Yelp Business, often referred to as “Yelp for Business Owners,” is a platform provided by Yelp that allows business owners to manage and enhance their presence on the popular review website, Yelp.com.
Essentially, it’s the backend tool that enables companies to interact with the Yelp ecosystem and leverage it for marketing and customer engagement.
Here’s a breakdown of what Yelp Business is and how it works:
What is Yelp?
First, it’s important to understand Yelp itself.
Yelp is an online platform founded in 2004 where users can discover, review, and rate local businesses of all types – from restaurants and salons to plumbers and dentists.
It aggregates crowd-sourced reviews, photos, and detailed business information to help consumers make informed decisions.
What is Yelp Business (for Business Owners)?
Yelp Business is the dedicated portal and set of tools for business owners to:
- Claim and Manage Their Business Page:
- Yelp pages for businesses are often created by Yelp users themselves, even if the business hasn’t officially claimed it.
- Business owners can “claim” their existing Yelp listing (or create one if it doesn’t exist) to gain control over the information displayed.
- Update Business Information:
- Edit core details like hours of operation, address, phone number, website, services offered, menus, and photos. This ensures potential customers have accurate and up-to-date information.
- Engage with Customers and Reviews:
- Respond to Reviews: Businesses can publicly reply to customer reviews, both positive and negative. This allows them to thank customers, address concerns, or offer solutions, demonstrating good customer service to potential new clients.
- Send Private Messages: Directly message reviewers for more discreet communication.
- Flag Inappropriate Reviews: Report reviews that violate Yelp’s content guidelines.
- Track Performance and Analytics (Free Tools):
- Access insights into how users interact with their Yelp page, including page views, customer leads (like calls or direction requests), and review trends. This helps businesses understand their online visibility and what resonates with customers.
- Utilize Free Marketing Features:
- Add photos and videos to showcase their business.
- Post updates or announcements (e.g., special offers, new services).
- Offer “Check-in Offers” to encourage Yelp users to visit.
Paid Features and Advertising
While claiming and managing a basic Yelp profile is free, Yelp Business also offers various paid features and advertising options for businesses looking to enhance their presence further:
- Yelp Ads: Businesses can run targeted pay-per-click (PPC) ads that appear in Yelp search results or on competitor pages, driving more traffic to their listing or directly to their website/contact.
- Enhanced Profiles: Paid upgrades that allow businesses to customize their page further, remove competitor ads from their listing, add a prominent call-to-action button, and choose the order of their photos.
- Business Highlights: Feature specific attributes of their business (e.g., “Good for groups,” “Outdoor seating,” “Accepts credit cards”).
- Portfolios: For service businesses, showcase past projects with photos.
- Verified License: Display a badge indicating their business license has been verified by Yelp, building trust.
- Yelp Reservations/Waitlist/Guest Manager: Tools for restaurants and other businesses to manage bookings, waitlists, and guest relationships directly through Yelp.
- Request a Quote: A feature for service businesses to receive direct quote requests from users.
Benefits of Yelp Business for Companies
- Increased Visibility: Yelp is a highly trafficked platform, especially for local searches. A strong Yelp presence puts businesses in front of a large, high-intent audience looking for local services and products.
- Reputation Management: It provides a direct channel to manage online reputation by responding to feedback and showcasing positive reviews.
- Credibility and Trust: User reviews serve as social proof. A good rating and active engagement build trust with potential customers.
- Local SEO Boost: Yelp listings often rank well in Google search results, especially for local queries, further enhancing online discoverability.
- Customer Insights: Analytics provide valuable data on customer engagement and preferences.
- Direct Customer Engagement: Features like messaging, quote requests, and booking tools streamline communication and conversion.
In essence, Yelp Business is a crucial tool for any local business aiming to thrive in the digital age, allowing them to control their narrative, attract new customers, and build lasting relationships based on transparent customer feedback.
