If you’re looking for some free exposure for your business online, claiming a free listing on Yell.com is a great place to start. In fact, setting up free listings on a number of platforms like Google My Business, TripAdvisor etc all helps search engines build up a good view of your business, and can help you appear more consistently in local search.
But once your Yell.com listing goes live, what happens next? How do you maximise your profile’s marketing potential without spending any money?
Let’s take a look at five totally free ways to make the most of your business’s free listing on Yell.com.
Share as much information as possible
As with any online profile promoting your business, it’s crucial to provide as much information as possible right at the start. You need to paint a clear picture of your business so potential customers don’t have to look elsewhere to find essential details. Start off with your basics including:
- physical address/location
- phone number
- website address
- opening hours
- social media links
But why stop there? On your free Yell.com listing, you can also include:
- three key highlights that you would like new customers to know about your business
- photos and logos
- a headline or slogan
- a short description of your business
- a list of your products and/or services
- which payment methods you accept.
There’s also an option to list any qualifications, awards, and accreditations your business has received. There are more options available with a paid listing on Yell.com, but the free ones are a good start!
The more information you can include on your listing, the better. After all, you want prospects to get in touch with you straight away while their buying intent is high, which won’t happen if they have to hunt elsewhere for a specific piece of information!
Keep topping up the reviews
73% of consumers are more likely to choose a business that has online reviews compared to a business that has none
56% of consumers who have read reviews expect the most recent review to have been posted within the last monthSource: Critical Research 2017
It stands to reason that a regular flow of reviews on your business profile is much more favourable than an odd review here and there. Make a note of all of your previous customers and identify if there are any who had a really good experience who haven’t shared their thoughts yet by leaving a review for your business. Reach out! Drop your client an email, or even better and easier, use the “Request new reviews” feature within your Yell account dashboard or the Yell for Business app.
But what about future reviews? Within your normal workflows, implement a system for requesting new reviews once you’ve provided your customer with the products or service they required. Provide instructions on how to leave a Yell.com review on your till receipts, or include a link to your Yell.com listing when you send your client their final invoice. Make it a part of your internal systems so requesting reviews becomes second nature with every sale – take a look at 11 Ways to Encourage Customers to Leave Online Reviews for some further inspiration.
Always read and respond to reviews – good or bad
This one’s pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. No matter what a review says or whether its sentiment is positive or negative, always read it and carefully respond. Yell.com allows you to provide an official business response to any review left for you – simply log in to your account dashboard and click on “Manage existing reviews”.
But what should you say in reply? Never be generic – don’t just have a response that you copy and paste each time. Always thank the person for their custom and for leaving the review, formulate a response around the specific feedback they’ve given, and acknowledge their opinion. For some more in-depth pointers on how to reply to reviews left anywhere online, head over to our article How to Professionally Respond to Online Reviews.
Panicking over a less-than-rosy review? Check out our post on Turning Negative Reviews into Positive Experiences.
Advertise your Yell.com listing and reviews
Who said you can’t make your Yell.com listing a bit of a destination for those interested in working with you? When you’re logged in to your account, click on “Promote your reviews”, and you’ll be presented with two options. The second option shown is a link to a set of logos that you can use on your website or on printed materials to direct people to your Yell.com listing (as long as you follow the usage guidelines provided).
In terms of getting maximum exposure for individual reviews, why not include particularly positive reviews in your other marketing collateral? Include testimonials in flyers and website copy, create graphics in Canva to showcase glowing reviews and share them on social media, or install a testimonials page on your website. Don’t think you have to restrict good reviews to your listing pages – share them around!
Personally, I advise getting each reviewer’s permission before you publish their words elsewhere, but once they’ve given the thumbs up – you’re good to go! Check out our previous article 10 Places to Use Customer Reviews in Your Marketing for some great places to feature your reviews.
On the go? Use the App
If you’re in a line of work that involves you being out and about rather than sitting at a desk, managing and requesting reviews may seem like something you’ll only tackle once in a blue moon.
If this sounds familiar, you will definitely benefit from the free Yell for Business app (available for both Android and iOS). As long as you have a smartphone and internet access, you can update your business details, read and reply to reviews, as well as request new reviews on the go. Plus many other useful features. So you can stay on top of things while at lunch, waiting for a customer, on the sofa, in a queue, at the gym – you name it!
