With everything you need to do to run your business smoothly, it can be tempting to neglect online review sites. After all, word-of-mouth referrals have worked in the past, so why change now? Turns out, these Yelp statistics show that more people are turning to online reviews (instead of asking a friend) to make their daily decisions on purchases. Here are 12 Yelp statistics you need to know and some tips to get started with online reputation management on this site.
How many monthly users does Yelp have?
Of all of the Yelp statistics to know, this one might be the most important: Yelp has 73 million unique monthly users on their mobile app, and over 100 million unique monthly users on their desktop site. This number has risen steadily across all industries throughout 2019 in what Yelp has referred to as a “transition year.”
So what does this mean for 2020?
Looking to the year ahead, it seems that Yelp’s popularity and use as a resource for consumer reviews and recommendations will continue to rise. Consumers have more choices for service providers than ever before and they are looking for their perfect fit online. A study from 2017 found that Yelp searches drove more people to a business than Google and Facebook (in 2019, only Google drove more searchers).
Many Yelp users visited the site at least once a month, ranking the site above all others as the “most trusted, most influential, and most used.”
Why is Yelp important as a business owner?
You likely already know that online review sites are a crucial part of the reputation management strategy you employ for your business. These days, consumers look online first to get recommendation and references for every kind of service you can imagine. From restaurants to next-day blinds, people are talking online about your company.
People are also looking to Yelp when they are ready to make a purchase or book a provider. This is what is known as people who are “low in the funnel.” They are looking to buy, and soon, but just need the last bit of information to make their choice. That’s where Yelp steps in to meet them.
Understanding who is using Yelp and what they hope to get out of it is a crucial aspect of growing your business today and keeping your customers happy.
Note also that some businesses worry about Yelp reviews, concerned about disgruntled customers and the potential for bad reviews. Put simply, bad reviews will happen. However, you cannot ignore the growth of these online reviewing sites, including Yelp, because customers are not ignoring you there. Listening to and responding to all reviews (both good and bad) positions you as a business that cares about your customers.
11 Yelp statistics for 2020
As a business owner looking at Yelp statistics, 2020 is the year you should take a look at how to use this platform to build a solid reputation online.
Here are 11 Yelp statistics to help you refine your approach.
- Yelp continues to be a tool for Gen X and millennials: These two groups make up 69% of users
- Reviewers are educated: 80% of users have at least some college (and 19% have completed graduate school)
- Yelp reviews are generally positive: Just under 50% of reviews are five-star (and 71% would recommend the establishment or service they reviewed)
- But not all: Just over 16% of reviewers leave a one-star review, and 22% of reviewers would not recommend their establishment they are reviewing
- Yelp offers more than just restaurant reviews: Home services, health care providers, and the hospitality industry (among others) are all featured on Yelp
- Only Google gets more views before Yelp: 45% of consumers visit reviews on Yelp before making a purchase (compared to 64% on Google)
- People trust online reviews: 85% of people trust online reviews (and use them to make decisions)
- Google use Yelp reviews for rankings: The quantity and quality of your Yelp reviews could influence Google’s page rankings for your website
- Better reviews, more views: A five-star review gets 25% more page clicks than a three-star review
- “Request a quote” function results in more conversions: This simple message button Yelp provides service providers connects customers faster to your business
- Food service delivery skips the middleman: Now your customers can read your great reviews and request a delivery in one simple step
Getting started with Yelp
If you’re a business owner, getting started with Yelp is easy.
To start, visit Yelp to claim your business and fill in as much information as possible. At the very least, add contact information, locations, operating hours, and a picture or two. Yelpers love pictures and spend almost three times as much time on a business page with photos.
Yelp also offers a business management handbook that goes into detail about how to optimize their service.
1. Request reviews
Remember to request reviews from your customers every step of the way. Include a link for reviews on all correspondence, such as social media or your automated emails.
Paying for Yelp reviews is never a good idea, though. Keep your customers happy, and you won’t have to pay them to say nice things about you.
2. Track your reviews
Yelp allows you to track your reviews, so make sure to do that to get a good baseline.
As mentioned, thanking Yelpers for a good review is a great strategy, as is addressing concerns in a timely fashion. Have bad reviews? Listen to their concerns, apologize, and state how you’ll fix the issue, if possible.
3. Consider sponsored Yelp ads
Sponsored Yelp ads may be a good way to get your new business to the top of the search results.
Many businesses find that this helps launch them initially or gives their business a boost when they need it.
4. Know that bad (or fake) reviews can be arbitrated
Yelp will remove bad or false reviews if there are mitigating factors.
If a customer is unhappy with a service that doesn’t necessarily warrant removal of their review. On the other hand, if there is obviously defamatory or false information, contact Yelp to remove the review.
5. Get help
If these Yelp statistics have you wanting to get started, Boost can help. We understand the importance of online reviews and reputation management – and we also know you’re busy.
Get in touch today to see how we can help your business reach new customers.