With a new year comes a fresh start. And what better way to ring in the new year than refreshing your Yelp page and advertising program to grow the number of customers finding and choosing your business on Yelp. To get you started, we’ve put together some tips to grow your business in 2019.
Drive potential customers to your Yelp page
Changing your hours of operation? Offering new services? Your customers want to know! Make it easy for people to find your business on Yelp by keeping your hours, address, phone number, specialties, and other important details up to date. Plus, businesses with a complete Yelp page on average see 135% more page views.*
When thinking about your business online, people make decisions based on what they see. Highlight all your business has to offer and help paint a full picture for your customers by uploading new photos of your products, services, and staff. Plus, 48% of Yelp users view photos on business pages before making a purchase.* You can also purchase a Slideshow Upgrade where you select the photos you want customers to see on your Yelp page and in the search results.
Grow your business with Yelp Ads
Drive even more traffic to your business page by signing up for Yelp Ads or restarting your ad campaign in the New Year. Yelp Ads puts your business in front of consumers who are looking to make a purchase and promotes your business in a variety of places, including above search results and on the Yelp pages of nearby businesses in your category.
Highlight a favorite photo or special review in your Yelp ad, while also reaching more of the right people by mapping the area where you want your ad to be shown with our new Custom Ads feature. With recent changes to the Yelp Ads program, you’re able to set your own budget and make adjustments as you go.
Last January, over 320 million searches were performed on Yelp, so now is a great time to kick start your ad campaign to help reach more people searching for a business like yours.** Plus the earlier you start advertising, the more repeat customers you can bring back into your business for the entire year.
Let customers know you’re on Yelp
Yelp leverages the most effective method of marketing to get you more business: word of mouth. Our community is one in which consumers not only trust, but count on for recommendations. Get more eyes on the Yelp page your team has worked so hard to build by following these tips:
Request a “Find Us On Yelp” sticker
Let customers know you value their feedback by ordering a Find Us On Yelp sticker. Place this sticker in a visible area of your business or van/truck window to remind people of your presence on Yelp.
Place a Yelp logo or badge highlighting your star rating on your website to direct customers to your Yelp page.
Order Yelp marketing materials
Place Yelp branded materials in your store, such as customizable business cards, business hour signage, and Yelp stickers to remind customers that they can engage with your business while they’re at your location.
Connect with your community
Now that you’ve got all of the tools to get your Yelp page and business location ready for the new year, start connecting with the people that matter most – your customers!
As a business owner, engaging with your Yelp reviews is a great way to learn from your most vocal clients. Responding to reviews, especially the critical ones, builds goodwill with your customers and can bring more visibility to your Yelp page. Learn more about our Dos and Don’ts of responding to Yelp reviews.
Continue the conversation with your customers and keep them coming back by setting up a Check-in Offer. Create a special offer available to customers when they “check in” to your business.
Last but not least, don’t forget to share your business’s highlights on social media. Pick a Yelp review you love and click “Share Review.” Tell your most loyal followers and prospective customers how much people in the Yelp community love coming to your business.
From our team to yours, we wish you a successful 2019!
* Yelp Internal Data, 2017
**Yelp Internal Data, 2018
The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.