How Important Are Reviews On Sites Like Yelp?

Thanks for the heads up !

One of the most correct information you could find on WF regarding Google Places. I completely agree with everything, especially the uselessness of all the "photo tagging" and "video tagging" tactics that everyone talks about.

However, I have some comments on Yelp specifically. I DO NOT suggest you to pick exactly Yelp when creating a strategy for getting reviews. Two reasons:

1) Yelp filters out a large percentage of the reviews from new and inactive users
2) Yelp has constant controversy with Google regarding review syndication

Furthermore, although it's true that reviews on third-party websites are generally more valuable than reviews posted directly on Google Places, both are important, because one of the factors for higher ranking is diversity of sources of information. So if you are getting 10 reviews from Yelp (let's say) and your opponent has 5 from Yelp, 2 from City Search, 1 from Insider Pages and 3 from Google Places, in other things equal situation - they will be in front of you.

I usually suggest that citysearch.com, insiderpages.com and judysbook.com are picked as targeted directories for reviews, as well as Yahoo! Local, but I think there could be some troubles similar to Yelp ones in future. Anyhow, for now it's OK to use it.

Local Business Guy, I agree with you. All the videos, images etc, if they ever added any power, I don't see it now. Yelp is a factor, and I think more than GP itself for getting a review placed. ..however, if a bad review gets on Yelp, it gets syndicated all over and can wreak havoc on a ranking, as one of my clients is finding out.
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Bruce

Hi

I was only using Yelp as an example for a review site. I have reviews posted to many review site to spread the link love and this seems to work.

I find that a mixture of not so good and very good reviews work better. The not so good start off with a negative but then at the end turning it into a positive review. I.e the plumber turned up 2 hours late (negative) but he did a great job (positive).

This does two things.

1. Makes the review look more natural as no one gets 5 stars all the time.

2. Gives the search engine a more natural mixture of reviews if a Google spy should happen to come along.

It is obvious when you see certain reviews they are fake. There will be several excellent ones within a day or two and not another review for many months. Does not matter if it helps the ranking or not when I see bogus reviews, I tend to go elsewhere for my business.

I would say pretty important, they do tend to help your rankings.. If you go to yellopages.com type a keyword you will notice the first sites that come up, in addition to paid are listing with reviews

To be honest, I don't think reviews play a MAJOR, DECISIVE role in the grand scheme of local rankings. They are CERTAINLY a factor that should be addressed, but you will notice a lot of Google Places listings with very few reviews ranking well-above others with TONS of reviews, all other things considered.

The ones with little to no reviews are usually highly optimized in other areas though, in my experiences. Since none of us will truly know exactly what they are looking for over at Google, it is probably best for your client that you optimize everything you possibly can and cast the BIGGEST OPTIMIZATION NET you can. Reviews are really just a piece of the "optimization puzzle".

I really think QR codes will play a HUGE role in assisting businesses in garnering customer feedback too. This year we'll probably see a lot more biz owners looking for online customer review solutions. I agree with the above poster though...a lot of the time it is just blatantly obvious that the reviews are fabricated...and it makes the company look bad IMO.

- Jim

I agree , i did some research and it shows clearly that listings with reviews ranks better.
the diversity of sources is important. so when you tell you customers to give you a review make sure not to tell all of them at once....and also spread your reviews on the top 5 reviews sources of your niche.

If you want to know how do i find the top 5 review sources for the niche ...I'm doing it using Get Me Listed the Local SEO tool.

Kfir

Hi Kfir

It's quite easy to find which review sites you need to target. Just do a search for your business+city and see which review sites show up either on the maps listings and in the organic results.

If your competition has Yelp, Insider pages and city search showing up on their maps listings then that is a good place to start. I do this all the time for my clients and it works very well.

Keith

Thanks for the heads up !