.
2. Sign in with a Google account.
3. Search for your business. If it shows up, click “Claim this business.” If not, click “Add your business.”
4. Enter your info: business name, category, address, phone, hours, and website.
5. Choose a verification method. This is usually a postcard mailed to your address, but Google may also allow phone, email, or video verification.
6. After verification, add photos, write a description, and check your listing regularly.

How to Claim Your Yelp Business Page

Yelp is especially popular for restaurants, home services, and local shops.

1. Go to biz.yelp.com.
2. Search for your business and click “Claim this business,” or add it if it’s not listed.
3. Create a free Yelp business account.
4. Verify your connection by phone or email.
5. Update your info, add photos, and respond to reviews.

Yelp discourages asking customers for reviews and may filter them if it thinks they’re not organic.

How to Claim Your Apple Maps Listing

Lots of iPhone users rely on Apple Maps and Siri for directions. Apple’s free tool, Business Connect, lets you claim and manage your listing.

1. Go to Apple Business Connect.
2. Sign in with an Apple ID.
3. Search for your business or add it.
4. Upload documents (like a business license or utility bill) or verify via email or phone.
5. Once verified, you can add photos, a business description, and special features.

How to Claim Your Bing Places Listing

Bing powers Microsoft search and still gets millions of searches each month.

1. Go to bingplaces.com.
2. Sign in with a Microsoft or Google account.
3. Search for your business and click “Claim” or add it.
4. You can import your info directly from Google Business Profile.
5. Verify by postcard, phone, or text.

How to Claim Your Facebook Business Page

Facebook is a place where people find businesses through recommendations and groups.

1. Log in to Facebook with your personal profile.
2. Search for your business. If you see an unofficial page, click “Is this your business?”
3. If no page exists, go to facebook.com/pages/create.
4. Add your business name, category, and details.
5. Add a profile photo, cover photo, and call-to-action button.
6. Enable reviews and respond to customer messages.

Keep your listings consistent

Your business info should match everywhere. Even small changes — like using “St.” in one listing and “Street” in another — can confuse search engines and lower your rankings.

Make it a habit to:

• Use the same business name, address, and phone on every listing
• Update your hours for holidays or changes
• Add fresh photos every few months
• Respond to new reviews quickly

Consider other helpful directories

The five platforms above are the most impactful for most businesses. But depending on your industry, you might also want to claim listings on:

• BBB (Better Business Bureau): Adds credibility, especially for contractors and service providers.
• Angi (formerly Angie’s List): Great for home service businesses.
• TripAdvisor: Ideal for hotels, attractions, and restaurants.
• Nextdoor: Helps hyper-local businesses connect with neighborhood customers.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been wondering how to claim your business listing, now’s the time to get started. Claiming your listings helps your business show up in search, builds trust with potential customers, and makes it easier for people to contact you.

Start with Google, then move on to Yelp, Apple, Bing, and Facebook. From there, you can branch out to industry-specific directories. You don’t have to do it all at once — just tackle one or two a week.

It’s free, and it can make a big impact.

Want more help running your business? ZenBusiness offers tools and services to help you start, run, and grow your company — from business formation to compliance and beyond.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.