Hey Siri, What’s the Best Body Shop Nearby? Why Your Shop Should Use Apple Business Connect

Table of Contents

• Intro
• Why Should Your Collision Repair Shop be on Apple Business Connect?
• How to Create Your Shop’s Apple Business Connect Profile
• Final Thoughts

Video

Intro

There’s no shortage of voice assistants and mapping systems today: OK Google, Alexa, Hey Siri, Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, and whatever a car’s navigation system uses.

Let’s talk about the huge percentage of people who are using Apple’s ecosystem, whether it’s through their iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, AppleTV, or HomePod. Those people are the ones who use Siri to ask questions or get information.

When people in your area say…

“Hey Siri, what are some good body shops near me?”

…what comes up, and why?

Apple has recently revamped their system and introduced Apple Business Connect, which is somewhat similar to a Google Business Profile, and lets businesses claim or create a free listing – and those listings are what Siri uses to answer the question above.

Why Should Your Collision Repair Shop be on Apple Business Connect?

Increased Visibility

You want your shop to be visible on all major platforms, and Apple Business Connect is yet another way to do that.

Apple’s platform didn’t previously offer a simple way to update listing information, but with the introduction of Apple Business Connect it’s now incredibly easy to add your contact info, services, special offers, photos, and more.

Trust and Credibility

When someone searches via Siri or Apple Maps, having a listing that is completely filled out helps establish trust and credibility with your potential customers. 

When people see that your business is not only listed, but up to date with current info and images, it shows that your shop is on top of things, and adds legitimacy.

This can be especially important for small shops competing against larger, well-known chains or MSOs.

Easy Listing Management

Apple Business Connect provides an easy-to-use interface for managing and updating business profiles. You can quickly and easily make changes to your shop profile, including adding new photos, services, and special offers.

It’s actually easier to use than a Google Business Profile, so there’s no reason not to update your listing.

How to Create Your Shop’s Apple Business Connect Profile

Sign in With Your AppleID

Chances are you already have an AppleID, but if not, you can simply create one at https://appleid.apple.com/

Once you’ve created your AppleID, make note of your password so you won’t lose it.

You’ll need to verify your email address and/or phone number to complete your registration.

Sign Up for an Apple Business Connect Account

After signing in with your AppleID, you’ll land on a page showing a map. Here you’ll enter your business name and Apple will try to find an existing match. It’s very likely your business will already be in the system, but if not you can add it manually.

In that case you’ll add your address, and drag the pin on the map so that it appears at your main entrance.

To do this, you will need to provide some basic information about your business, including your name, address, and phone number.

Next, add your primary and secondary categories. For most readers of this blog, you’ll probably choose “Body Shop” as your primary category.

Some other categories that may work as your secondary category are:

• Auto & Vehicle
• Auto Customization
• Auto Damage Assessment Center
• Auto Electric Service
• Auto Glass Shop
• Auto Repair Shop
• Car Salvage Yard
• Car Wash
• Towing Service
• Vehicle Wrap Shop

After you’ve chosen your categories, add your website address, and continue on to add your company details, if they’re different from the location you just added. It’s important to note that you will add your business as a legal entity, and one or more locations that fall under that entity.

Verify Your Business Information

Once you have added your business, you will need to verify your business information, in order to prove ownership. This requires uploading a document, such as a lease, insurance policy, or a utility bill that shows your location’s name and address. Apple will typically verify your business information within a few days.

Manage and Update Your Profile

Once your profile has been verified, you’ll be able to finish adding your business details. These final details include:

• Cover photo
• Logo
• About Us (business description)
• Additional photos
• Hours

Create Showcases

Apple has a feature called “Showcases” where you can add temporary promos for 30 days at a time. You can even create them ahead of time and schedule them to run one after the other.

For instance, if your shop offers detailing, you can create a showcase to offer a special. You can add a photo, headline, description, and an action, which could be a link to your website or a button to call your shop.

The list of available actions for a Showcase are:

• Add Photos
• Add to Favorites
• Add to Guides
• Call
• Create New Contact
• Directions
• Recommend This Place (Rate Us)
• Share This Place
• Website (More Info)

Another example might be simply a teaser for your shop’s latest blog post. Showcases are pretty flexible so you can use them how you see fit.

Add Photos Regularly

Continue to add photos over time, whether it’s before and after photos of your repairs, pictures of your team members, images of new equipment, happy customers during delivery, and so on.

Use Reporting Insights

Apple includes an “Insights” page that shows some key metrics, helping you understand your customers actions.

These reports include:

• Taps on this location in search results
• What people searched for before tapping this location
• Where people were when they tapped this location in search results
• Views of your Place Card
• Taps on action buttons (directions, website clicks, calls, shares, and showcase views)
• Where people were when they requested directions

Let Others Help You Manage

You can easily add other people as admins, so they can help manage your listing. This can be trusted people on your staff, or it could be an outside marketing firm, like Conspicuous Digital. 

While it’s easy to set up your listing, keeping it up to date over time becomes a chore, so it’s smart to let others handle that for you.

Final Thoughts

Apple Business Connect is an easy to use system that lets you present your business to your community accurately, and relatively few other shops have created their profiles, so this is an easy way for you to get your shop noticed by the many users of Apple products.

If you need help setting up and managing your Apple Business Connect profile (or any of your online profiles), get in touch today!