How to Get Better Yelp Reviews: A Complete Guide

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A Yelp widget is like a mini version of your Yelp profile that lives on your website or app. Embedding these widgets into your website (especially on high-traffic pages like your homepage or contact page) can increase profile visits and organically drive more reviews from engaged customers.

To add a Yelp widget to your site, go to Yelp for Business, navigate to the “Review Badges” section, and copy the provided HTML code into your website. No coding skills? No problem. Most website builders, like WordPress and Wix, allow you to easily paste the code into a widget area or sidebar.

Pro tip: If you already have a “Reviews” page on your site, embedding Yelp’s review widget there can give visitors a quick snapshot of your best customer feedback — and encourage them to contribute their own.

2. Decorate Your Store With Yelp Branding Assets

Yelp offers free storefront signage, including window clings and stickers, that let customers know your business is active on Yelp. These visual reminders help reinforce your reputation and encourage happy customers to leave a review.

Adding Yelp stickers and signage to your business can:

• Increase awareness: Many customers don’t realize a business is on Yelp until they see a sticker or sign.
• Build credibility: A “People Love Us on Yelp” sticker signals your business has strong customer feedback.
• Reinforce trust: Seeing Yelp branding can make new customers feel more confident about choosing your business.

To get an official “Find Us on Yelp” sticker, go to this page and fill out a form with your name and address. Some businesses may also receive an exclusive “People Love Us on Yelp” sticker, which is invitation-only and awarded based on strong customer feedback.

Once you get your stickers, place them in high-visibility areas where customers naturally pause or interact with your business. For example, a fast food restaurant might place a sticker near the checkout counter, where customers often wait for their order. This creates an easy opportunity for them to notice your Yelp presence and leave a quick review.

3. Create Memorable Moments That Customers Want to Share

Customers don’t leave Yelp reviews because they had an okay experience — they write reviews when something stands out. Whether it’s exceptional service, a unique atmosphere, or a fun surprise, memorable moments give people a reason to talk about your business.

Think about what makes your business special. Is it a signature dish, a personalized touch, or an unexpected perk? Small details can make a big impact. For example, a coffee shop that surprises regulars with their favorite drink on the house, a boutique that wraps purchases like gifts, or a mechanic that follows up after a repair.

Encouraging reviews doesn’t mean asking for them — it means giving customers a reason to share their positive experiences. Focus on the little things that make people say, “Wow, I need to tell someone about this.” If you can find new ways to stand out and make a lasting impression, more positive Yelp reviews will certainly be coming your way.

4. Respond to Reviews Quickly to Build Trust and Engagement

Your responses to Yelp reviews — whether positive or negative — say a lot about your business. A quick, thoughtful response shows potential customers that you care about feedback, while an ignored review can make your business seem unresponsive. Plus, Yelp favors active businesses, so responding regularly can get you seen by more people on Yelp.

Check Yelp frequently so you don’t miss new reviews. Aim to respond within 24 to 48 hours and keep your tone professional and friendly. For positive reviews, a simple “Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed your experience” adds a personal touch and encourages repeat business. For negative reviews, acknowledge the issue, offer a solution if possible, and invite the customer to continue the conversation privately if needed.

If keeping up with Yelp feels overwhelming, Chatmeter’s review monitoring tool can help. It alerts you as soon as a new review is posted and then allows you to formulate a response with AI so you can stay on top of your Yelp reviews more efficiently. 

5. Flag Inappropriate Reviews

While you can’t remove negative Yelp reviews simply because they’re unfavorable, you can flag reviews that violate Yelp’s content guidelines. This includes reviews that are fake, defamatory, or contain inappropriate content. By flagging such reviews, you can help maintain the integrity of your business’s online reputation.

How to flag a review on Yelp:

1. Log into your Yelp business account
2. Navigate to the reviews section
3. Click on the “three dots” icon beside the review
4. Select “Report Review”

Yelp will assess the flagged review to determine if it breaches its content guidelines and decide on its removal. It’s important to note that Yelp typically does not remove reviews solely based on disagreements or negative feedback. The review must clearly violate its established policies.

For more detailed information on handling negative Yelp reviews, you can refer to our guide on how to get rid of bad Yelp reviews.

6. Promote Your Yelp Page Through Social Media and Email

Customers who don’t know you’re on Yelp likely won’t leave a review for you. So, what can you do? 

Make your Yelp presence visible without directly asking for reviews, which violates Yelp’s guidelines. Social media and email marketing provide natural ways to encourage engagement with your Yelp page while staying compliant with Yelp’s rules.

Your goal here is to subtly remind your readers that you are on Yelp without ever explicitly asking for a review. Here are a couple of ways to do that:

• Share customer reviews on social media: If you get an outstanding review on Yelp, share it. Not only will more people see it, but it could also be a reminder for someone else to leave a review of your product or service. 
• Include a Yelp badge or link in your email signature: Put a Yelp badge and link in your emails to give readers a subtle cue, reminding them to leave a review. 
• Feature Yelp reviews in newsletters: Let people see the great feedback your business is getting on Yelp to show social proof and encourage more engagement.
• Send a post-visit follow-up email: While you can’t ask for a review, a friendly “Hope you enjoyed your visit!” email can remind customers about their experience and lead them to Yelp naturally (especially if you include the Yelp badge in your email).

Never directly ask for reviews. Instead, focus on making your Yelp presence easy to find so happy customers are encouraged to leave feedback in a way that feels relaxed and natural.

7. Track and Analyze Customer Sentiment on Yelp

Your Yelp reviews aren’t just a star counter — they’re a window into what your customers think about your business. Obviously, this is useful as a marketing tactic, but it’s also literal gold as far as customer research. 

By analyzing the sentiment behind reviews, you can uncover patterns in customer praise, complaints, and expectations, giving you actionable insights to improve your business.

So, how do you look at reviews and come out with actionable insights? Here are some tips:

• Look for recurring themes: Are multiple customers raving about a specific product or service? Highlight that strength in your marketing. Are several reviews mentioning slow service or long wait times? Prioritize fixing that issue.
• Pay attention to keywords: Customers often repeat the same words when describing their experience. These can be positive (“friendly staff,” “fast service,” “good value”) or negative (“overpriced,” “rude,” “dirty”). Identifying these trends can help you understand how customers see your business.
• Watch for location-specific trends: If you have multiple locations, each location should have its own profile. However, it can be beneficial to compare and contrast different locations. If one is getting 20% more 5-star reviews, see what customers are saying about that location so you can roll this out at other locations.

Another way to mine your reviews for customer sentiment is to use a dedicated tool like Chatmeter. Not only will this save you time — no more manual sorting, categorizing, and analyzing reviews yourself — but it also lets you ask questions and get answers based on real customers’ feedback on websites like Yelp. 

For instance, if your yoga studio has recently started offering night classes, you could ask our Signals tool how your customers have received these classes. Signals would then analyze all of your online reviews and give you an answer to your question.