Using Yelp Effectively for your Business

In the web design field, we see this all too often: small businesses link their website to social media pages including Yelp, but their page is virtually empty. A customer may check back at that link once or twice, but beyond that, no one will visit a page that isn’t updated. Customers may even forget about your Yelp page after awhile if you don’t use it. The thing about using social media in connection with a custom website is these pages are only helpful for a business if they use them. If you really aren’t reaping the benefits of a particular social media page, you might consider removing it, but if you want to know how to use Yelp to improve your business, read on.

First, it’s important to know why you would want to focus your efforts on this particular site. Yelp is a review site with over 60 million users and it’s where most potential customers are directed when they want to find out the opinions of other consumers like themselves.  Reading a positive review on Yelp may sway a skeptical viewer’s decision to give your company a try for what they need.

Once you know the potential benefits of using Yelp, you’ll want to make sure you claim ownership of your page. Many businesses, even new ones, are already listed on Yelp by someone who wanted to post a review about you. Search for your company name, then click on “Work here? Unlock this business page” If you find it.  Doing so will ensure only accurate information is recorded on your page. When you first start working with your profile, look at competitors pages with high ratings to see the techniques they are using that make them a Yelp success. Also check out a few low rated companies in your industry and compare the difference between the two—photos, interesting (or drab) links, and patterns in reviews. Then fill out as much information as possible to complete your profile—the more information a customer can get before coming to your location, the better the chance are that they will do business with you. Once your profile is accurate and complete, begin to build a photo gallery. Make the photos look professional and capture your location and main products. Finally, it’s important to read each review and respond to them appropriately. You can use positive reviews to add quotes to your site and negative ones to realize which areas of service might be getting overlooked. By keeping a close eye on your Yelp profile, (including the dashboard metrics), you will be fostering a helpful online marketing strategy.

Beyond Custom Websites includes social media integration as one of our many custom website design services. In addition to the unique layouts, easy to use navigation, relevant, search engine optimized content, and technical support; we include links to all the social media pages you use. Beyond Custom Websites has experience working with small businesses in several industries. If you want an ongoing, personalized experience with your web designer, contact us today. Visit our website to learn more about what we do.