TL;DR: Soon, brands of all sizes will be able to run ads directly on Apple Maps, reaching customers at the exact moment they're deciding where to go. But before that happens, there are a few steps to take in Apple Business so you're ready to run ads when they become available this summer.
Why this matters
Apple Maps users are a high-intent audience. People open Maps when they're exploring new places, looking for something nearby, or actively navigating somewhere.
When ads go live, you can turn a search into engagement with your location.
Apple also notes that claimed businesses get 30% more views on Apple Maps than unclaimed ones. That's true today, before ads even launch. Getting your locations in order now means better visibility immediately and a stronger foundation when ads go live — so you can capitalize and (potentially) drive more traffic.
Step 1: Claim your locations in Apple Business
If your brand doesn't have an Apple Business account, your first step is to register — for free. Go to Apple Business, select Get Started, and follow the verification steps. If you have multiple locations, Apple lets you verify your company once rather than verifying each location individually.
Already have an account? Make sure you have set up your brand and that you've delegated it back to Yext for easy management.
Step 2: Make your place card stand out
When a customer taps your ad, they land on your place card — making it one of the most important customer touch points your brand has on Apple Maps.
Apple Business lets you control how your business shows up on the Map through brand and location features like the ability to add a cover photo, logo, action links, showcases, business photos that appear under "From the Business," and more. Your place card may already show photos from third-party sources, but adding your own means you control what customers see first.
Think of your place card as a mini brand presence on the Map — worth investing in now, before ad traffic arrives.
3. Manage it all through Yext
Claiming locations and keeping place cards accurate across hundreds or thousands of locations is a real operational challenge. Yext's platform is built to help handle that — helping brands manage their presence in Apple Business and across Apple Maps at scale, from a single place.
But the real unlock is delegation. By connecting your Apple Business account to Yext, Apple treats your data with the highest level of confidence, which translates to fewer discrepancies and better visibility. It also opens up capabilities directly in the Yext platform, like: performance analytics integrated directly into Yext's reporting, showcase posts for promotions and events that appear on your place cards, and more control over cover photos and business descriptions.
The connection is secure and straightforward. You complete it yourself — no Apple credentials are shared with anyone else. Once it's done, data starts flowing right away.
Delegating your Apple Business account to Yext now means your locations are claimed, your place cards are ready, and you'll have the visibility to know what's working when ads go live.
Keep up with more of the latest in AI search news here.
