Set Business Service Area in Bing Places

Setting your service area in Bing Places ensures your business appears in local search results for the areas you actually serve, even if you don’t have a physical storefront. This guide walks you through the process, from signing in to confirming your changes, and covers common pitfalls and fixes.

What You’ll Need

• An active Bing Places for Business account (if you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it and verify your business first).
• Access to the email address associated with your Bing Places account.
• Your business’s exact service area details (cities, ZIP codes, or a radius around your location).

Step-by-Step

1. Sign in to Bing Places. Go to bingplaces.com and sign in with your Microsoft account or the account you used to claim your business listing.
2. Select your business. If you manage multiple locations, you’ll see a dashboard. Click on the specific business you want to edit.
3. Open the “Service Area” settings. In the left-hand menu, look for “Service Area” or “Service areas and hours.” The exact wording may vary slightly depending on your dashboard version, but it’s typically under the “Business Info” or “Location” tab.
4. Choose your service area type. You’ll usually see two options:
   • Radius: Enter a distance (e.g., 25 miles) around your business address. This is best for businesses that travel to customers, like plumbers or mobile dog groomers.
   • Custom areas: Manually add specific cities, ZIP codes, or even draw a custom shape on the map. This is ideal if you serve specific neighborhoods but not others.
5. Enter your service area details.
   • For radius: type a number in the distance field and select miles or kilometers from the dropdown.
   • For custom areas: click “Add area” and either type a city/state or ZIP code, or use the map to draw a boundary. You can add multiple areas.
6. Save your changes. Click the “Apply” or “Save” button at the bottom of the section. Bing will typically show a confirmation message.
7. Verify your changes (optional but recommended). Use Bing Maps to search for your business and see if the service area appears correctly on your listing.

Common Mistakes

• Setting a radius too large. This can attract customers outside your actual service range, leading to disappointed calls and wasted time. Be realistic about how far you can travel.
• Using a radius when you only serve specific neighborhoods. A radius includes areas you might not want to serve. Use custom areas for more precision.
• Forgetting to save. It sounds obvious, but many people close the tab before hitting save, losing all their work.
• Not updating after you expand or shrink your service area. If you change your coverage, update Bing Places immediately to avoid showing outdated info.

Tips

• Use custom areas for better targeting. If you’re a home contractor, you might serve only certain towns. Listing them explicitly helps Bing match you with the right searches.
• Keep your service area consistent with your website. If your website says you serve a 30-mile radius, make sure Bing Places says the same. Inconsistencies can confuse both customers and search algorithms.
• Add a service area even if you have a physical location. If you also travel to customers, you can set both a physical address and a service area. This expands your visibility.
• Review your service area periodically. Business needs change. Set a reminder to check your listing every few months.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the “Service Area” option. If your business type is “Storefront” (e.g., a retail shop), Bing may not show the service area option because it assumes customers visit you. Try changing your business type to “Service Area Business” in your profile, if that’s accurate for you.

My changes aren’t saving. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If that doesn’t work, try a different browser or an incognito window. Sometimes Bing Places has temporary glitches.

The map isn’t showing my custom area correctly. Double-check that you’ve entered valid ZIP codes or city names. If you’re drawing a shape, make sure you click to add points and then close the shape by clicking the starting point again.

My service area shows on the dashboard but not on Bing Maps. It can take up to a few days for changes to propagate across all Bing services. Wait 48-72 hours and check again. If it still doesn’t appear, contact Bing Places support through the “Help” link in your dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a physical address to set a service area?

No. Bing Places allows businesses without a physical storefront to set a service area. You’ll need to hide your address in your listing settings, and then the service area option becomes available.

Can I set multiple service areas?

Yes, you can add multiple custom areas (e.g., several cities or ZIP codes) in the service area settings.

How long does it take for my service area to appear on Bing Maps?

Changes typically take 2-5 business days to reflect on Bing Maps, though it can sometimes be faster.

Will setting a service area affect my ranking?

Yes, it can help. Bing uses your service area to match your business with local searches in those areas, which can improve your visibility for relevant queries.

What’s the difference between a radius and a custom area?

A radius is a circular area around your business location. A custom area lets you define specific boundaries, which is more precise if you only serve certain neighborhoods or cities.

Can I set a service area if I have a physical store?

Yes, if you also serve customers at their location (e.g., a salon that does home visits), you can set both a physical address and a service area.

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