How to Get More Yelp Reviews: Proven Tactics for Improving Ratings
9 out of 10 customers read online reviews before purchasing a business's products or services. So, an endless number of positive reviews on Yelp is one of the sweetest dreams a local business owner can have. Indeed, Yelp is one of the go-to sites for finding information on local businesses.
While there are plenty of review sites, none can match Yelp influences consumers. Did you know that Yelp reviews are used by 45% of customers before they visit a business? Also, research from Harvard Business School indicates that a one-star increase in Yelp ratings results in a 5% to 9% increase in revenue. It's clear that Yelp is one of the most popular review sites (and for a reason), so your business must have a strong presence on the platform.
Here are a few reasons why businesses need to get Yelp reviews:
- It helps build trust with potential customers.
- It helps establish your credibility as an expert in your field.
- It helps you gain exposure among potential clients who would not otherwise know about you.
- It boosts local search engine rankings for relevant keywords.
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With statistics like the following, you know positive reviews make an impact that is well worth the effort:
- People read an average of 10 online reviews before trusting a local business.
- Just 53% of people would consider using a company with less than four stars.
- The average consumer spends 13 minutes and 45 seconds reading reviews before deciding.
So what can you do to get more reviews on Yelp?
Don't Ask for Reviews.
I know it sounds counterintuitive. But Yelp has a particular stance regarding business owners actively seeking reviews for their site. As expressed by the company:
"Most businesses only target happy customers when asking for reviews which leads to biased ratings, so the recommendation software actively tries to identify and not recommend reviews prompted or encouraged by the business."
And don't think Yelp takes it lightly. With their recommendation software, they aim to filter out 'iffy' reviews and only tend to recommend an average of 72% of the reviews submitted.
But should you even care about Yelp's policies?
The short answer is Yes.
The longer answer is that Yelp is very wary of businesses that buy reviews. As a result, they have been monitoring review manipulations with their Consumer Alert program since 2012.
When they notice a business violating their policies, a Consumer Alert pop-up will appear on their Yelp page for all to see. Every time a user clicks on your Yelp listing, the pop-up will appear on their screen, and they will see your page only by closing it. The alert will remain for 90 days, and Yelp only removes it if the business stops its review solicitation practices.
This information can make your head spin as a business owner. But don't get discouraged; remember the statistics above. The good news is that there are still some ways to encourage customers to write reviews without breaking Yelp's policies.
Google Reviews Vs. Yelp: Which Is Better For Your Business?
Google My Business and Yelp are two of the most important directories for local businesses. Both sites offer free listings for companies that want to improve their online presence. So, how do you decide which one is better for your business?
Yelp has been around for longer than Google My Business and has built an extensive database of user-generated reviews and ratings. Google My Business also allows users to manage their business profiles and locations so potential customers can find them on Google Search, Google Maps, mobile devices, and more.
For companies looking to grow their customer base, having a presence on both platforms can be valuable for local search rankings and bringing in new customers.
However, small business owners can benefit immensely from having a Yelp business page because platform users have a high purchase intent.