Why Your Business Needs Bing Maps on Its Website
Want to make it dead simple for potential customers to find your business? Embedding an interactive Bing Map on your WordPress website is a surefire way to point people in the right direction. But did you know that maps pack some serious SEO power too?
That‘s right – adding a Bing Map to your site can significantly boost your rankings in local search results. When you mark your business location on a map and associate it with your website, search engines like Bing and Google take notice. It‘s a strong signal that helps them verify your business‘s presence and service area.
Bing Maps in particular has some advantages for local SEO:
- Bing powers search and mapping on Yahoo, Amazon‘s Alexa, and Microsoft‘s digital assistant Cortana – extending your map‘s reach
- Bing is the default search engine on Xbox, Windows Phone, and Microsoft Edge, popular with local audiences
- Bing Maps is the exclusive map provider for Ford, Toyota, and Kia‘s in-car navigation systems, putting your business on the map for on-the-go searchers
So not only do embedded Bing Maps enhance the user experience on your site, they give you an edge in the local search game. Pretty sweet, huh?
Bing Maps vs Google Maps: Which One Wins?
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Isn‘t Google Maps the go-to for adding maps to a website? Google may be the big name in web mapping, but I‘m here to tell you that Bing Maps is a worthy contender, especially for WordPress sites.
Check out how the two mapping platforms compare:
| Feature | Bing Maps | Google Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Map coverage | 194 countries | 200+ countries |
| Location data accuracy | 95%+ | 89% |
| Free embed views per month | 125,000 | 28,000 |
| Free API calls per month | 50,000 | 40,000 |
| Map customization options | Extensive | Limited |
Sources: Microsoft, Google, SweetIQ research
Bing Maps matches Google Maps in geographic coverage while boasting better location data precision. It‘s also more generous with free usage limits for embedded maps and API calls.
Where Bing really shines is customization. With the Bing Maps API, you can fine-tune your map‘s appearance to blend seamlessly with your website. Change the map style, colors, landmarks, labels – you name it. Bing gives you control to brand your maps, something that‘s lacking in Google‘s one-size-fits-all maps.
Sold on Bing Maps? Here‘s How to Embed One in WordPress
Alright, you‘re ready to put Bing Maps to work on your WordPress site. Follow along and we‘ll walk through two methods: the quick ‘n easy embed code and the more flexible plugin route. By the end, you‘ll be a Bing-embedding boss!
Method 1: Embed a Bing Map in Two Clicks
Perfect for plopping a single map on a page, the Bing Maps embed code is dead simple:
- Pop over to Bing Maps and search for your location
- Click "Share" and select "Embed map"
- Customize your map size, view, and zoom level
- Click "Generate Code" and copy the HTML code
- In WordPress, add a new "Custom HTML" block
- Paste the embed code and publish the page
Boom, you‘ve got a slick interactive Bing Map on your site! Wasn‘t that easy?
Method 2: Manage Multiple Maps with a Plugin
When one map just isn‘t enough, a WordPress mapping plugin will be your best friend. My go-to is Maps by Supsystic – it‘s free, fully-featured, and purpose-built for Bing Maps. Here‘s how to get rolling:
Step 1: Install and activate the Maps by Supsystic plugin. Look for it in the WordPress plugin directory or search in your dashboard under "Plugins" → "Add New".
Step 2: Register for a Bing Maps API key (free for up to 125,000 views/month). Just sign into your Microsoft account and provide a few details about your site.
Step 3: Enter your shiny new API key in the Maps by Supsystic settings. You‘ll find this under the "Maps" menu in your WP dashboard.
Step 4: Create your first map and give it a name. Choose "Bing Maps" as the engine and configure your map dimensions, alignment, controls, and zoom.
Step 5: Add markers for your key locations. You can customize the marker name, icon, and description. The plugin even supports adding shapes like lines and polygons to your map.
Step 6: Embed the map in any post or page with a shortcode. Maps by Supsystic generates a unique shortcode for each map you build. Just copy/paste it into the WordPress editor to display the map.
That‘s it! With a mapping plugin, you can create multiple unique Bing Maps, customize them to the hilt, and embed them across your site with ease.
Get on the Map: Your Business Depends on It
In the age of digital navigation, your business needs to be on the (embedded) map. Bing Maps is a powerful, intuitive, and SEO-smart way to put your locations front and center on your WordPress website.
I challenge you to implement one of these Bing Maps embedding methods on your site today. Whether it‘s a single map on your Contact page or multiple maps sprinkled throughout your site, your visitors (and bottom line) will thank you.
By following this guide, you‘re well on your way to mapping mastery. Still have questions? Drop a comment below – I‘m happy to help you troubleshoot.
Now go forth and map!
){kind=link}