28: Yelp - How To Optimize Your Listing

Summary: Meredith’s husband explains how to optimize Yelp for small businesses without paying for advertising. He discusses tactics such as selecting the correct business category, filling out all fields, responding to reviews, and gathering legitimate reviews. These strategies can help business owners maximize their visibility on Yelp and increase their chances of appearing in Google search results.

Blog Post: How to Maximize Your Yelp Listing Without Paying for Ads

Yelp can be a powerful tool for small businesses, but many feel frustrated by the platform’s aggressive sales tactics and the push to pay for advertising. Fortunately, there are ways to optimize your Yelp listing for maximum visibility without spending a dime. In a recent podcast episode, Meredith’s husband discussed strategies that can help business owners rank higher in both Yelp and Google search results without paying for ads. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Choose the Correct Business Category

The first step to optimizing your Yelp listing is to ensure you’ve chosen the correct business category. This decision directly impacts how often you show up in relevant searches on Yelp. To determine the best category, check what your top competitors are using. For example, if you’re a children's photographer, search for similar businesses in your area and see which categories they’re listed under. Yelp’s categories differ from other platforms, so this step is crucial for improving your visibility.

2. Complete Every Field on Your Yelp Profile

When setting up your Yelp listing, fill out as many fields as possible. Yelp’s algorithm relies on the information provided to match your business with relevant searches, so leaving sections blank can hurt your chances of being found. Be sure to fill in your business description, about the owner section, and any relevant image captions. The more thorough and keyword-rich your profile, the better your chances of ranking higher in Yelp’s search results.

3. Respond to All Reviews

Another key factor for success on Yelp is engaging with reviews. Don’t just respond to negative reviews—thank your satisfied customers as well. Acknowledge their feedback and make your responses personable. Potential customers often read reviews and the business’s responses, so showing that you care about your clients can make a big difference. When dealing with negative reviews, keep your responses professional and avoid arguing with the reviewer. Instead, thank them for their feedback and offer to resolve any issues offline.

4. Build Links to Your Yelp Profile

While building links to your website should remain your top priority, linking to your Yelp profile can also help increase its visibility, especially in Google search results. If Google sees that your Yelp profile is being referenced by reputable sources, it may rank your Yelp page higher for relevant searches. Try incorporating a few links to your Yelp page in guest blogs, social media posts, or partnerships with local businesses.

5. Encourage Real Reviews (But Avoid Fake Ones)

Getting authentic reviews from real customers is essential for improving your Yelp ranking. However, avoid the temptation to leave fake reviews or have friends and family write them. Yelp’s algorithm can detect suspicious behavior like shared IP addresses or reviews from new accounts created just for that purpose. A better strategy is to ask satisfied customers to leave a review, but only if they’re already active on Yelp. You can also suggest that first-time reviewers leave a review for another business before reviewing yours to avoid triggering Yelp’s filters.

Resources

• Yelp’s official guidelines for business profiles

• Tips for responding to reviews effectively

By following these strategies, you can improve your business’s visibility on Yelp and Google without paying for ads. Yelp may be a necessary tool for local businesses, but with the right optimizations, you can make it work in your favor for free.