Yelp reviews can make or break a local business. Whether you're running a restaurant, salon, or home services company, having a strong Yelp presence builds trust and drives more foot traffic. But how do you actually get more reviews—especially when Yelp discourages asking directly?
Here are 10 ethical, effective strategies to grow your Yelp reviews without violating Yelp's policies.
1. Claim and Optimize Your Yelp Profile
Before anything else, make sure you've claimed your business page on Yelp. Then:
- Add high-quality photos
- Update your business hours
- Include accurate service descriptions
A well-maintained profile encourages happy customers to leave reviews on their own.
2. Deliver Outstanding Customer Experiences
Great reviews start with great service. Make every customer interaction memorable—fast service, friendly staff, thoughtful touches. When people are delighted, they're more likely to share that online—even unprompted.
3. Use Yelp's "Find Us on Yelp" Tools
Yelp provides review-friendly badges, stickers, and printable materials that say things like:
- "Check us out on Yelp"
- "People love us on Yelp!"
These subtle nudges are compliant with Yelp's guidelines and gently remind customers that your business is on the platform.
4. Link to Yelp on Your Website and Email Signature
Make it easy for happy customers to find your Yelp page. Add:
- A Yelp icon with a link on your website footer
- A "Check us out on Yelp" link in your email signature
- A Yelp link in appointment confirmation or follow-up emails
5. Respond to Existing Yelp Reviews
When you respond to reviews—good or bad—it shows you care. This often encourages more customers to chime in with their experiences. Keep responses professional, grateful, and empathetic.
6. Use Subtle In-Store Signage
A simple tabletop sign or poster that says:
"Are you on Yelp? We are too!"
can be effective without explicitly asking for reviews. Just make sure the messaging doesn't say "Leave us a review"—that would go against Yelp's rules.
7. Share Your Yelp Reviews on Social Media
Highlighting your best Yelp reviews on Instagram or Facebook not only builds trust, but also reminds other customers to leave their own. You can even say:
"Thank you to everyone who shares kind words on Yelp. We read every one!"
8. Train Your Staff to Mention Yelp (Carefully)
Instead of saying, "Can you leave us a review?", teach your team to say:
"Many of our customers find us on Yelp—feel free to check us out there!"
This keeps you within Yelp's guidelines while still planting the seed.
9. Follow Up After Service or Purchase
You can send a post-service email that says:
"Thanks for visiting [Business Name]. If you have any feedback, we'd love to hear it!"
Then include links to multiple platforms, including Yelp. As long as you're not singling out Yelp or asking for a review directly, you're fine.
10. Don't Buy Reviews or Offer Incentives
Never offer discounts, freebies, or cash in exchange for Yelp reviews. Yelp's algorithm is very good at catching fake or incentivized reviews—and it can penalize your business by filtering out legitimate ones or adding a warning label.
Final Thoughts
Getting more Yelp reviews isn't about asking harder—it's about being smarter. Focus on service, visibility, and giving customers a reason to want to share their experience. Over time, your Yelp profile will grow organically—and your reputation will speak for itself.