Where Does Apple Maps Get Its Business Data

You've probably heard all of the noise about how much Apple Maps suck, only do you lot know what doesn't suck? The one,000,000,000 iOS devices projected to be in the hands of consumers worldwide by 2015.

Simply forget well-nigh the far away future. Tomorrow, Apple tree is probable to unveil the "iPad Air", which combined with the iPhone5 + upgraded older iOS devices + Santa Claus is going to equal tens of millions of new iOS6 devices in use Q1 of 2013, just in the Usa alone. And most users volition be using Apple tree Maps to observe local stuff, no matter how much they purport to suck.

So even if y'all think Google Places is where information technology's at in terms of getting local customers, at the least you need to start thinking about how your business is going correspond itself on Apple Maps.

1. Make Sure Your Business organization Appears On Apple Maps

Catch yourself an iPhone or an iPad and make sure your business organization shows upward for the following queries:

business name + urban center
business name + metropolis + state
business name + street address
business organization name + street address + city
business organization name + street address + urban center + country
concern phone number

If your business listing does non appear for whatsoever of these queries, it'south possible that you may have 1 of the following issues:

Apple Maps does not have your business in its database
Apple Maps is confusing your location with a different location (due east.g. Miami, FL v. Miami, OH)
Apple tree Maps does not accept your location in its database

There is no "official" mode to add together your business organisation to Apple tree Maps at the moment, but you lot tin can try adding it past using the "Report A Trouble" screen on Apple tree Maps or making certain your business is listed in Yelp and the major business list data suppliers for Apple Maps: Acxiom, Factual, Localeze, and TomTom.

ii. Make Sure Your Concern Data On Apple Maps Is Authentic

Apple Maps is having problems getting some of the business listing data right. Oft this is the example because Apple is merging data from various sources and one or more than of the sources has inaccurate information which for some reason Apple may trust more than the expert stuff.

This is very mutual with Google Places and with whatever dataset that uses a multifariousness of sources. So it's important that you check every known Apple Maps information source to make sure they take the right information for your business concern. If your data is out of whack in the U.S., at the moment, again I propose you employ "Written report a Trouble", but the fastest way to improve things, at least in the US, may exist to get a premium list from Localeze.

My understanding is that this service speeds upwardly verification of your business data (all submitted changes to Apple Maps demand to be verified earlier getting published) and is sent to Apple relatively fast. My best guess at the moment is that Localeze has the verification systems in place to get this done faster than Apple tree. Then yous're merely waiting for Apple to update its Localeze file.

If you are not in the US, you'll need to bank check with Acxiom, TomTom or Factual. But be patient, I imagine all of these systems are somewhat overloaded given the number of businesses that are likely requesting updates.

iii. Make Sure You Always Have Recent Positive Yelp Reviews

Pitiful Albertos! Great place to bring the kids and awesome margaritas!

When you look at a business organization profile in Apple Maps, if in that location are Yelp reviews, the latest three usually announced in the "Reviews" tab of the profile. That means if any or all of your last three reviews are negative, they are going to be correct in your potential customers' faces.

In these cases, I strongly recommend getting some positive reviews asap. They appear to exist added to Apple Maps about as soon as they are added to Yelp. However, please don't buy positive reviews. That tactic is for turkeys.

iv. Brand Certain You Don't Have Photos Of Cockroaches Attached To Your Concern

Apple Maps also pulls images into your business profile from Yelp and plays them in a nice slideshow. And then merely similar with reviews, you may want to cheque the images on your Yelp profile to brand certain they don't incorporate whatever cockroaches or pictures of mysterious dishwashers.

5. Make Sure You Check Your Data Often

We are still in the early on days with Apple Maps. Given the amount of work they are probably doing behind the scenes to amend the service, I imagine we are going to see a lot of bumps in the road information-wise over the side by side few months. So review your information regularly to make sure it hasn't been totally borked past the latest update.

For farther reading on the subject, endeavor:

How To Add Your Business Listing To Apple Maps
Apple Maps Business Listings Data Suppliers By Country
Reputation Management for Apple Maps
The Apple tree Maps Ecosystem
Why Isn't My Business Showing Up On Apple Maps?
Yelp & Siri Optimization

(Total disclosure: most of the manufactures above are from my new blog, Apple Maps Marketing. Bank check it out and let me know if yous have any questions. Read on for more than articles on Apple tree Maps at Search Engine Land.)

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the invitee writer and not necessarily Search Engine Country. Staff authors are listed hither.

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