Top 5 ways consumers are connecting with businesses on Yelp
Consumers are constantly searching Yelp for help from small businesses, whether it’s finding a plumber to fix a busted pipe or searching for an interior designer to decorate a baby’s nursery. When most people go on Yelp, they’ve already identified a specific need and are looking for someone who can provide a solution. In fact, 83% of users hire or buy from a business they found on Yelp.
How can you prove you’re the right business for the job? The trick is making sure high-intent customers can find and get in touch with you easily. While many Yelp users check out reviews and peruse pictures, they also want to be able to connect with you and your business—meaning they’re taking action toward making a purchase.
There are over a dozen ways consumers can connect, or interact, with you on Yelp. These actions include clicking on your website, opening the map embedded in the Yelp app, or calling you directly. To ensure consumers can connect with you, it’s crucial to keep your Yelp Page complete and up to date. Optimizing your page to make these connections faster and easier will help you grow and retain a base of loyal customers.
Check out the top five ways that consumers are connecting with businesses on Yelp,* then log in to your business account to make sure your page is set up for success.
1. Website clicks
When customers are searching on Yelp for a specific service and find your business, it may be the first time they’re ever hearing about you. If they like what they see on your Yelp Page and are ready to learn more about your operations, they’re likely to click through to your business website—one of the most meaningful forms of customer connections on the platform.
To capitalize on this traffic, make sure your website is easy to navigate, full of accurate information, and mobile friendly. Your contact information should be front and center so potential customers can reach you easily when they’re ready to make a purchase.
2. Menu opens
Customers want to know all the details about a business when researching their options—especially products or services. That’s when a menu comes into play. You may think of a menu as something used only in restaurants, but on a Yelp Page or business website, it’s a list of everything a business offers, along with descriptions and prices.
If you host your menu on your website, you can add the URL to your Yelp Page so customers can click “Explore the Menu” and easily pull up it from your page.
3. Map opens
Yelp users are often searching for businesses near them, so when they find a business in their area, they want to know exactly where it’s located. Many customers connect with your business by opening the map function in the app.
To ensure customers can accurately see on the map where you do business, keep your address up to date, including your specific suite number, if applicable.
Tip: In addition to an accurate address, you can also upload images of the exterior of your business so customers can easily recognize it when they arrive.
4. Phone calls
Talking with prospective customers on the phone is one of the highest value connection types for businesses. Callers are high-intent customers interested in a direct line to your business. To best receive them, keep your phone number up to date and train your staff to answer calls and respond to any questions.
Tip: Set up a voicemail or answering system with a friendly message and an estimated response time. Be sure to regularly clear your messages to avoid reaching capacity.
5. “From this business”
When potential customers are exploring your page, they can check out the “From this business” section to learn more about who you are and what you do best. They’re clicking the “read more” button to expand the field and see your full description. This means that millions of people every month are interested in learning more about businesses on Yelp.
Be sure your “From this business” section is filled out to capitalize on inquisitive minds. It consists of three parts:
- Specialties (what you do best)
- History (your business story)
- Meet the owner/manager (what you love most about running your business)
This info is displayed to users on your Yelp Page under the header “About the Business”—giving you the opportunity to tell your story in your own words directly to potential customers.
Other ways consumers connect with businesses
In addition to the connections listed above, consumers interact with Yelp Business Pages in a number of other ways:
- Getting map directions
- Sharing a business page (by text, direct link, social media message, etc.)
- Adding to their default or a specific collection
- Sending a message or request to a business
- Writing a review
- Checking in to a business
- Making a reservation
- Clicking on a customized call-to-action (CTA) button
- Making a third-party purchase or booking (e.g. Grubhub, Booker, etc.)
- Adding to Yelp Waitlist
- Uploading a photo
- Adding a tip
- Adding a bookmark
How are customers connecting with your business?
To see all the ways customers are interacting with your business, log in to your Yelp for Business account, and click on the bell icon in the top right corner marked Notifications.
*Yelp Internal Data, 2023, based on the number of connections made on Yelp between August 1 and 31, 2023.