How Do I List My Business On Google, Facebook, and Yelp, And Why Should I do It?

Want to get your business found by local customers in Solano County?

Online directories can be an easy way to get your business in front of as many potential customers as possible in your local area, and here is how you can get started...

Google Reviews for Small Business

Before you start asking customers to leave a review of your business on Google, be sure to claim your Google My Business profile.

When you claim your business on Google, you can receive notifications when a customer leaves a review, and respond to each review individually.

These reviews and the accompanying star rating will show up when customers see your business on search results pages and Google Maps.

Facebook Reviews for Small Business

Facebook’s ratings and reviews feature is automatically enabled when your page is categorized as a local business with a physical address.

You do have the option to disable reviews on your Facebook Business Page, but then you won’t receive the benefit of positive reviews from customers and the boost in your search ranking from having reviews on Facebook.

Be sure to track and respond to all your reviews on Facebook, just like you would on any other platform.

Yelp Reviews for Small Business

Out of all the online review platforms out there, Yelp tends to cause the most frustration among small business owners.

Yelp’s filter is a big headache for businesses because it can often hide some of their best five-star reviews. It’s frustrating for sure, but it’s important to know that the filter is fluid, meaning that a hidden review can resurface again.

It’s better to play by the rules and try to get as many positive reviews as possible. I strongly recommend companies put a Yelp strategy in place to use it to their advantage, otherwise they may find themselves dragged along for an unpleasant ride.

Here are some of tips for working with Yelp:

Do not purchase reviews for your business. Yelp has a sophisticated algorithm and is far too smart for this behavior. Yelp filters these purchased reviews from your customers and it can even result in your profile being flagged.

Do not solicit reviews at your working establishment. Yelp knows if reviews are coming from a single IP address. (Yelp discourages business owners from asking directly for customer reviews.)