Business Owners - Seven Tips For Yelp Success

With the growing success of Yelp.com, more and more businesses are starting to recognize Yelp's importance. A quick check of Quantcast.com shows that Internet traffic to Yelp has doubled between October 2008 to March 2009. Here are some tips for business owners on how to optimize the business opportunities presented by Yelp.com:

Step One: Join the club. Browse the Yelp directory for your business listing. If it's already listed, time to create your business profile. If a listing is not found, then it's time to make one. This will help send visitors to your site.

Step Two: Begin Yelping. Set aside an hour a day each week to get used to how Yelp works. Get a feel of Yelp.com by reviewing a favorite bookstore or coffee shop. Get more perspective by reading other reviews by your fellow Yelpers.

Step Three: Get ready for feedback. After joining Yelp, it is essential that you have your friends and colleagues post positive comments for others to see. Be careful with these solicited comments, though, since Yelp.com has a system in place that's pretty effective at deleting "solicited" comments. Here's how it works:

Yelp.com's software automatically deletes reviews that appear "spammy", which is to say that users with only one review to their name generally have their reviews deleted after a few weeks have passed. So when you ask your friends and relatives to register on Yelp and leave a review, ask them to use Yelp in a natural manner. Ask them to take the time to leave half a dozen reviews on Yelp over the course of a week or two before reviewing your business - this will help to make sure their reviews aren't deleted.

Step Four: Create a great profile. The secret to business success on Yelp is to create an interesting profile. Businesspeople are often too busy to take care of such things, but a few minutes spent on your profile will pay dividends later. Your Yelp profile should be a mirror of your business - keep it vibrant and fun to get more prospects to come your way.

Step Five: Keep in touch with the community. You can always help others in business. Yelp allows each business profile to link to 5 other businesses, regardless if they're related to your business or not. It's best to choose your five links wisely. Quality should come first, and it's smart to recognize active Yelpers (who have more ability to help you) instead of just friends and family.

Step Six: Solicit customer reviews. The best people who can review your business on Yelp are your customers, so let them know at every opportunity that you're now listed on Yelp and that you'd appreciate their review. Put a quick sign over your cash register, write a short blurb about it your newsletter, etc. Your happiest customers always want to help you.

Step Seven: Network. It doesn't get any simpler - network with other business owners and exchange good reviews. You should also take advantage of Yelp's social network. When you see a good review from someone, become a fan. By building a network of friends on Yelp.com, you'll maintain a good profile.

Yelp.com is one tool that you can use to generate revenue for your business. All it takes to attract more customers is an solid profile, good feedback, and top quality. As Yelp grows, your business will grow too.

Check out Spork Marketing for more small business marketing information, advice, and tips.