If your business isn’t on Apple Maps — or your listing is wrong, unclaimed, or pulling photos from Yelp — now is a good time to fix that. Apple Maps ads are launching in July 2026, and a claimed, optimized listing is the foundation everything else is built on.
Here’s how to get set up.
Why Apple Maps Matters Right Now
Apple Maps is the default map app on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If someone with an iPhone asks Siri for a coffee shop, searches for a plumber, or opens Maps to find somewhere for lunch, your listing is what they see — or don’t.
Claimed businesses get 30% more views on Apple Maps, according to Apple’s own data. That gap exists right now, before ads even enter the picture.
When ads launch in July, businesses without a complete listing will be at a disadvantage from day one — you can’t run ads effectively without a solid place card underneath them.
What Is Apple Business Connect?
Apple Business Connect is Apple’s free platform for managing how your business appears across Apple Maps, Siri, Wallet, and other Apple apps. Think of it as Apple’s version of Google Business Profile. You claim your location, verify your business, and control what people see when they find you.
It’s free to use. The ads platform launching in July will run through Apple Business Connect, so if you plan to advertise, you need an account regardless.
Step 1: Claim Your Location
Before anything else, find out whether your location is already claimed.
You can check without logging in:
- Search for your business on Apple Maps
- Tap your location’s card
- Scroll to the bottom
- If you see “Claim this place,” it hasn’t been claimed yet
To claim it, you’ll need an Apple Business Connect account.
If you don’t have an account:
- Go to Apple Business Connect at businessconnect.apple.com
- Select Get Started
- Sign in with your Apple Account or Managed Apple Account
- Follow the prompts through business verification
- Verification may take a few days
If you have multiple locations, you can verify your company once with Apple rather than verifying every location individually. Worth knowing if you’re managing more than one.
Once you’re in:
- Select the Brands tab at the top
- Select Locations in the left navigation
- Check the status — if it shows Verified, you’re claimed
- If not, select Add Location and follow the prompts
Step 2: Optimize Your Place Card
Your place card is what people see when they tap your business in Maps. When ads launch, it’s also where people land after tapping your ad. A bare-bones place card is a missed opportunity.
Here’s what a complete place card includes:
- Cover photo — the first image people see
- Logo — your brand mark
- Photos — at least five; you can add up to 100. Use HEIF, JPEG, or PNG files. Show your exterior, your products, your services in action.
- Custom actions — directions, call, and website are standard. You also get one customizable CTA, like “Book a Consultation,” “Request a Quote,” or an app download link.
- Business info — hours, address, phone number, website. Make sure it’s accurate.
One thing worth knowing: if you don’t upload your own photos, Apple Maps pulls images from third-party sources including Yelp. You may not have control over what Yelp has on file for your business. Adding your own photos is a quick fix that costs nothing and makes a real difference.
To add photos:
- Sign in to Apple Business Connect
- Select the Brands tab
- Select Locations
- Choose the location you want to update
- Navigate to the Photos section and select Add Photos
Step 3: Set Up Your Custom Actions
Beyond the standard directions, call, and website buttons, Apple Business Connect lets you add one custom action to your place card. This is where you can send people somewhere specific — a booking page, a contact form, a quote request, an app download.
Most businesses leave this blank. Don’t leave this blank.
Think about what action you most want a Maps user to take and set that as your custom CTA. It takes five minutes and turns a passive listing into something that actually drives leads.
What This Sets You Up For
A claimed, optimized listing does three things:
- Gets you more views right now, before ads launch
- Makes your business eligible to run Apple Maps ads in July
- Gives people who find you organically a reason to call, get directions, or visit your site
If you’re planning to run ads, this is step one. There’s no shortcut around it — the listing has to be in good shape before the ad spend means anything.
Need Help Getting Set Up?
We help Indiana businesses get their Apple Business Connect listings in order and manage their Apple Maps ad campaigns once the platform goes live. If you’d rather not navigate a new platform on top of running your business, we’ve got it.