Can I Connect My Yelp to My Google Guide Reviews

Yelp has been one of the about pop Internet rating and review sites for local businesses since its initial inception in 2004. Yelp founders saw that discussion-of-oral cavity was a powerful purveyor of new customers, but with the classic local community structure breaking apart in an online era, how could individuals know which businesses to trust? Yelp was the answer – an online review site in which customers shared their experiences, helping others brand informed decisions well-nigh restaurants, auto-repair shops, and more than.

Many review sites take come and gone, but Yelp has continued to be a highly trusted source for local business reviews and ratings. Why? Yelp noticed that other review sites are far too chaotic with spam and ads, so they've kept theirs to a minimum. Yelp too focuses on long-grade reviews rather than curt ane-liners, providing the kind of in-depth, thorough review wary customers crave. Sometimes "good java" just isn't good enough.

In this complete Guide to Yelp for Businesses, we'll be covering a range of topics including:

• How Yelp Reviews Can Impact Your Concern
• How to Get Yelp Reviews
• How to Handle Negative Reviews on Yelp
• Should You Embrace Negative Reviews?
• Can Yous Remove Bad Yelp Reviews?
• Should You Buy Yelp Reviews?
• The Yelp Review Filter & Fake Yelp Reviews
• How to Avoid the Yelp Review Filter
• Why Yelp Rocks, Despite Issues

More: 25 Eating place Marketing Strategies

How Yelp Reviews Can Impact Your Business

Yelp is the #1 review site on the web and immensely powerful, making it a mighty friend or, sometimes, an abhorrent enemy.

If your business has a 3.v star rating or above on Yelp, yous've got the whole world in your hands and clouds in your coffee. Nether 3 stars and you've got a hard knock life. Bad Yelp ratings take been known to ruin more than than simply a few businesses. There'southward a lot at stake!

Dealing with such a fickle frenemy tin dishearten some business concern owners, merely don't think ignoring Yelp will get in get away – users will write about your concern on Yelp whether you activate a business folio or not. In this instance, information technology's definitely preferable to take a pro-active approach by setting upwards your business's Yelp folio yourself. Fill it with colorful pics and useful information to put your best pes forward for potential customers checking you out.

How to Get Yelp Reviews

I know, I know, you desire expert Yelp reviews, right? Not merely Yelp reviews. Well the bad news is that Yelp (understandably) doesn't allow businesses to ask for specifically positive reviews – you tin but encourage customers to review you honestly in all your blunder or glory. The proficient news is that if you're a good business organisation and doing things right, you're likely to get proficient reviews! Hip hip hoorah!

There are a few strategies for getting customers to review you on Yelp.

DO:

Activate Your Yelp Page: Have the initiative by activating your Yelp page. Go all out – add together photos, descriptions, menus, phone numbers, hours of performance, etc.

Post a "Notice us on Yelp" Sign: Yelp out your eating house or local biz with Yelp posters, stickers, badges, and other paraphernalia. In this plugged-in historic period, visitors might encounter those signs and head to Yelp to review you even while in your restaurant!

Borrowed from Reward Me Blog

Host a Yelp Event: Hosting a Yelp event will encourage Yelpers to visit your business organisation while establishing yourself as an active community member – it'south pretty much a no-brainer for getting chummy with local Yelp users

How do you host an issue? Information technology's pretty easy. Caput over to yelp.com/events, option your city, and striking the "Add an Issue" button. Then fill out your event details.

Next it's time to promote your awesome event! Send out the invite to Yelpers who have already visited your business, or those who have reviewed a business organization similar to your ain. Besides consider contacting a local Yelp Aristocracy (these are mega-Yelpers with a lot of influence) and ask if they're interested in helping you out with your event.

It's a swell idea to have some sweet swag giveaways during your Yelp event – perhaps all upshot attendees get 10% off their repast with another 10% coupon for afterward. Try a raffle to win dinner with a friend, a costless reusable water bottle, whatever! Brand information technology fun and exciting for attendees!

Post a Yelp Deal: Yelp Deals are a great way to become customers in the door. Dissimilar with Groupon or Living Social, customers who take advantage of a Yelp Deal are pretty much guaranteed to be active Yelp users, increasingly the likelihood of them writing y'all a review.

Add Happy Staff Photos: Friendly, grin, waving staff members being featured on your Yelp page volition create a positive first impression for your Yelp page visitors, and might even discourage disgruntled customers from posting something nasty.

Offer Foursquare Check-in Rewards: Foursquare has long passed its heyday every bit an ultra-pop location check-in tool, simply a lot of awesome folks (such as your truly) still utilize it to circulate micromanaged location updates for our undying fans.

Even a small Square award, similar free drinks for the mayor, can get users excited. Information technology's besides reasonable to assume that many Square users are also Yelp users. After all, who is using Square except for the media-obsessed foodie-photographing weirdos? Appealing to the Foursquare/Yelp user with a cheque-in reward might be just the push they need to write you a shining review.

Respond to Existing Yelp Reviews: It's always a smart idea to respond to the existing Yelp reviews you lot do have, especially if they're asking a specific question or voicing a business organization. People like to be acknowledged, and responding to Yelp reviews creates a favorable impression for your business, and shows readers that you intendance about your customers.

Print Out & Brandish Positive Yelp Reviews: One expert technique for getting Yelp reviews is to print out and hang your existing positive Yelp review on the wall in your restaurant or concern. Enlarge the reviews so that they're like shooting fish in a barrel to read, frame them, and hang them where they can easily be read by patrons waiting in line. When new customers see existing positive reviews, they'll feel inclined to recollect positively of you besides and write a similarly upbeat review on Yelp.

Add a Yelp QR Code: Yelp QR codes are a uncomplicated way to make it easier for your smartphone-carrying patrons to check out your Yelp page and review yous in-store!

Promote On Other Networks: Inquire for Yelp reviews on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networks. Information technology's best to not sound likewise needy though ("Pleaaazzeee say we're super-awesome!"). Opt for something unimposing like, "Nosotros're now on Yelp and would love to hear what you call up of us!" Yelp itself suggests: " Instead of blatantly maxim "Review us on Yelp," say "Check us out on Yelp".

Add a Yelp Link to Your Newsletter: Chances are your newsletter subscribers already think you're pretty cool. Reminding them to write about you lot on Yelp is a surefire mode to get some positive reviews.

Add a Yelp Website Badge: A Yelp website badge lets visitors know you are on Yelp, and all they have to do is click the badge to be taken straight to your Yelp page. It doesn't go much easier than that

Exist Awesome: If yous provide excellent food, excellent service, and an excellent experience, you will get great Yelp reviews, no question about it. Be the all-time you tin can be and the glowing reviews volition follow!

DO Non:

Offering Bribes for Reviews: Yelp is very strict in regards to their reviews policy. Y'all absolutely cannot and should not offer a reward in exchange for a review. Even something as innocent as "half off your side by side meal when yous review united states on Yelp" is a big no-no and can get yous in serious trouble with Yelp'south powers that exist.

Ask for Positive Reviews: As discussed earlier, don't enquire specifically for positive reviews, just reviews in general.

Buy Yelp Reviews: Nosotros'll be talking more than almost this later. Only know for now that buying Yelp reviews is not worth the trouble by a long shot.

How to Handle Negative Reviews on Yelp

The truth is that you can't please everyone in life. Even great businesses become some negative reviews on Yelp from time to fourth dimension. It sucks. Sometimes businesses mess up and deserve to be called out. Other times a bad review can feel completely undeserved.

What to do When Yous Go a Negative Yelp Review

1. Don't Answer Immediately: Having a Yelper really bash your business tin be painful, and your initial response may involve hair-pulling, obscenities, and some ALL CAPS action. Responding to ane rant with another won't do you whatever good – in fact, it will only multiply the damage. Instead of responding in a flurry of keystrokes, have a deep jiff, brew a cup of tea, and get your heed off the review. Don't fifty-fifty think nigh responding for at least a half a twenty-four hour period – taking 2 or three days to cool downwardly is even meliorate.

2. Clarify the Reviewer'southward Mindset: Later a few days, the scathing review won't seem quite as searing. Try to read the negative Yelp review objectively – is in that location whatsoever sense to what the Yelper is saying? Does the review seem worked up and emotional?

3. Public or Private Response? While public responses are skillful for correcting discrepancies, consider whether or non a discreet private bulletin could remedy the state of affairs.

4. Address the Review'south Issues in a Calm and Reasonable Manner

Yelp has a feature that allows business concern owners to answer to negative reviews. The key is to remain calm and take the loftier road. Above all, remain polite and respectful. Those who featherbed step one end upwardly responding to negative reviews in an aroused, emotional state which can pb to name-calling, insults, and emotional linguistic communication that makes yous wait as terrible and unstable as the reviewer, or more so.

Your goal in responding to the reviewer is to ignominy their assessment. It might not take much to do this – Yelp readers weren't built-in yesterday, and near can spot an unreasonable and baseless rant when they see 1. If the negative Yelp review makes claims yous can argue against, do so objectively, using facts or other customers' experiences equally a talking point. For example:

"Gretchen, we were very disappointed to hear you didn't relish our cheesecake. Other customers take told us it'southward their favorite of our desserts, but peradventure you caught us on an off 24-hour interval."

If you think the reviewer is merely in their admonishment, simply repent. Readers will appreciate your honesty and think better of yous for it.

Responding in a cool and collected manner to a senseless rant makes you seem much more than reasonable than the emotionally-fueled reviewer, and casts the unfavorable light on them rather than you.

five. A Touch of Humour

The make-em-laugh technique doesn't work in every situation, but information technology can be bully at diffusing an overtly flaming review. For example, bank check out this REAL review of Pigalle (this review was posted on Facebook, but same rules apply!).

Wow. I don't have a clue equally to why you would remember that throwing pumpkin chunks into a cold pre broiled pie shell and then covering it with a cream sauce that literally tasted like vomit. { I am very serious!} and topping information technology off with whipped cream that was runny would in whatsoever way be something that can be called pumpkin pie?"

Not something any business owner wants to run across. Unfortunately, the possessor answered back with an even more than venomous reply, demonstrating a perfect example of how NOT to respond to a bad review. Instead, he should have tried something similar:

How-do-you-do Sandy. Wow! That bad huh? I haven't had the chance to sample too many varieties of vomit, and then I tin can't say I tin can really relate to your feel, but that doesn't sound also fun. We tend to be very decorated during Thanksgiving so it's possible that one of our chefs made a error with that Pumpkin Pie – we're sorry you constitute it so truly gag-inducing. Come by again and nosotros'll see if nosotros can make it up to you with something more to your liking J

6. Offer an Olive Branch: If you recollect at that place's any saving the situation, try to offer a symbol of peace – send a individual bulletin inviting the displeased reviewer dorsum for a tour of the bakery or a costless desert. Yelp has an update function that reviewers tin can use to change their initial review. Anybody likes to feel important – feeding a disgruntled user's ego can sometimes quell the fury, and may atomic number 82 them to reconsider their opinion of you lot.

7. Make Utilise of Constructive Criticism

Remember – bad reviews aren't necessarily a bad affair. Negative reviews that are deserved and simply serve every bit existent feedback on how you tin better your business. If reviewers bring up legitimate concerns, piece of work to address them and and so let the Yelp customs know y'all've fabricated efforts to better. Customers will appreciate this – information technology shows you care and are listening to their input.

8. Keep Things in Perspective: Don't hang up your chapeau and cry yourself to slumber every time you find a bad review. Even great businesses get a bad review from time to time. As Yelp says:

 " Negative reviews are an unfortunate — but entirely normal — function of doing business… While it's important to look for patterns in your reviews (the bread is stale, the same employee is repeatedly described as rude), you should take whatever individual perspective with a grain of salt."

Don't stress over every review. People can exist particularly nasty online, so be prepared to thicken upward your skin a bit and ignore the mindless ranters.

For more data on tricks, techniques, and examples of how to bargain with a bad Yelp review, check out this article almost Protecting Your Online Reputation from Trolls past John Greathouse. He offers more great tips on dealing with negative reviews and diffusing tense situations.

Haters Gonna Detest: Embracing the Negative Yelp Reviews?

Most businesses endeavour to negate the effects of bad Yelp reviews past diffusing anger and answering concerns, but others cull to take the daredevil approach of embracing the haters.

Those accept thrown in the towel simply take that the majority of patrons despise them. For some, there is an entreatment at being the outcast.

The "if you can't beat them, join them" arroyo actually only works with restaurants and businesses that comprehend a counter-civilisation lifestyle and have patrons who might revel in the disapproval of others.

The Craft & Commerce Gastropub is one such establishment, offering very unusual, even bizarre spins on archetype drinks. After receiving some vehement one-star reviews, Craft & Commerce decided that, rather than brood over the poor reviews, they'd have some fun with them. The owner had friends read aloud the eating house's worst Yelp reviews while recording them. The recordings were and then played in the Arts and crafts & Commerce Gastropub'due south bath, amusing visitors and sticking it to the Yelp human.

Despite the unique and clever arroyo, the bathroom recordings backfired when Craft & Commerce Gastropub got blasted with a slew of more than one-star review from patrons who aspired to have their reviews featured in the bathroom.

Mocking absurd Yelp reviews has get a bit of a fad in fact – at that place'southward even a whole YouTube channel dedicated to showing video clips of Yelp reviews read by actors.

There is some logic in going gung-ho with the 1-star reviews. Some would fifty-fifty say one star is amend than two; a i-star institution drives curiosity and gets people wondering why are they so incredibly terrible? What'south the story there? There's a kind of machine crash rubbernecking morbid fascination involved with one-star restaurants. Ii stars is simply a sub-par articulation, no story or excitement at that place.

Tin can You Remove Yelp Reviews?

Sometimes. Yelp volition not remove any reviews unless they are in conflict with their Terms of Service or Content Guidelines.

Some things that violate Yelp's TOS:

• Writing a fake or defamatory review
• Promoting another business  or other commercial venture
• Rants about a business's employment practices, political ideologies, extraordinary circumstances, or other matters that don't address the core of the consumer experience

Beneath, yous'll find some guidelines of what kids of reviews can potentially be removed from Yelp (via ReviewPush):

If the bad Yelp reviews yous desire removed don't violate Yelp'south terms, your best bet is to either publicly defend your business concern using the points noted earlier, or privately contact the reviewer and try to convince them to remove or update the review following a second visit. Appeal to their amend nature!

Avert cocky-proclaimed "Reputation Management Companies" that claim (for a fee, naturally) they can remove Yelp reviews from your Yelp page.

This is a scam – Yelp does non have bribes or financial incentives for review removals, information technology'due south uncomplicated equally that. There are besides some rumors around town that those who advertise with Yelp are given the pick to remove negative Yelp reviews from their business organisation folio, but this is 100% false. Yelp will not remove a review unless information technology is against their Terms of Service.

Should You lot Buy Yelp Reviews?

We've discussed the pros and cons of buying Twitter followers and even ownership Pinterest followers online in the past, merely with Yelp, the consequence isn't really up for debate – don't do information technology!

Ownership Yelp reviews is definitely not worth the chance. Since Yelp'south chief selling point is the authenticity and trust of its reviews as compared to lesser review sites, Yelp protects its legitimacy past tooth and claw.

If you're caught buying Yelp reviews, you could end up with this on your Yelp page, which would be a PR disaster and a half!

At present that's a public shaming! Don't allow it happen to yous.

The Yelp Review Filter & Simulated Yelp Reviews

The Yelp review filter was deigned by Yelp to aid filter out fake reviews, leaving users with only real, legitimate reviews to base their consumer decisions effectually.

How does the filter decide what are fake Yelp reviews and what are real reviews?

Yelp reviews that are unremarkably filtered are:

• From users who have only written one review
• From users who have picayune to no profile information (contour photograph, links to other social media networks, personal description, et.)
• Questionable objectivity – reviews that are strongly slanted positively or negatively
• Short and have very few details
• Written by friends, staff members, or other unreliable sources
• Reviews where information technology seems that the reviewer has not personally visited the business

The Yelp filter gives preference to established reviewers who take reviewed multiple businesses and accept fully congenital out profiles while filtering abroad reviews with questionable authenticity.

While the Yelp filter seems fine in theory, in practice information technology tin can be a mixed pocketbook. The filter isn't perfect, and many businesses complain that the filter removes legitimate reviews in addition to fake Yelp reviews. There'southward no denying a need for such a filter system though – the Stanford-based research firm Gartner predicts that as many equally 15% of reviews on social media sites could be paid-for fakes by 2014.

Filtered reviews tin be found at the bottom of a Yelp business page, and can be viewed by whatsoever users who intendance to click.

Some filtered reviews below:

Above, yous'll see that most of the filtered reviews are from profiles with no image, no friends, piffling engagement, and very short, uninformative text.

Yelp takes their job equally the honest review gatekeeper very seriously. Yelp conducts sting operations to discover businesses paying for reviews, and in Business organisation Week'southward exam, Yelp was the only review site out of vii others to successfully detect and filter each and every faux consumer review presented.

Yelp'southward automated review filter system filters around 20% of the more than than 39 million reviews. That'due south a hefty chunk of reviews, and when every star counts, it's no wonder businesses are left feeling apprehensive.

It may not exist entirely fair, but that'due south the cost of protecting consumers. Equally nosotros've seen from Google's Panda algorithm, even filters with the all-time of intentions can finish upward hurting the innocent. Dolphins get trapped in tuna traps, and birds get hit by windmills; such is life.

Of form more legitimate, real reviews make information technology past the Yelp filter than those that do not. Trustworthy and useful content should come out ahead.

How to Avoid the Yelp Review Filter

At that place are a few steps you can take to better your chances of having a review get through the dreaded Yelp filter. Business can make efforts to engage the review and reviewer by:

• Adding the reviewer as a friend
• Upvoting the review as funny, useful, cool, etc.
• Sending the reviewer a compliment (Yelp'south tool for letting other Yelpers telephone call a user out for an awesome review)

If you're a user who wants to avert having your reviews hit the Yelp filter, make efforts to:

• Write Lots of Yelp Reviews: If someone's account has obviously been made with the purpose of merely reviewing one restaurant or business concern, that brings upwards some serious blood-red flags for Yelp. The more reviews you write, the more authentic you lot seem. at least x reviews will brand you much less likely to sound the Yelp review alarm. Make sure your reviews are legitimate though – you should u.s.a. the range of 1-five stars. Writing all fantastic or all terrible reviews look suspicious.
• Fill Out Your Profile: Add profile pics, a personal description, etc.
• Connect to Your Other Social Media Accounts: Connect your account to Facebook and Twitter for an added dose of authenticity.
• Add Yelp Friends: Add friends to Yelp and interact with them by complimenting, voting their reviews as funny, etc. Your engagement with other users shows that you're a real user who is role of the Yelp customs.
• Go out Tips (in Addition to Reviews): Tips are for users to add a quick pithy statement when they check in somewhere using the Yelp mobile app. Tips show your full range of move equally an online user.
• Steady & Consistent: Don't but smash a hundred reviews in the span of a few days. Take the time to strengthen your reputation by reviewing various local businesses over the grade of several weeks or months.

Don't Fear the Yelp – Embrace it!

I know we've talked a lot today about some of the scarier aspects of Yelp with its raging customers rants and threatening filters, merely Yelp really is a pretty neat community that'south only trying to help consumers make smart decisions in regards to local biz.

Don't exist afraid – most Yelp reviews are great! Yelp did a study in 2011, and establish that most forty% of reviews posted on Yelp are 5 star reviews!

For the about part, Yelpers are users who desire to give small local businesses credit where it is truly due.

As long every bit you operate a bully business that gives folks a reason to smiling and manage your bad reviews with grace and poise, you'll find Yelp tin do amazing things for your business concern!

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Source: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2013/07/22/yelp-reviews

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