With today’s consumers doing so much research online before making a purchase, many businesses have thrived thanks to their online review generation strategies. And on Yelp, the largest outlet for online reviews today, Yelp business reviews have been transformative in guiding consumer decision-making as a primary review generation platform.
Yelp has recognized how crucial its platform is for business and consumer success. That’s why it has launched several new review generation features aimed at improving its services as a review management tool. In this blog, we’ll be unpacking these new features as we explore Yelp review management services. We’ll then show you how to get better Yelp reviews and get the most out of the platform.
A Look at Yelp’s New Features
In mid-October, 2021, Yelp announced new features to improve Yelp review management services. These new features include custom search filters, Project Cost Guides, themed ads and a new review flow. All of these additions help service businesses manage Yelp reviews more efficiently and improve service delivery.
Let’s dive into the functions of each feature and their benefits:
Custom Search Filters Make It Easier To Search for Services
Yelp has introduced custom search filters to its review management tool to make it easier for users to connect with service businesses. Users can now search for service providers that have specific areas of expertise or offer specific services. For instance, users can narrow their search to businesses that have fast response times, offer virtual consultations or specialize in one particular area of repair using these custom filters.
The improved search functionality makes it easier for local service providers and users to connect with one another. So whether you’re an exterminator, carpenter or a real estate agent, you’re only a search away from your target market.
Themed Ads Highlight What Makes Businesses Unique
With themed ads, businesses that signed up for search ads will enjoy better visibility through the review management tool’s search function. This new feature works by highlighting certain qualities that add the difference factor to a service business, making them stand out more to users. For instance, businesses with a two-hour response time for Request-A-Quote projects will have “Fast Responding” highlighted on their ads.
Yelp says the feature will be automatically applied to qualifying businesses that run search ads. This will enable you to highlight your unique selling points or your qualities that elevate you from your competitors. And even with the themed ads service being added, the platform says it will not charge advertisers additional fees. The current themes available are still limited, but new themes will be continuously rolled out in future updates.
New Project Cost Guides Offer More Service Information
Yelp will no longer just be guiding user purchase decisions based on good or bad Yelp reviews. The review company will be adding to its already comprehensive Yelp review management services valuable information that serves as a one-stop guide for customers looking to hire service providers.
As a complete local guide, the new Project Cost Guides will contain useful information that helps customers make informed hiring and buying decisions. Information contained in the guide will include the average cost of the service in the local area, cost-saving strategies for your next project and tips from experts to prepare you for your consultation with a service provider.
New Review Flow Removes Friction From Writing Reviews
Over the years, businesses have spent considerable time and effort learning how to get better Yelp reviews as part of their brand reputation management strategy to overcome bad Yelp reviews. Some have even partnered with a Yelp review management company. However, most service businesses have found that review generation is challenging, and not necessarily due to a lack of willing reviewers.
Consumers saw barriers when leaving Yelp business reviews, which contributed to the review shortage. The homogeneous approach to the review process among businesses was often a source of friction, as no two businesses are the same. According to users, having a star-rating system for plumbers didn’t make as much sense as it did for restaurants. “What makes a four-star plumber better than a three-star plumber?” customers would ask.
To fix the problem, Yelp introduced a new review flow to help service businesses get the best Yelp reviews. This new feature removes the friction for users when reviewing home, local, auto and professional services by offering a tailored approach to the review process. Instead of using stars, the review process is now kicked off with a series of questions to provide more accurate and detailed information.
Previous concerns over the review process highlighted the importance of leaving reviews for any type of business. With the new review flow on Yelp, service businesses are presented with an easier, more frictionless way to generate and manage Yelp reviews. A reliable reputation management agency offering review management services can help make this process even more seamless.
Why Yelp’s New Features Are a Game-Changer
Leveraging reviews is a crucial aspect of doing business locally, especially for service businesses. Good reviews create social proof and improve trust, which helps providers retain and attract customers. Bad Yelp reviews are opportunities to solicit constructive feedback that helps businesses enhance the delivery and quality of their services.
With so many companies competing for the same audience, having the best Yelp reviews has been a major differentiating factor for customers choosing a business to work with. Yelp has been instrumental in helping service providers connect with their target audience by delivering the information they need to make their decision.
Yelp’s new features are a game-changer for service businesses and their customers in the following ways:
• Custom search filters allow users to easily get in touch with businesses that specialize in what they’re looking for.
• Themed ads highlight qualities that make them effective service providers.
• Project Cost Guides offer information and helpful tips that aid the customer decision-making process.
• A new review flow adds a tailored approach to the review process, allowing reviewers to offer more specific information while helping businesses get the best Yelp reviews.
On the Yelp side, the new features help the platform differentiate itself from its own competitors, allowing it to go up against the likes of Google, HomeAdvisor and other review platforms.
How To Get Better Yelp Reviews
Most tips on how to get Yelp reviews would say you only need to ask your customers for them. However, Yelp has made it expressly clear that you shouldn’t ask your customers for reviews or offer any prizes or rewards in exchange for a review.
Instead, here are some tactics employed by the best online reputation management companies that show you how to get Yelp reviews without asking for them.
Fill Out Your Yelp Business Profile
Ask any Yelp review management company: Making sure your business profile is accurate is the first lesson in How to Get Yelp Reviews 101. After all, platforms can alter regularly to adapt to changes in the market. Start by making sure all your business information is up to date.
If changes happened to your business operations at the height of the pandemic, make sure your customers know by adding them to your Yelp business profile. These should include operating hours, how to set appointments and whether or not you accept cash. It’s all about making the customer experience as seamless as possible to improve your odds of getting a review.
Take Advantage of Yelp Branding
Let your customers know you’re on Yelp by making use of Yelp branding. For example, for greater visibility on your website, add a Yelp badge alongside your social media buttons to make it easier for customers to leave a review on your Yelp business profile. Better yet, showcase the reputation you’ve worked hard to develop by adding a review badge containing your review count and star rating.
Take it a step further by reminding your in-store customers that you’re on Yelp with branded signages and decals.
Share Your Best Reviews on Social Media
Yelp reviews can be a good source of content to share on Facebook and Instagram. Showcasing the reviews you get is an excellent way of showing your gratitude for the review while also highlighting what makes your service stand out. Reviews also act as an incentive for your other customers to leave a review. Add them as quotes, create a beautiful graphic and share them with your followers.
Respond to Yelp Business Reviews
Responding to your customers’ reviews on Yelp lets them know that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying. Whether they’re good or bad reviews, taking the time to write out a response sends the message you’re acknowledging the participation of your customers, which encourages them to leave more reviews.
Leverage Brand Reputation Management Software and Review Widgets on Your Website
The best online reputation management companies, like Rize, offer review management services that help you display Yelp reviews on your website. The Rize widget, for example, allows you to display and manage Yelp reviews without impeding the flow of your website’s design, so you can showcase them anywhere on your website. Displaying Yelp reviews on every web page can also be a good way to remind your customers to leave reviews without actively asking them to.
Conclusion
Yelp is no doubt an instrumental platform for service businesses and providers. It amplifies their visibility among their audience and connects them with customers who need their services the most.
Take advantage of these new features to elevate your business and boost your standing among your customers. With a trusted online reputation management service and software like Rize, you can promote your online presence and improve your reputation by making full use of the various features on Yelp, old and new.
Rize is an online reputation management service and Yelp review management company dedicated to helping businesses thrive online through the power of online reviews. Rely on our reputation management agency to improve your online standing and maintain a stellar online reputation with the help of the Rize widget to boost your bottom line.
Get in touch with us today to get started on your online reputation management journey.
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