Can I remove my business form the Yelp site?
Like many of my clients, you may be wondering if you can remove your business account from the Yelp page.
We are sorry to tell you that currently there is no way of removing your business from Yelp. The users on Yelp who post reviews are the ones putting you on Yelp. The best you can do is claiming your name as the owner of the business. With this in mind, you will still have very limited power over your profile and no control over the rating you will receive. Another common complaint is when clients try to talk to the employees at Yelp. This is not easily done. Unfortunately when you do get through to someone, you are more than likely going to be sold on advertising than receive any assistance.
So what should you do if your business is put up on Yelp?
Fill in your profile completely: include hours, special offers, etc. The more information you give the easier it will be to find your business. Add a picture to your profile and add pictures of your employees working and having fun at work.
Once you have claimed your business on Yelp, they will email you each time you get a review. You need to take the time to look at each review, good or bad, and respond to all reviews. Responding to a bad review the right way may often lead the reviewer to change what they said and up the rating.
People want to know you are listening and trying to help. You can find on a “Google Search” many ways to respond to a negative review.
Limitations (w/ Free Account):
· You cannot remove bad reviews. It is there permanently on your page
· You cannot control what reviews are listed first
· You cannot hide reviews
· You cannot control what Yelp feels is a spam review or an actual review by a customer, even if you know it is your competition reviewing you.
Why should I be on Yelp?
First of all, it is not only restaurants that are on Yelp. In 2011 Yelps biggest category was shopping. However, restaurants and retails stores are the most likely to get a review. There are over 142 million people making their decision on where to go using Yelp. The more positive reviews you get, the more business it will generate. A negative review handled correctly can also generate lots of good business. Respond to each with understanding and be willing to apologize for anything wrong when possible. Invite them to contact you personally and of course invite them back to your place of business with a private tour with, you, the owner.
There are many more things you can do with negative reviews that can help, and again they are easy to find in a” Google Search”. If you would like to request me, Wayne, to speak to your organization about best practices around Yelp!, please reach out for rates and information.
Want to ask a question privately? Email us at info@reedsocialmdia.com subject Blog
*Look for our upcoming blogs !
Wayne Karlins, President, Reed Social Media Group
