How to Create a Location on Facebook

Ready to get your business on the map? Creating a custom location on Facebook is one of the fastest ways for customers to find you, check in, and share your brand with their friends. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add your location using the Facebook mobile app, what to do if you run into trouble, and how to use your new digital pin to attract more customers.

Why a Custom Facebook Location Matters for Your Brand

Creating a location tag might seem like a small task, but it packs well above its weight in marketing value. It's more than just a pin on a map, it's a tool for community building and a magnet for priceless word-of-mouth promotion that works for you 24/7.

Boosts Local Visibility and Discoverability

When someone is in your neighborhood and searches for “coffee shop,” “boutique,” or “bookstore near me” on Facebook or Instagram, having a registered location puts you in the running. Without it, you're basically invisible to potential customers who are nearby and ready to spend money. A location tag ties your physical business to the digital world, making it ridiculously easy for locals and tourists alike to discover you.

Encourages User-Generated Content (UGC)

Here's where the real magic happens. When customers visit, they can "check in" or tag your location in their posts and stories. This is free, authentic advertising from your biggest fans. Imagine a customer posts a photo of your perfectly crafted latte and tags your coffee shop. Their friends see it, trust their recommendation, and now a whole new group of people know your business exists. This user-generated content acts as a powerful, genuine testimonial that no paid ad can replicate.

Adds Legitimacy and Credibility

An official location tag makes your business feel more established and professional. It's a small but significant trust signal. It shows you're a permanent fixture, not a fleeting pop-up (unless you are a pop-up, in which case it’s still great for building buzz!). When potential customers see an address and a map, it gives them the confidence to visit and reinforces that you're a legitimate operation.

Creates a Content Hub for Your Community

Every public post that tags your location is collected on the location’s page. Think of it as a living, breathing gallery of your customers enjoying what you offer. You can visit this page to see what people are saying, what they're photographing, and get a real-time pulse on your customers’ experiences. It's an invaluable source of feedback and content you can often reshare (with permission, of course!).

How to Create a Location on Facebook (Mobile Guide)

Over the years, Facebook has changed how locations are created, and currently, the most reliable method is through a "check-in" on the mobile app. The desktop version no longer really supports this feature, so grab your smartphone and let's get it done.

Step 1: Start a New Post &, Find "Check In"

Open the Facebook app on your phone. Go to create a new post by tapping "What's on your mind?". Below the text box, you’ll see a row of options like "Photo/Video," "Tag people," etc. Tap the Check In option - it looks like a red location pin.

Pro Tip: Facebook often gets better results if you’re physically at the location you're trying to create, as it uses your phone's GPS for verification. We highly recommend doing this from your place of business.

Step 2: Search for Your Business (and Don't Find It)

Once you tap "Check In," a list of nearby places will appear along with a search bar at the top. Type the full, correct name of your business into the search bar. This step is important: you need to perform a thorough search to show Facebook that your location doesn't already exist. Scroll through the results. If your business isn't there, you’re on the right path.

Step 3: Add Your New Place

After your search comes up empty, scroll all the way to the bottom of the list of locations. You should see a blue button that says something like "Add [Your Business Name Here] as a new place" or simply "Add a New Place". The exact wording can change with app updates, but it’s usually at the very end of the list. Tap that button.

Step 4: Fill Out the Details with Care

You’re now on the "Create New Place" screen. Filling this out accurately is the most important part of the whole process. Take your time to get it right.

Choose the Right Category

Start typing in a category that best describes your business. Are you a "Restaurant"? A "Cafe"? A "Clothing Store"? A "Gym/Physical Fitness Center"? Being specific here helps people understand what you do at a glance and helps you show up in relevant searches. Select the closest match from the options that appear.

Pin Your Physical Location

Next you’ll see a map. You can either type your street address directly into the field or manually drag the pin to your exact location. We recommend doing both to be sure. Zoom in as much as you can to place the pin precisely on your storefront's door. This is what apps use for turn-by-turn directions, so accuracy matters.

Confirm Your City

Your phone's GPS should automatically suggest your current city, but it's always good to double-check that it’s correct, especially if you're in a large metropolitan area with multiple nearby towns. Once everything looks good, tap "Save" or "Done" in the top-right corner to submit it.

After You've Created Your Location: Tips and Troubleshooting

Creating the location is one thing, getting it to show up and work for you is the next step. Here's what to expect and what to do if you hit a snag.

So, Where Is It? A Little Patience Goes a Long Way

After you hit save, don't be surprised if your location doesn't show up immediately. Facebook needs to review and approve your submission. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Don't panic if it's not searchable right away. Try posting your first check-in to your new location right after creating it to help signal to Facebook that it's a real place.

Help! My New Location Isn't Showing Up!

If a few days have passed and you still can't find your new location, here are a few things to check:

• Enable Location Services: The Facebook app needs permission to access your phone's GPS. Check your phone's settings to make sure you've granted location permissions to the Facebook app. Without this, your attempts will likely fail.
• Be Physically at the Location: We mentioned it before, but it's the number one solution. Facebook heavily favors submissions from users who are currently at the physical address they are trying to create. If your first attempt from home didn't work, try again when you're at your business.
• Is the Name Too Generic? If your business name is something very common like "The Cafe" or "The Shop," it might get flagged or buried among similar names. Try making it more specific, like "The Cafe on Main Street."
• Just Try Again: Sometimes, things fail for no reason at all. It might just be an app glitch or a network error. If your location is being stubborn, go through the steps and resubmit it one more time.

Claiming Your Location &, Connecting it to Your Business Page

Once your location "Place" page exists, it might create a new, unofficial page. Your goal is to link this taggable location to your official Facebook Business Page. Think of it this way: the Place page is just the pin on the map, while your Business Page is the official storefront. You want to merge them so that when someone checks in, that activity gets associated with your main brand page. You can do this by going to your main Facebook Business Page's settings and looking for options to merge pages or claim a location. If you see two versions of your page showing up in search - one your official Business Page and one the bare-bones location page you just made - this should be your next move.

Putting Your New Facebook Location to Work

Okay, your location is live! Now let's leverage it to build your brand.

Encourage Check-Ins &, Tags

Don't be shy! Actively ask your customers to share their experience. Put up a small, friendly sign at your checkout counter: "Love your visit? Check in on Facebook!" or "Tag us in your photos!". You could even offer a small incentive, like unlocking a Wi-Fi password after a check-in or a 10% discount on their next purchase if they show you they tagged your location.

Use it on Instagram Too

One of the best benefits is that locations created on Facebook are available on Instagram. Your customers can now use your official location tag in their Instagram feed posts and as a location sticker in their Stories. This integration is huge because it exponentially increases your visibility across the entire Meta ecosystem.

Monitor and Feature User-Generated Content

Make it a habit to check your location's page on Facebook and Instagram. You'll see all the public photos and videos your customers have shared from your business. See an amazing photo? Reach out to the user with a direct message, compliment their work, and ask for permission to feature it on your official channels (with credit, of course). This not only gives you amazing, authentic content but also makes your customers feel special and seen.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a custom Facebook location is a straightforward process that pays off big time through improved local discoverability and genuine customer engagement. By following the mobile check-in method, you can quickly put your business on the digital map and make it simple for happy customers to become your most effective marketers.

Once your location is live and people start tagging your business, managing all that incoming social proof can feel a bit scattered. We built Postbase with that challenge in mind, our platform brings all your comments and mentions from every platform into a single, unified inbox. This helps you keep on top of community engagement and respond to people quickly without the headache of constantly switching between apps.

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