Yelp Reviews: Hidden Gem or Wasted Time?

Online reviews are the modern word-of-mouth… and they’re hugely influential! Nearly 4 in 10 consumers now use online reviews as their primary research channel, outpacing even websites and price-comparison sites. In fact, 97% of consumers look online for local businesses before making a purchase decision. Those star ratings don’t just build trust, they boost your visibility. 

For a family-run diner, a detailed Yelp review about your signature dish can drive hungry crowds through the door. For a law firm, Google Reviews on your Google Business Profile signal reliability to prospective clients. No matter your industry, positive feedback nudges your business higher in search results and into your customers’ consideration set.

Yelp Reviews: What You Need to Know

Yelp has been a go-to for diners, salons, and home service providers for over 20 years. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Visibility among niche audiences: Yelp commands about 6% of the online-review market, making it near indispensable for some industries—even if it doesn’t rival the 73% share held by Google Reviews.
• In-depth feedback: Yelp’s platform encourages longer, detailed reviews, which can provide rich insights into customer experience.
• Control and challenges: You can close your Yelp business page at any time, but note that it won’t delete existing reviews. And if you advertise with Yelp, you’ll need to work through their Customer Success Team to cancel ads properly.

Managing reviews can be a real headache, especially if you’re already juggling a million other things. Yelp can help get the word out, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. So, is Yelp worth your time?

Here are the pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros of Yelp Reviews

Since Yelp is well-known, good reviews here can increase your business’s visibility among users who rely on Yelp to find services. It can be particularly beneficial for certain industries, like restaurants and local services, where Yelp is often a go-to for finding recommendations. A great Yelp profile can help you stand out from competitors who aren’t as active on the site.

Yelp also provides detailed feedback, helping you understand what your customers think about your business. If you’re in a competitive industry, having a strong Yelp presence can make a difference. On the other hand, a strong Yelp profile can enhance trust with potential customers who look for honest reviews there. But it’s not without its issues…

Cons of Yelp Reviews

Yelp has been accused of manipulating reviews and pressuring businesses into advertising to improve their scores. There’s even a documentary called Billion Dollar Bully that raises concerns about the fairness of Yelp’s review system. Yelp’s system sometimes also hides genuine customer reviews, which means some of your best feedback might not be seen by others. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to showcase your great service. 

Despite these bumps in the road, Yelp only bags a modest 6% of the reviews market share—a blip compared to Google’s whopping 73%! This puts into perspective Yelp’s spot in the review world pecking order, especially when you toss in that Yelp reviews don’t pack the same punch in search engine rankings as Google’s, according to Bright Local’s 2024 Local Consumer Review Survey!

Yelp vs. Google Reviews

Now that we’ve weighed the pros and cons of Yelp reviews, let’s see how it compares to Google Reviews, the dominant player in the review space. 

Two realities stand out:

Google Reviews

• Easy to find: Google Reviews pop up right in Google Search and Maps, so people can see what others say about your business.
• Helps you get noticed: Good reviews on Google can boost your search ranking, so more people find you when they look for services you offer. Just remember, getting enough reviews can be a challenge, and asking customers to leave one isn’t always easy.
• Simple to manage: Google’s review tools are pretty straightforward, making it easier to keep track of feedback. Still, you might still need to deal with negative, spammy or fake reviews, which can be a hassle.

Yelp Reviews

• Niche platform: Yelp reviews are valuable within the Yelp ecosystem but have less impact on overall search rankings compared to Google. Search engines prioritize Google Reviews for local search results, so focusing on Google can give you an edge.
• Detailed feedback: Yelp offers in-depth feedback that can be insightful but might not influence your local SEO as significantly. In the past, Yelp has faced criticism for manipulating search results. This has led to search engines becoming more cautious about how they treat Yelp data.
• ​​Perceived trustworthiness: Some consumers trust Yelp’s moderation more than Google’s open system, which can play to your favor if you cultivate genuine feedback.

Tips for Managing Reviews

To effectively manage your business’s online reviews, focusing first on Google reviews can significantly boost your search visibility. Yelp shouldn’t be entirely overlooked, though. If you already have a lot of Google reviews, encouraging happy customers to leave feedback on Yelp can benefit your business as well.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to managing reviews:

• After a job well done: Just finished a great job? While shaking hands with your satisfied customer, ask, “Would you mind leaving a quick review on Google? It really helps!“
• Send a follow-up: A day or two later, send a review request with your Olly Olly app. This gentle reminder can boost your chances of getting that review.
• Check your reviews: Regularly open our app to monitor new reviews and respond as soon as you get one—whether they’re praise or concerns. Showing that you value customer feedback helps build trust and maintain a positive reputation.

So next time you finish a job and receive that appreciative handshake, don’t hesitate to ask for that review on Google (or Yelp)!

There are other platforms out there, though… Beyond these two, here’s where else your customers are sharing feedback.

Review Platforms for Small Business: Apple Maps and Other Sources

Choosing the right review platforms for small business can make or break your online reputation. When you check reviews on Apple Maps, you’ll often see that they originate from Yelp and TripAdvisor. Apple Maps typically shows the source and pulls in third-party feedback. It’s also testing direct reviews, though that’s less common.

Recent reports show that about 25-30% of people in the U.S. use Apple Maps for directions. It’s the second most popular navigation app, right behind Google Maps, which has around 60-70% of the market. Especially for businesses with a strong foot-traffic presence (think family-run diners or local insurance agencies), Apple Maps reviews can be an untapped source of trust.

Other platforms to consider:

• Facebook reviews: Great for consultants and real estate brokers with strong community followings.
• Trustpilot: Widely used in e-commerce and B2B, with 300 million+ reviews across 1.17 million sites.
• Industry-specific sites: Houzz for contractors, Zocdoc for medical practices, Avvo for legal professionals.

How Olly Olly Can Help

Feeling overwhelmed with managing reviews? Let Olly Olly lighten the load. Our app simplifies tracking and responding to reviews, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running your business. With Olly Olly, you’re in control of your own reviews, so you can easily keep track of what people are saying and never miss a beat.

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