You’ve just launched your small business, and you’re eager to attract local customers. You know that online visibility is crucial in today’s digital age, so you set up a Google Business Profile, Bing Places account, and more local citations for your brand. But there’s one platform that remains uncharted territory: Yelp.
Adding a business to Yelp may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, creating and optimizing your Yelp business listing is an essential step in expanding your customer base and increasing positive reviews from satisfied patrons.
In this comprehensive guide on how to add a business to Yelp, we’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step – from setting up an account or claiming an existing listing, all the way through maximizing visibility by adding high-quality images and responding professionally to customer reviews. Additionally, we’ll share common mistakes that many businesses make when using Yelp so that you can avoid them altogether.
By the conclusion of this guide, you will not only comprehend the significance of having a powerful presence on Yelp for your business but also have the necessary knowledge to build an optimized profile that brings in visitors and creates new prospects.
Understanding Yelp and Its Importance for Businesses
Let’s kick things off with a brief introduction to Yelp.
Yelp is an online business directory that thrives on user-generated content, providing potential customers with essential information about your establishment.
But why should you care?
The answer is simple: adding your business to Yelp allows users to create reviews by posting pictures, videos, comments, ratings, and check-ins – all of which can significantly impact your customer base and local reputation.
The Power of Reviews: Why You Need a Yelp Business Listing
A strong presence on Yelp means more visibility for your business among local customers who are actively searching for products or services like yours.
In fact, studies show that 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business.
This makes it crucial for small businesses to have their information readily available on platforms like Yelp where potential customers can easily find them.
Beyond Reviews: The Benefits of Having Your Business Information on Yelp
Sure, the primary focus may be those ever-important reviews. But there’s more.
- Your Google Business Profile gets a boost when you’re listed in directories such as a Yelp business listing. This helps improve search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
- You get access to free tools from the platform itself. These include analytics reports showing how many people viewed or clicked through from your listing page each month – invaluable data.
- Yelp offers a range of advertising options for businesses looking to reach even more potential customers. However, this may incur additional costs.
Now that you understand the importance of having your business on Yelp, let’s dive into how to add it and make the most out of your listing.
A Word of Caution: Yelp Controversies
Before we move forward, it’s important to address some controversies surrounding Yelp.
The platform has been under fire in the media for allegedly extorting business owners through their advertising practices – with a documentary called “Billion Dollar Bully” shedding light on these claims. The film claims that they extort small businesses by removing positive business reviews unless companies pay up. While this remains an ongoing debate among small businesses worldwide, always conduct thorough research before making any decisions about your online presence.
Thousands of business owners online (and a whole lot who I’ve met in person) have mentioned being called non-stop by the advertising team at Yelp. They’ve also claimed that once they stopped advertising, many of their real reviews were getting deleted. In addition, Yelp is known to not even allow real reviews to be published, and they won’t ever entertain removing fake negative reviews.
The best tip I have here, is to simply create and manage your Yelp listing, but do not spend money running ads, as they are known to play dirty tricks once you stop running ads.
So, just be mindful and prudent when taking advantage of Yelp. In spite of any controversy, many small businesses have found success by maintaining an active presence on Yelp and utilizing its features responsibly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Add Your Business on Yelp
First things first, the easiest way to get your business on Yelp, is to do so through Direction Local. Once you sign up, our platform will automatically create your Yelp listing for you. Once that’s done, all you have to do is claim it.
Now, if you want to go the manual route, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with this step-by-step guide.
Creating a New Account or Logging In
The first thing you need to do is head over to the Yelp for Business Owners page.
Since you’re new to Yelp, click “Get Started.”
You’ll be prompted to create an account using your email address and password.
If you already have an account, simply log in and proceed from there.
Claiming an Existing Listing
Sometimes, your business might already exist on Yelp without your knowledge (thanks to those enthusiastic reviewers). If that’s the case, claim your business by searching for it using its name and location in the provided fields. Found it? Great. Click “Claim This Business.”
Adding Business Information
Now that you’ve claimed your business, it’s time to add your business information. Complete the form with your company name, address, contact number, website URL and business type. Make sure to provide accurate information to avoid any confusion with your customers.
Creating Your Yelp Profile
Next, it’s time to create your Yelp profile. Add a business description that accurately represents your business and what you offer. This is your chance to showcase your business to potential customers, so make it count.
Adding Photos
Photos are a great way to showcase your business to potential customers. Include visuals of your business, goods, and services to give customers a better understanding of what you have available.
Encouraging Reviews
Yelp reviews are a great way to build your customer base and attract new customers. Encourage your customers to leave reviews by providing excellent service and asking them to leave a review on Yelp. Be sure to adhere to Yelp’s regulations when requesting reviews, as they are quite strict.
Understanding Yelp Charges
Yelp is free to use, but they do offer paid advertising options for businesses looking to increase their visibility on the platform. Make sure to understand Yelp’s advertising options and charges before signing up for any paid services (not necessary at all if your goal is to improve your local SEO).
To improve local search rankings, it’s important to have a Yelp business listing. This can be done by creating an account or logging in, claiming an existing listing if applicable, adding accurate business information and photos, encouraging reviews while following Yelp’s guidelines on soliciting them, and understanding any potential charges for paid advertising options.
Optimizing Your Listing for Maximum Visibility
Once you’ve got your business up on Yelp, it’s time to make sure it really stands out.
Let me walk you through some key steps to optimize your listing and attract more local customers:
Adding High-Quality Images
A picture is worth a thousand words – especially on your business Yelp page.
Your Yelp photos should showcase different aspects of your establishment, like interior design, dishes served, or services offered.
The higher the quality of these images, the better impression they’ll leave on potential customers browsing through listings.
Responding Professionally to Customer Reviews
We all know business reviews can make or break a small company on Yelp. So how do you handle them?
Step #1: Thank every reviewer for their feedback – yes, even if it’s negative. This shows other users that you care about customer satisfaction.
Step #2: Address any concerns raised in negative reviews by offering solutions or explaining what went wrong. Be polite and professional at all times.
Updating Important Details Regularly
No one likes outdated information, especially when it comes to making plans.
Ensure your Yelp business information is always up-to-date with current opening hours, contact numbers, and any other relevant details.
This way, potential customers won’t be left in the dark or disappointed by inaccurate info.
Leveraging Yelp’s Features for Business Growth
Did you know that Yelp offers a variety of features specifically designed to help businesses grow?
Step #1: Use Yelp Ads to increase visibility and reach more local customers who are searching for businesses like yours.
Step #2: Offer exclusive deals or discounts through the Yelp Deals program, which can incentivize users to choose your establishment over competitors.
If you follow these steps diligently, your optimized listing will soon attract attention from local customers seeking out establishments just like yours. Happy Yelpping.
To optimize your business listing on Yelp, add high-quality images that showcase different aspects of your establishment, respond professionally to customer reviews by thanking them for their feedback and addressing any concerns raised in negative reviews, update important details regularly such as opening hours and contact numbers, and leverage Yelp’s features for business growth by using Yelp Ads to increase visibility and offering exclusive deals or discounts through the Yelp Deals program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Your Business to Yelp
As you add your business to Yelp, take care not to make any mistakes that could damage your online reputation or break the site’s rules. Pay close attention to these mistakes.
Creating Multiple Listings
One major mistake business owners make is creating multiple listings for the same establishment on Yelp. This can confuse potential customers and dilute your overall visibility in search results. To avoid this issue, claim an existing listing if it already exists or create a new one if necessary – just don’t duplicate them.
Leaving Incomplete or Inaccurate Information
An incomplete or inaccurate business profile on Yelp is like showing up to a party with mismatched shoes – it doesn’t leave the best impression. Your Yelp Business Account allows you to provide essential information such as contact details, opening hours, and services offered. Use this opportunity wisely.
Avoid Violating Yelp’s Terms of Service
Yelp has a set of guidelines that businesses must adhere to, and violating these can lead to penalties or even removal from the platform. Some examples include offering incentives for positive reviews, manipulating review content, or posting fake negative reviews about competitors. Be sure to be acquainted with Yelp’s Terms of Service in order to abide by their regulations.
Understanding Yelp’s Review Policies and Advertising Costs
It is crucial to understand how Yelp’s review policies work in order not to inadvertently violate them. You should also be aware that advertising on Yelp comes at a cost; however, it might be worth considering if you want increased visibility for your business listing within search results pages displayed across multiple devices used by potential customers browsing online resources available today (such as smartphones).
When adding your business to Yelp, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can harm your online reputation and violate Yelp’s policies. These include creating multiple listings for the same establishment, leaving incomplete or inaccurate information, violating Yelp’s terms of service, not understanding their review policies and advertising costs, and being aware of the controversy surrounding Yelp. By following these tips you can ensure a successful listing on this popular platform.
FAQs on Adding Your Business to Yelp
How Do I Add my Business to Yelp?
If you’re a business owner looking to expand your customer base, adding your business to Yelp is a great way to get started. Yelp is a popular platform that allows local customers to find and review businesses in their area. Here’s how you can add your business to Yelp:
- Create an account on Yelp if you don’t already have one.
- Search for your business on Yelp to see if it already exists in their database.
- If your business is not listed, click on the “Add Business” button on the top right corner of the page.
- Fill out the required information about your business, including the business name, address, phone number, website, and category.
- Upload high-quality images of your business to your Yelp profile.
- Verify your business information by phone or email.
- Once your business is verified, you can start managing your Yelp profile by responding to customer reviews and updating your business information.
Why Add My Business to Yelp?
Adding your business to Yelp can help you reach a wider audience and attract more local customers. Yelp is generally a trusted platform (at least, by consumers) that many people use to find local businesses, so having a presence on Yelp can help you build credibility and trust with potential customers. Additionally, adding your business to Yelp is completely free, so there’s no reason not to do it.
How Do I Optimize My Yelp Profile?
Once your business is listed on Yelp, it’s important to optimize your profile to make it as attractive as possible to potential customers. You can do so through Direction Local, or manually – and here are some tips:
- Add accurate and detailed information about your business, including your hours of operation, services offered, and pricing.
- Respond professionally to customer reviews, both positive and negative.
- Upload high-quality images of your business to your Yelp profile.
- Include keywords in your business description that potential customers might search for, such as “local businesses” or “small businesses”.
- Link your Yelp profile to your Google Business profile for maximum visibility.
Get Listed on Yelp, and 100+ Other Business Directories
Incorporating your enterprise into Yelp is a critical measure for constructing an effective digital presence. Follow our guide to create or claim your listing, optimize it for visibility, and avoid mistakes like duplicates or incomplete information. Avoid common mistakes like creating duplicate listings or leaving incomplete information, and navigate through review policies and advertising costs.
Despite controversies surrounding Yelp, the platform remains a valuable tool for businesses looking to connect with customers. Take advantage of its features by responding to reviews, updating your information regularly, and utilizing advertising options.
If you’re ready to take your business’s online presence to the next level beyond just adding it on Yelp, schedule a demo to learn more about Direction Local today!
