Bing Places for Business migrates to Bing.com domain with import tools

Microsoft announced the launch of a redesigned Bing Places for Business experience on October 3, 2025. The platform enables businesses to manage their local search presence across Bing search results and Bing Maps at no cost. This overhaul came after months of user research into business owner needs and operational challenges.

The free service allows businesses to create and manage listings that appear in Bing search results and Bing Maps. These listings increase visibility to potential customers searching for local businesses and services. The platform now operates under a new domain structure, transitioning from www.bingplaces.com to www.bing.com/forbusiness as part of broader integration efforts.

Microsoft conducted extensive research with business owners before development began. The research identified three primary concerns among users. First, businesses needed improved discoverability of the Bing Places for Business platform to claim their listings. Second, the portal required simplification with consistent design principles across Microsoft products. Third, the importing process needed to be seamless, allowing business owners to add multiple businesses without manual entry for each location.

The migration to the Bing.com domain represents one of the most significant structural changes in the platform's history. This integration simplifies access for business owners while improving trust and alignment with the broader Bing ecosystem. Whether claiming a listing, updating business hours, or uploading photos, all functions now exist within a single cohesive space under the Bing domain.

The new experience launched on October 3, 2025, with additional features planned for the following months. Current users and their business listings will be automatically migrated to the new platform. When existing users log in with their Bing Places for Business credentials, the system redirects them to the updated interface.

Technical improvements to import functionality

Microsoft made substantial improvements to how business owners import listings from Google Business Profile. The new import flow operates faster and with greater reliability compared to previous versions. The system better preserves key attributes during the transfer process, including business name, hours of operation, and contact details.

Once imported, managing listings has become more straightforward through intuitive dashboards. Business owners can now use bulk editing tools to update multiple listings simultaneously. Real-time status updates provide immediate feedback on listing changes and publication status. These improvements address feedback about the time-consuming nature of managing multiple business locations.

The platform supports both import methods and manual creation. Business owners can import their listings from Google Business Profile with instant verification, or they can create their Bing profile in three steps by adding or claiming their listing directly. For agencies managing client listings, Microsoft provides an agency account option through a dedicated setup process.

Recommendation tool for listing optimization

A new Recommendation Tool launched alongside the redesigned platform. This feature helps business owners enrich their listings with information that drives engagement. The tool uses listing health signals and business segment data to provide targeted suggestions for improvement.

The system recommends adding photos that attract customer attention. It identifies missing business details that drive engagement, such as website links, hours of operations, and social media links. For specific business segments, the tool provides tailored suggestions. Restaurants, for example, receive prompts to add menu links or online ordering capabilities.

This feature particularly benefits business owners new to local SEO who want to improve their visibility in Bing search results. The automated recommendations remove guesswork from the optimization process, pointing business owners toward the most impactful improvements for their specific situation.

Integration with Microsoft advertising ecosystem

Microsoft is offering $500 in advertising credits through Microsoft Advertising when business owners spend $250. This promotional offer appears prominently on the platform's landing page. Terms and conditions apply to the advertising credit promotion.

The platform sits within Microsoft's broader business tools ecosystem. Business owners gain access to Microsoft Advertising for reaching billions of people online. Microsoft Clarity provides free website analytics to capture data on user behavior. Bing Webmaster Tools offers insights and SEO capabilities to improve page rankings on Bing.

For the local search market, this integration creates a unified environment for businesses to manage their online presence. Rather than operating in isolation, Bing Places for Business connects with other Microsoft services that support business growth and digital marketing efforts.

Context for marketing professionals

Microsoft's search advertising business has shown strong performance, with revenue climbing 21% year-over-year to reach $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025. The company has been investing heavily in AI-powered search capabilities and business tools throughout 2025.

The discontinuation of Bing Search APIs in August 2025 represented a shift toward simplified platform access. Microsoft has been consolidating its business management tools while reducing the number of separate systems business owners must navigate.

Google has also been making changes to its business profile ecosystem, discontinuing the My Business Q&A API in November 2025. These parallel developments across major search platforms indicate an industry-wide simplification of business listing management tools.

The timing of this launch coincides with Microsoft's broader AI integration strategy. The company has been expanding Bing Webmaster Tools capabilities, extending historical search performance data to 24 months and introducing new device and country filtering options as of August 2025.

For businesses managing local search presence, the redesigned Bing Places for Business offers a streamlined alternative to maintain visibility across multiple search platforms. The improved import functionality addresses a longstanding pain point for businesses operating on both Google and Bing.

Future development roadmap

Microsoft stated this launch represents just the beginning of planned enhancements. The company continues investing in features that make Bing Places for Business more powerful and accessible. Future development includes deeper integrations with Bing Maps and Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant.

The company also plans expanded support for agencies and other partners managing business listings on behalf of clients. These partnerships could extend the platform's reach beyond individual business owners to professional service providers in the digital marketing industry.

Business owners can access the new platform at https://www.bing.com/forbusiness. Microsoft encourages users to provide feedback through support channels, which will inform future feature planning and prioritization. The company maintains that user input drives the development roadmap for the platform.

Timeline

• March 2025: Google launches AI Mode with conversational search capabilities
• April 2025: Microsoft launches Copilot Search in Bing combining traditional and generative AI search
• May 2025: Microsoft announces Bing Search API retirement effective August 11, 2025
• July 2025: Microsoft search advertising revenue reaches $13.9 billion, up 21% year-over-year
• August 2025: Microsoft expands Bing Webmaster Tools data retention to 24 months
• September 2025: Google discontinues Business Profile Q&A API effective November 3
• October 3, 2025: Microsoft launches redesigned Bing Places for Business with new domain and import tools
• Following months: Additional features planned for continued rollout

Summary

Who: Microsoft launched the redesigned platform for business owners who manage local search listings. The company spent months conducting user research before development. Current Bing Places for Business users will be automatically migrated to the new system.

What: A redesigned Bing Places for Business platform that moved from www.bingplaces.com to www.bing.com/forbusiness. The platform includes improved import functionality from Google Business Profile, a new Recommendation Tool for listing optimization, bulk editing capabilities, and integration with Microsoft's broader business tools ecosystem. The service remains free for business owners.

When: Microsoft announced the launch on October 3, 2025. The new experience went live immediately, with additional features planned for rollout in the following months. The domain migration occurred as part of the October 3 launch.

Where: The platform operates at www.bing.com/forbusiness, replacing the previous www.bingplaces.com domain. Business listings appear in Bing search results and Bing Maps. The service integrates with Microsoft Advertising, Microsoft Clarity, and Bing Webmaster Tools within the broader Bing ecosystem.

Why: Microsoft redesigned the platform in response to user research that identified three key needs: improved discoverability for business owners, simplified portal design consistent with other Microsoft products, and seamless importing without manual entry requirements. The changes aim to help businesses thrive in local search while simplifying the management process.