One of the most potent marketing tools for attracting customers online is customer reviews. Studies indicate that more than 95% of consumers will read online reviews before making a purchase, while nearly 90% trust customer reviews as much as they do personal recommendations. This means that one of the most important decisions a local business owner will ever make is where to source their reviews. Online reviews and sales are proportional to business functions. There has even been an ongoing debate over Yelp versus Google reviews, as the stakes have risen for acquiring more exposure, legitimacy, and local search volume. While each service provides information to help customers determine how a local business is, their primary purposes are somewhat different, and they each cater to different groups of consumers. While Google has a strong hold on local search and maps, Yelp has established a name for itself through in-depth consumer reviews and local business searches.
So, which review platform is best for local businesses in the USA? Which platform would bring restaurants, dentists, contractors, salons, and retailers in through the door? We will compare Google Reviews vs. Yelp Reviews and Yelp vs. Google for restaurant reviews, examine their advantages and disadvantages, and determine which platform business owners should focus on. Learn about do Yelp reviews affect rankings, the differences between Google and Yelp for consumers, and should small businesses use Yelp or Google reviews.
| Feature | Google Reviews | Yelp Reviews |
| Monthly Users | Billions through Google Search & Maps | Over 100 million monthly visitors |
| Visibility | Extremely High | Moderate |
| Local SEO Impact | Strong | Limited |
| Review Volume | Usually Higher | Usually Lower |
| Ease of Leaving Reviews | Very Easy | Moderate |
| Review Filtering | Minimal | Strict |
| Consumer Trust | High | High |
| Best for | Most Local Businesses | Restaurants, Services, Hospitality |
| Advertising Options | Google Ads Integration | Yelp Advertising |
Google Reviews are customer ratings and reviews displayed on a company's Google Business Profile. Google Reviews appear directly in Google Search results and Google Maps, so potential customers seeking out a local business immediately have access to this information at the time of the search. Google accounts for more than 90 percent of global searches, so businesses also use the reviews on their profiles to encourage consumer interaction.
Google Reviews can provide significant visibility because they appear directly where potential customers are already looking. This helps a lot with local SEO rankings because those with the most and most engaged Google Reviews are the most likely to show up on Google Maps and in search results. Additionally, nearly everyone uses Google, so leaving a review is much quicker for consumers and requires no extra login information.
Because it's so easy for customers to leave reviews, the feedback received is often not very valuable. The majority of Google Reviews are brief and cover only a small part of the customer's experience. Businesses may occasionally experience spam and fake reviews, though Google continues to improve its monitoring tools.
Yelp is a review platform primarily dedicated to helping customers discover businesses that will fit their needs. Although restaurants used to be its main focus, Yelp has since expanded into many other services, including healthcare, automotive, home services, beauty and fashion, and retail. Users typically visit Yelp specifically to look up a business before making a purchase.
Yelp reviews are known for being more detailed and comprehensive than Google Reviews. Customers share their full experience, making them a valuable tool for services that involve tangible customer interaction, such as restaurants, dentists, and hair salons. Many customers feel they are more trustworthy because Yelp actively filters suspicious and low-quality reviews.
Yelp's review filtering system can sometimes hide helpful reviews, which can be frustrating to businesses and customers. Yelp also has much lower user numbers than Google, so a business may miss out on customers if its profile isn't in a high-traffic area on the site.
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There is a wide range of differences between Yelp and Google Reviews, and here is an in-depth analysis of them below:
Google clearly leads in both visibility and reach. Millions of Google searches are performed daily, and whether a consumer is looking for "best Italian food nearby" or "top-rated cosmetic surgeon in Boston," Google Reviews are prominently displayed beside the business listings. While Yelp remains a popular choice, people tend to visit it after they've already made up their mind about the kind of business they'd like to research. Because of this, Google reviews often give a business its first impression.
There are many distinctions between Google and Yelp's local search results. The more customers and the higher the ratings on Google Reviews, the better a business's ranking will be in local search results and on Google Maps. Yelp reviews have no direct influence on a business's web visibility; however, they are not a ranking factor.
The value of Yelp has been built on its ability to display reliable quality reviews. Yelp's software works to eliminate obviously dodgy reviews or low-quality reviews in favor of those deemed accurate, and they make an effort to make these visible to customers. Moderation is also a function within the Google Review platform; however, they have been shown to allow more reviews, even of lower quality, to remain visible. Consumers report that they trust Yelp reviews more than Google reviews, due to the level of vetting.
Google Reviews are unbelievably easy for a customer to submit. Once a customer searches for a business and lands on its profile, all they need to do is click "review," leave their rating, and submit. Yelp Reviews, on the other hand, can be a little more work. New or occasional Yelp users' reviews often don't display due to the review filtering system.
Businesses looking for quick customer acquisition are more likely to see significant results from Google reviews, as consumers using Google search are usually ready to make a decision about which business to choose. Consumers on Yelp tend to spend more time researching, so they are not always close to making a purchase decision. A business that wants a plumber "right now" is not going to scroll through Yelp looking for a good choice; they will just go to Google.
Businesses using Google can link their reviews to their local search advertising, improving their visibility in search results. Yelp offers its own advertising options for businesses, which can help them stand out in Yelp search results, especially in more competitive markets. Effectiveness varies by industry and budget.
To better understand the platform that is best suited for you and your business, consider the following and choose the best one:
If you are looking for the most local search visibility and local SEO benefits, and are trying to reach new customers at any given time of day. Stores, services, dental practices, contractors, and various other businesses can utilize the Google user base to reach customers.
Yelp reviews are highly beneficial for service-based businesses and those in the food, spa, and salon industries, where a positive experience is a priority. It is where customers go to find those services and their caliber.
There is nothing better than using reviews and having profiles on both Google and Yelp. If you do both, your credibility and customer trust can improve even further. It brings potential customers from a wide array of individuals to your website through high Google traffic, but it also attracts review-type users from Yelp.
Google Reviews will excel if your main objective is to attract customers and increase visibility in your local area. Google’s ability to provide reviews directly on Google Search and Maps offers businesses visibility when potential customers are searching to purchase. While Yelp does not provide the same level of visibility in terms of reach, it is certainly beneficial for service industries. For all local businesses, maintaining a positive Yelp profile is advantageous even if it falls second to a Google profile.
When comparing Yelp and Google Reviews, you will see a trade-off between reach and depth. Yelp Reviews lack the broad reach, SEO, and customer acquisition that a Google Review can provide. The depth of a Yelp review can be more insightful, and the trustworthiness factor is greater for certain business types. If the above factors don't sway you toward the right service provider for your review efforts, research sites like search.com for reviews, and choose whichever you find is the best choice for you.
If you are a local business trying to build your presence, you will benefit most from using both Google and Yelp as a base for your reviews. Building a relationship with your customers by asking for reviews and responding to each one can significantly increase customer trust.
Yes, consumers often research on Google first, then check Yelp for a review. This is especially true for restaurants, medical professionals, salons, and home service businesses, as customer reviews greatly influence potential customers' decisions.
Unfortunately for most business owners, yes, negative reviews can increase trust among potential customers. If the only thing a consumer sees is the "perfect" business, that could be viewed as unbelievable. The truth is, customer trust can increase with more negative reviews when business owners handle them properly.
Businesses should constantly ask for reviews following a great experience. Repeatedly asking for reviews can provide a continuous stream of current customer reviews that customers can read to build their trust in your business. Continuous customer reviews also show customers that a business cares about their product or service.
This content was created by AI