Business owners commonly ask themselves how customers find their business. In this era of technology, everybody wants a fast and easy way to find what they want or need. When they are searching for a business like yours, they will use their devices and go online to find what they want, where, and when. Customers are searching for the best business for their needs and according to Nielsen in 2016, Yelp is ranked number 1 for a review website to impact their decision making. Having a Yelp page will be easier for business owners too since consumers have the ability to contact you by calling, sending a message, or requesting a quote directly through your page and even drive traffic to your site or social media.

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Claiming your business on Yelp will be the best decision because you can bring out your business to reach countless possible customers. Claiming your business on Yelp is how you regulate your Yelp page. You can have access to a number of tools and metrics from Yelp to help your business expand. You can update your hours, add information about your business, upload images, reply to reviews, and it even enables you to bring your brand to your page. Having your business on Yelp will help with more than just building a brand. Generally, companies who claim their page get more than double the engagement from prospective customers on Yelp, including more phone calls and site clicks.

Here are the ways for you to claim your page on Yelp:

1. Go to Yelp For Business Owners at biz.yelp.com and click Get Started.
2. Find your business by typing in your zip code and your business name.
3. Make an account by entering an email address and password. You should use an email address you check on a regular basis to stay on top of what's happening with your page.
4. Verify your account by entering your verification code. You'll receive an email or call to the number listed on your page.

After you're finished with the claiming, it is time to optimize your page.

When a customer goes to your Yelp page the first thing they see will be your business info, so you can not leave it just blank or display inaccurate information. Your Yelp page is like your storefront, customers want to see if you're open without ever needing to make the effort to contact you. Without basic information like hours and photos, they might assume you're closed or not active and will move onto the next business. Here are some suggestions on how to optimize your Yelp page with images.

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Even with the correct information and great photos, it is still not enough to make your business stand apart from the competition. To make your company stand out, you need to tell your story. Your Yelp page is a great place to let prospective customers know what makes you special. That's precisely what the 'Specialties' space was made for. Whatever makes you special, claim your free page and let the world know, click HERE to make your Yelp business extra special.

The last thing you need to do is to reply to or answer any reviews you have on your Yelp page. It is important for the business owner to respond to each individual who left their thoughts about your business on your Yelp page. This is a great first impression by answering any reviews. Reviews are a great way to show customers what type of business you're running and to see if you're one that values consumer opinions. Click HERE to learn more on how to leave reviews.

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