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Yelp

Yelp is one of the largest and most influential local business review platforms, especially strong in restaurants, home services, health and wellness, and local retail. Millions of people use Yelp each month to discover nearby businesses, compare ratings, and read detailed customer reviews.

For local SEO, Yelp is a high-authority citation source. Yelp business pages frequently rank for “[category] near me” and “[brand] reviews,” and many users go directly to Yelp instead of Google when evaluating options. A complete, accurate Yelp listing helps:

  • Reinforce NAP consistency across the web
  • Build social proof through reviews and photos
  • Support visibility in other ecosystems (some services reference Yelp data)

Every local business that serves customers in a physical location or defined service area should have a properly claimed and optimized Yelp listing as part of their citation stack.

For Existing Listings...

Before you start Have the following ready:
  • Official business name (exactly as used on Google Business Profile and your website)
  • Street address, city, state, ZIP
  • Main business phone number
  • Website URL
  • Business hours
  • A few good photos (logo, exterior, interior, team, work or product)

Step 1: Go to Yelp for Business

  1. Visit https://biz.yelp.com/claim.
  2. In the search form, enter your business name and location (city and state).

Step 2: Find your existing listing

  1. Review the search results and look for your business.
  2. Click on your business when you find it.
  3. On the next screen, look for an option like “Claim this business” or similar wording and click it.
If you do not see your business listed at all, you’ll need to create a new listing instead (see the “How to create a new listing” section).

Step 3: Sign in or create a Yelp for Business account

  1. If prompted, log in to your existing Yelp for Business account.
  2. If you do not have an account yet, create one using your name, email address, and a secure password.
  3. Use an email address you can keep long-term and that is appropriate for business ownership (for example, a work email).

Step 4: Verify ownership

  1. Yelp will ask you to verify that you are connected to the business. Common methods include:
    • An automated phone call to the business phone number listed on Yelp
    • A text message to a mobile number (if available)
    • Email verification
    • In some cases, a brief manual review by Yelp staff
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete verification. If you miss the verification call, use the option to retry.

Step 5: Review and update your profile

  1. Once verified, you will have access to your Yelp for Business dashboard.
  2. Review and correct:
    • Business name (no extra keywords; just your real brand name)
    • Address and phone number (must match your Google Business Profile and website)
    • Website URL
    • Business hours
    • Primary category and any additional categories
  3. Save your changes. Your claimed listing is now ready to optimize and maintain.

For New Listings...

Note: Yelp uses the same starting page for both finding an existing business and adding a new one. If your business does not appear in the search results, you will see an option to add it as a new business.

Step 1: Start at Yelp for Business

  1. Go to https://biz.yelp.com/claim.
  2. In the search form, enter your business name and location.
  3. Click the search button.

Step 2: Confirm that your business is not already listed

  1. Carefully review the search results to make sure your business is not already on Yelp under a slightly different name or address.
  2. If you confirm it is not listed, click the option such as “Add your business to Yelp” or similar wording.

Step 3: Enter your business information

  1. Fill out the form in full. Yelp will typically ask for:
    • Business name (brand name only; no extra keywords)
    • Street address, city, state, ZIP
    • Phone number
    • Website URL
    • Primary category (for example, Plumber, Dentist, Summer Camp)
    • Additional categories (only if they truly apply)
    • Business hours
    • Service area (if applicable)
  2. Double-check that your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) match your website and Google Business Profile exactly.
  3. Submit the form to request creation of your new Yelp business page.

Step 4: Create or log in to your Yelp for Business account

  1. If you do not already have a Yelp for Business account, you will be prompted to create one with your name, email address, and password.
  2. Confirm your email address if requested.

Step 5: Wait for Yelp’s review and verification

  1. Yelp may place your new business in a pending review status while they confirm it meets their guidelines (for example, a local, offline business rather than online-only).
  2. Once approved, you may be asked to verify ownership via phone, text, or email. Follow the instructions provided.
  3. After verification, you will have full access to your new Yelp page in the Yelp for Business dashboard and can begin optimizing it.

Citation Optimization

How to Optimize Your Yelp Listing

1. Keep NAP fully consistent

  • Ensure your business name, address, and phone match exactly across your Google Business Profile, website, and other major citations.
  • Do not add extra keywords to your business name just for SEO; Yelp may flag or correct it.

2. Choose strong, accurate categories

  • Select the single most accurate primary category for what you do.
  • Add secondary categories only if they truly describe services you offer.

3. Write a clear, benefit-focused description

  • In the first sentences, explain who you serve, what you specialize in, and what makes you different.
  • Include important phrases your customers might search for (such as “emergency plumber,” “kids summer camp,” or “cosmetic dentist”) in a natural way.

4. Add high-quality photos

  • Upload at least a logo, exterior shot, interior shot, team photos, and examples of your work or products.
  • Avoid dark, blurry, or outdated images. Update photos periodically.

5. Complete all available profile fields

  • Fill in business hours (including special or holiday hours when relevant).
  • Select appropriate amenities and attributes (parking, accessibility, kid-friendly, Wi-Fi, and so on).
  • Add menus or a list of services if your category supports it.

6. Encourage and manage reviews

  • Do not offer incentives that violate Yelp’s review policies.
  • Train staff to politely mention that reviews on Yelp are appreciated after a good experience.
  • Respond to reviews regularly: thank people for positive reviews and address negative reviews calmly and professionally.

7. Avoid common pitfalls

  • Do not create duplicate listings for the same location. If you find duplicates, request that Yelp merge or remove them.
  • Avoid keyword stuffing in your name or description.
  • Check your listing periodically to keep information current and to monitor new reviews.
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