Website design By BotEap.comLocation-based services or LBS platforms like Yelp, FourSquare, GoWalla, and Facebook Places are all the rage among marketers these days. Between social, mobile, and local media, there is great potential for marketers to deliver incredibly accurate and measurable marketing campaigns with a minimal amount of effort. and budget. However, it is critical to develop an approach before you jump in. Go too far and you could find yourself overwhelmed with everything. This article will look at Yelp as an online reputation tool that can be used to create a credible and transparent image.

Website design By BotEap.comYelp tends to focus on content curation; the content is generated from local Yelpers who share reviews of the local businesses they frequent in their respective cities. These reviews are then curated, organized, and posted by the Yelp Community Manager (an official Yelp employee) to a page within Yelp. These posted reviews can be incredibly powerful when it comes to shaping the online reputation of local merchants. The good news is that you, as the business owner, can actively participate in the process.

Website design By BotEap.comTo get started, you’ll need to claim your listing on Yelp. This is fairly painless and should only take a few minutes. Be sure to fill out your profile as well; Yelp has strict guidelines when it comes to approving listings. They are not there to intimidate anyone into not signing up. It is more a matter of SPAM prevention than anything else. Always use an actual photo of the business as well, that’s very helpful.

Website design By BotEap.comOnce the listing has been claimed, you will have access to all the conversations that have been had about your business. You can see who has been reviewing your products and services and reply to any comments or comments that have been posted; good or bad. Be sure to be objective and honest when communicating on Yelp. Your voice will be heard but only if it is honest and credible.

Website design By BotEap.comLastly, don’t go into “sell mode” either. Yelp is not a self-promotion site; it is a management tool, very similar to the mailboxes that most companies have to receive suggestions. Please wait for these comments to be published on the web.