Local businesses: Here’s the Best Way to Reach More Customers

Want to get your business in front of more customers? Try Yelp. Consumers rank Yelp as the #1 review site for finding local businesses, and 92% make a purchase after visiting (Nielsen, 2016).

The thing is, people don’t come to Yelp to post selfies or wish friends a happy birthday. They come to Yelp to find the best local businesses and decide where to spend their money.

Yelp is home to nearly 3 million claimed businesses. So how do you make your business stand out from the competition? One way is to advertise your business above Yelp search results and on competitor pages. To get started, Yelp is offering $300 in free Yelp Ads when you sign up.

Apart from advertising, Yelp offers a variety of free tools to market your business to those ready-to-buy consumers. Here are a few tips on using Yelp to your full advantage:

1. If you haven’t already, gain access to your Yelp business user account

Visit biz.yelp.com and search for your business to get started. Claiming your Yelp page is free and allows you to respond to reviews, upload photos, edit business information, gain access to your business analytics, and more.

2. Make sure your business information is accurate, add photos to your page, and join the conversation with your customers

Check that your business address, phone number, and hours of operation are up to date. You can upload photos directly to your business page to show potential customers your business interior, staff, or products. Take advantage of joining the conversation with existing and potential customers by using Yelp’s free Message the Business feature and responding to reviews. 60% of surveyed Yelp users who connected with businesses through Message the Business made a purchase.

3. Highlight your business to consumers looking to make a purchase with Yelp Ads

Targeted Yelp Ads highlight your business to nearby consumers looking to make a purchase. Your ads appear throughout Yelp, including above search results and on competitors’ pages. You set your own budget and only pay when your ad is clicked.

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