Oh, Yelp! The risky, helpful, intimidating, complex and effective world of Yelp. The goal of Yelp is to connect people with great local businesses. The platform enables customers to review business with ratings and written commentary, in order to showcase real-life experiences with the business in question. At Sola, you are running your own small local business, so Yelp is a great way to get discovered by customers searching for what you have to offer. Authentic reviews of your work offer new customers a trustworthy and honest glimpse into your work through the eyes of your clients, beyond your controlled branding and marketing efforts. Often, we think of Yelp the go-to search engine for restaurants, stores, and entertainment, so we overlook the power of Yelp for beauty professionals running a small business. However, beauty and fitness are actually the 5th largest category on Yelp, making up a significant 11% of the platform's total business. Yelp offers a space to showcase your studio, brand, photography, menu of services, approval ratings and location in order for customers to get an overview of your vibe, offerings and capabilities. Not only will your returning clients tell your story for you, via Yelp ratings and reviews, but you can also advertise with Yelp for even better search engine optimization (SEO). This means that people will more easily be able to find you in a simple Yelp search. (@native_hairstylist) Follow these steps to create and/or improve upon your salon’s presence on Yelp: 1. List Your Business on Yelp First, you need to make sure that your business is properly listed and optimized for success on Yelp. Not only is it essential to list your business, but to also ensure that your business is easily visible in a search. Go to biz.yelp.com to create your business owner account and profile. Right off the bat, you must take the time to set up your account as accurately and completely as possible. The more robust your profile is, the more seriously your business will be taken by potential new clients. If a client has to work to discover what you offer and what you are all about, they may simply leave your page in search of a more complete Yelp listing that provides more information. Fill in your business name, contact information and business category specifics. Do not skip over the category set up, as these categories and tags (i.e. hairstylist, makeup artist, nail salon, massage therapist, etc.) will help customers to find you in a search. The more specific you are, the better their search results will be in finding you. Build out your profile by adding photos of yourself, your studio and/or your work and include your salon’s hours, address, website, phone number, services, specialties, promotions and any booking details. (@dianaanteshair) Be patient. Once you have filled in all the details, it may take a day or two for your business to be approved by Yelp. Once you are approved, Yelp will send you an email that will give you access to your listing. 2) Already See Your Salon? Claim Your Business on Yelp When you visit Yelp, you may find that a business page for your salon already exists. Do not be alarmed! You were not hacked and there is not somebody stealing your salon identity. This has likely happened because a client made a page in order to review your salon. If that is the case, you can claim your profile by going to biz.yelp.com/claiming. 3) Attracting Yelp Reviews Once you have a profile set up, it is time to start thinking about your reviews. The more reviews your salon has, the more likely a new customer is to find you in a search and trust your rating. With more than 192 million reviews on Yelp to date - let’s make sure that some of those voices are singing your praises too. Think of Yelp as a wonderful space where your clients can speak to all the hard work that you do. It is best to get reviews organically, without specifically requesting them from your clients. On Yelp’s blog, they dissuade businesses from directly asking for reviews from happy customers, but it is not against their Terms of Service to do so. (@ginasalonstudio30_) You can encourage clients to write reviews by putting up a subtle sign in your salon that asks for a positive Yelp review if they are happy with their service. You might also provide a Yelp review link on your website or booking platform for easy access to your Yelp page. If you are feeling comfortable with a loyal client, you can always make a gentle, in-person, verbal request for a Yelp review. Your best clients will be happy to support you in growing your business. 3) Responding to Yelp Reviews It’s important to stay up-to-date on your customer reviews and feedback. Schedule time to check in on your Yelp reviews at least once a week. First, focus on the positive by copying the exceptional reviews and adding t