Drew Page 27 September 2019

Categories Customer Experience

Why Businesses Must Harness the Power of Yelp

Businesses must learn to navigate platforms like Yelp if they hope to succeed in the public spotlight that is the internet. This article features tips for building a presence on Yelp for business.

The power of Yelp is underestimated in the minds of many business owners. We all want to believe our customers will appreciate everything we produce, but this is a near impossibility. 

Everyone has their own perception and opinion of similar, if not the exact same, experiences. But even sites deemed wonders of the world, such as Machu Picchu in Peru, have received negative reviews. This drives home the point that one man’s wonder of the world is another man’s negative review. 

Review management platforms like Yelp for business and Google My Business are powerful tools that must be understood and harnessed to ensure long-lasting success.

Data-Driven Tips for Yelp Business Listings

1. Upload photos of your business

Yelp reports that users spend 2x as much time on a business’ page if their profile has photos. You’ve heard the saying, a photo is worth a thousand words. I wonder then if a negative review is worth a thousand swear words? 

Responding to negative reviews is the next tip for your business on Yelp. 

2. Respond to reviews (both negative and positive)

Your reviews are the lifeblood of your Yelp business listing. Prospective customers use these reviews to make the final decision whether or not they will make a purchase. 89% of people report they will even read the response from the business owner to the customer’s reviews — which is why you should respond diplomatically.

Here is a template for responding to negative reviews: 

3. Respond to Customer Inquiries Promptly 

Possibly some of the smallest text on Yelp that has the biggest potential to impact the business is the responsiveness to new customer inquiries. If you are searching Yelp for a plumber, for example, you are probably in need of someone to handle your problem in a timely manner. 

Yelp rewards businesses with green text when their response rate is fast. For example, a business that “Responds in about 10 minutes” compared to one that “Responds in about 2 hours” is rewarded very differently by Yelp and subsequent customers. 

Great customer service boils down to being respectful of your customer’s time. If you are respectful of your customer’s time, they will likely be more respectful of yours. 

For even more tips on building the best possible Yelp for business listing, refer to the visual below from Housecall Pro.