2026 context: keep the business record complete while verification is resolved
Local internet business directories can help your business out locally. While you may consider your business to be web-wide, there’s nothing wrong with getting the support of the local population, particularly if your business has a bricks and mortar presence too. Even if you do all your work over the web, there’s no telling who might be living in the same area as you who needs exactly the skills your business offers. Don’t miss out on local attention thinking that just being on the web will catch everyone.
Local search engine listings may be little more than an afterthought to some webmasters, but they are a source of business that you shouldn’t ignore. Optimizing your site for local searches and making sure you’re listed in the local versions of the major search engines is a smart move, and doing so is fairly quick and easy.
A Bing listing asks for contact and business information, additional phone numbers, email addresses, hours, and other details about the company. Check that the map pin is correct before submitting it. Having complete listings on local search providers is good for a business and gives local customers another way to find it. As of August 2026, use Bing’s current verification workflow and support path before changing core profile details or creating another listing.
Adding your business to local listings, even if you don’t have a physical store, can do your site good. There are plenty of shoppers who prefer to shop locally when possible, and you want your business to be in the running. Don’t miss out on local searches by neglecting to list on the big local search sites.
February 2025 incident record
Microsoft’s Bing Places for Business has been broken for months, with no fix in sight. The verification page still displays the message: “Due to some operational issues, we are unable to initiate your postcard verification. We hope to resolve this issue by Jan 31.”
Originally, this deadline kept getting pushed further down the calendar. Now, they’ve simply stopped updating it—leaving businesses stuck, unable to verify their listings, and the message outdated by over a week.
Seriously, Microsoft—you’re a $3.5 trillion company, yet you can’t manage to fix a basic function that allows local businesses to appear on your map? Instead, you’re too busy pushing AI into every product while neglecting essential services. Maybe focus on making Bing Places actually work before expanding into the next big thing. This is beyond ridiculous.
Sources: Bing Places for Business · Bing Webmaster support · Web Moves: local business directories (2010 archive) · Web Moves: local-search archive (2010)
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