Birdeye helps businesses push their business information to its network of local directories, apps, and data services from within the Birdeye dashboard.
NOTE:
Since the NAP data is transmitted to the listings seamlessly, any changes that are made to your business information within the 'Setup Profile' tab will be automatically pushed to the network of sites Birdeye supports.
About Listings Category Classification
Listings Category Classification allows you to manage and standardize your business categories across multiple platforms, such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Bing, Yelp, and Birdeye.
Instead of manually selecting categories separately for each platform, you can define your business category once, and the system will automatically map and align it across supported directories. This ensures consistency, accuracy, and reduced manual effort when managing listings for multiple locations.
This feature helps:
Maintain consistent category data across all listing sites
Improve search visibility by aligning with platform-specific category requirements
Reduce errors caused by manual category mismatches
Save time when managing multiple locations
Additionally, Birdeye provides tools, including downloadable files and APIs, to help you cross-reference and validate category mappings across directories.
Using Listings Category Classification
Go to Settings and click ‘Business.’
Select the desired business location.
Click the ‘edit’ icon corresponding to the ‘Business information’ section.
Scroll down to the ‘Primary category’ section and set the primary and additional categories.
NOTE:
By default, the Primary and Additional categories shown here are pulled directly from your Google Business Profile.
After selecting the Primary category, click on the ‘Additional categories’ field and select the desired categories.
NOTE:
Changing your Google categories may cause your Google Business Profile to become unverified. More information on how to reverify can be found here.
A pop-up window appears confirming the category change. Click ‘Update’ to apply the new category.
To update categories for other sources, click the 'Advanced' option.
For example, select ‘Apple’ as source and, if you want to override the existing categories, select the ‘Override categories for Apple’ field.
Click the ‘Primary category’ field to update your primary category, or click the ‘Additional categories’ field to update your additional categories.
Click ‘Update.’
Select ‘Apply.’
You will be redirected to the ‘Business information’ screen, scroll up, and click ‘Save.’
Where to Update Business Information
You can update your business information from the Manage Your Business Profile (Setup Profile tab) for each location.
This includes:
NAP details (Name, Address, Phone number)
Business categories
Business hours and attributes
All updates made here are automatically synced across supported listing platforms.
Bulk Update Categories via UI
You can update business categories (primary and additional) across multiple locations using the Bulk Update via UI option in the business locations page.
Steps to Bulk Update Categories
Click the three vertical dots in the business locations page.
Select Bulk update via UI
Select Locations
Select the desired locations and click ‘Update via UI.’
Choose Business Information Field
In the Business information dropdown, select Category
Click Continue
This ensures only category data is updated without affecting other fields.
View Existing Categories
Click View existing to see:
Current primary category
Existing additional categories
This helps you review existing data before making changes.
Update Categories
Select or update:
Primary category (required)
Additional categories (optional)
Ensure the primary category is accurate, as it has the highest impact on visibility.
Apply Changes
Once you select the primary or additional categories, you’ll be prompted to click ‘Update’ to apply your changes.
After selecting the categories, click ‘Update’ in the top-right corner of the screen to save your changes.
NOTE:
Any fields updated here will be applied to all the selected locations.
Bulk Update Categories via XLS
You can update business categories across multiple locations by uploading a spreadsheet.
Start Bulk Update via XLS
Click the three vertical dots on the Business Profile page
Select Bulk update via XLS
Select Locations
Select the locations you want to update
Click Continue
Download the Spreadsheet
You will be redirected to the upload spreadsheet page.
Update Categories in the Spreadsheet
Open the downloaded file and update the following fields corresponding to the desired Business ID:
Google Primary Category → Enter the main category for the business
Google Additional Categories → Add additional categories (comma-separated, max 9)
Ensure categories are accurate and relevant for each location.
Override Categories for Other Platforms
To update categories for specific platforms (e.g., Apple, Bing):
Enter category values in the respective platform fields
Set the Category Override field:
True → Uses the entered category for that platform
False → Uses automatic mapping based on Google category
Use override only when platform-specific customization is required.
Upload Updated File
Save the updated spreadsheet
Upload the file in the upload section
Start Import
Click Start Import to apply changes
Import Status
Once completed, you will see the Import completed confirmation
Category updates will be applied to selected locations
API Behavior For Category Classification
The system follows specific rules when updating categories.
Scenario 1: Updating a specific source category (e.g., Bing)
Description: If a user or an API call updates a category for a single, specific source (e.g., only Bing), the system will update that vendor's category for the business.
Override Flag Behavior: The override flag for that specific vendor will be set to TRUE, ensuring the user’s explicit input takes priority over any auto-mapping logic.
API Visibility: The override flag is an internal system setting and will not be visible in public API requests or responses.
Scenario 2: Updating only the Google Business Profile category (no other categories updated)
Description: If an API call or user action updates only the Google category without specifying categories for other sources (e.g., Bing, Facebook), the system updates the Google category for the business.
Auto-Mapping Behavior: For other vendors where the override flag is set to FALSE (or not set), the system will automatically map categories based on the updated Google category. This preserves the default auto-mapping behavior for vendors not explicitly updated.
Scenario 3: Updating Google Category and Specific Source Categories for a New Listing
Description: This scenario applies when creating a new listing and providing both the Google category and specific vendor categories (e.g., Facebook) in the same update.
Override Flag Behavior: The Google category will be updated as specified. Any vendor categories provided (e.g., Facebook) will also be updated, with their override flags implicitly or explicitly set to TRUE, ensuring user-defined categories take precedence.
Default Mapping for Unspecified Vendors: For vendors not explicitly updated, their categories will be automatically mapped from the new Google category by default.
API Endpoints
There are no changes to the API endpoints; they continue to work as before.
Schedule Updates In Advance
Businesses can Schedule Updates in Advance for business information, such as:
Business status
Hours
Google more hours
Start Scheduling
Go to the Business locations page
Click the three vertical dots
Select Schedule updates
Click ‘Schedule an update.’
Configure Schedule
Title → Name of the update (required)
Description → Optional details
Locations → Select applicable locations
Scheduled for → Date and time when update should go live
Revert schedule → If you select ‘No, don’t revert content,’ the schedule will remain active indefinitely until manually updated.
If you select ‘Yes, revert content,’ you will need to choose a date and time when this schedule will end, and your original content will be reinstated.
Fields To Update
Select only the fields you want to update. By default, all fields are unselected.
Available options:
Business status
Regular hours
Special hours
Google more hours
Business Status
Select the current status of the business:
Open
Opening soon
Temporarily closed
Permanently closed
Regular Hours
Choose how your business operates:
Open 24/7
By appointment only
Custom schedule
If custom is selected:
Enter opening and closing times for each day
Special Hours
Use this to define exceptions to regular hours.
Examples:
Holidays
Events
Google More Hours
Add additional hours if supported by Google. This option is only available for supported business categories.