Yelp is one of the largest local business directories on the internet, with over 90 million monthly users who look for restaurants, home services, and more. This makes Yelp a powerful tool to boost your local marketing and improve your website’s local search result ranking in Google. In fact, according to a study from Survey Monkey, 97% of users make a purchase at a business they found on Yelp within a week.
Yelp provides an avenue to make it easy for online users to connect with customers, which helps them grow their business. Not only that, as the most popular online directory website, Yelp allows companies to establish trust with potential customers.
Why Create a Yelp Business Page?
Yelp serves as a modern and online version of the hard copy yellow pages. People go to Yelp first to find a local business within their area that offers a service or product they are looking for. Thus, Yelp allows businesses to attract customers and reach potential leads actively searching and seeking to purchase or subscribe from local businesses. This only means that as long as people search for a great local business, Yelp is likely to be part or cause of the conversion.
Creating your Business Yelp Page
The best time to start a Yelp page for your business is now. Even starting businesses can already submit a new page up to 1 month before their scheduled open date. Below are the following steps on how you can create a Yelp page for your business:
- Step 1 – Open up your internet browser and go to Yelp for Business. Read its content to know more about Yelp and how it can help your business. Once you are sure that you want to start your Yelp page, go to this link.
Enter your business name, or type in your zip code to find if the business page still exists. Select “Add New” and type in your business details if your business isn’t showing in the result.
- Step 2 – If you don’t have a Yelp business yet, create a free business user account. Enter your email address and password. It is recommended to use an email address that you regularly check to ensure that you are updated with the latest happenings on your business Yelp page.
- Step 3 – Verify your Business Yelp account by entering your verification code. You will get Yelp’s verification code either through an email or a call to the phone number listed on your business page.
Here’s a tip, when putting a phone number, make sure to use your business local number as it helps Yelp show your business listing to search users near your area. Yelp will notify you via email once your business page is verified. Please take note that this may take a few days.
- Step 4 – It is important to add photos to your Yelp page to customize your online storefront. Photos help paint a full picture of your business to your customers. Using the right images for your business Yelp page will also help attract search users.
Photos on your Yelp page also build trust and help potential customers to know you and your business. You can also use photos to show customers the services or products your business offers. Business photos also reflect the quality of your business which leaves an impression on customers.
- Step 5 – Fill your Yelp page with all the important business information. Start with the basics, including the following:
- Business name
- Phone number
- Address
- Website
Make sure that all of this business information is accurate.
- Step 6 – Update your Business Categories and Services. Categories will help users understand what your business has to offer. You can choose up to 3 business categories/services. Make sure to select the best categories that represent your business services.
To change your business categories/services, find “Business Information” in the menu sidebar. Find Business Categories/Services and click Edit. You can check Yelp’s complete list of categories to choose which categories best describe your business and what it offers.
- Step 7 – Update your Service Area. This will show users what areas your business provides services to. It will also help you connect with the right customers as it improves the location accuracy of inquiries.
To update your Service Area, follow these steps:
- Go to the Business Information tab.
- Click Add Service Area.
- Enter the zip codes or cities your business offers services.
- Click Save and Publish.
- Step 8 – Add your Business operating hours so customers will know when to visit your business. You can also add important details such as the following:
- special weekend hours
- special holiday hours
- availability of takeout or delivery services for restaurants/food businesses
Once you have set your business hours, Yelp users will see a banner highlighting your normal and special hours on the Yelp Business listing page.
- Step 9 – Add short content on your Business Specialities and Business History. Specialties is a section on your Yelp page. You can list down specific services and business features that make your business different from the others. While Business History provides a section for Yelp users to know about your business background.
- Step 10 – To quickly access and track the activities on your Yelp page, download the Yelp Business App. This way, you can easily keep tabs, read and respond to Yelp users’ reviews and messages. The Yelp Business App can be installed for iOS and Android phones and is designed to make it easier for businesses to engage with customers.
Yelp Business App will also show you data about user views, customer leads, and other activity on the Yelp page. You can also see the number of clicks on your Yelp Ads through this app.
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If you need help to further optimize your Yelp Business page and plans to use Yelp Ads in the future, Cybertegic can help you. As a trusted digital marketing company in Los Angeles, Cybertegic is also a Yelp Certified Agency Partner. We have a team of Yelp specialists that practices a proven, multi-faceted approach to Yelp profile and search optimization. To inquire about our Yelp Ad Services, you can schedule a free business consultation with us by following this link.
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