Consumers turn to Yelp to help them make a spending decision and this is why we encourage business owners to take advantage of Yelp’s free suite of tools to assure their Yelp listing, or “virtual storefront,” is representative of the business behind it. Last week we focused on using Yelp’s tools to respond to online feedback. This week, we’ll focus on another feature of the business owner tools: Yelp Deals.
Setting up a Yelp Deal is a simple way to help you convert traffic from Yelp’s website and mobile applications into new customers. In addition to appearing on your Yelp page and on our iPhone and Android apps, your deal will also appear in a dedicated section of Yelp for consumers who are specifically looking to search for businesses offering deals.
Over 25,000 local business owners nationwide have already taken advantage of this free tool, but if you’re not one of them then watch our 90-second tutorial video, learn how to set one up and then read some of the most frequently asked questions about them below.
What does it cost to post a deal on Yelp?
There are no upfront costs. Yelp will retain 30 percent of the discounted price from each deal sold.
How do I get paid?
Local
Yelp will process payment and send you your share of any deal purchased each month or when you manually request payment via your business owner's account.
When will my deal appear?
Your deal will appear on your Yelp page and be available for purchase immediately after you complete the online creation process.
Where and how is my deal promoted?
Your deal will be showcased prominently near the top of your page. In addition to the deal price, the regular price and discount percentage will also be displayed so potential customers know what a great deal you’re offering. In addition to appearing on your Yelp page, your deal will be highlighted in your search result and in a dedicated deals section of Yelp.com designed to allow consumers to identify great deals in their area. Deals are also accessible on-the-go from our iPhone and Android mobile applications. Deals that have a high level of consumer appeal, as determined by our marketing team, may be promoted through additional means at Yelp's discretion.
How do customers purchase my deal?
Deals can be purchased directly from your Yelp listing by clicking the "Buy Now" button that appears in your deal as well as directly though the Yelp mobile apps.
How do I track who purchased my deal?
Once your Deal is created there will be a dedicated area within the "Yelp Deals" section where you will find a list of purchasers, as well as their unique redemption codes. When someone redeems their deal, you can electronically check them off by hitting "redeem" next to their name. Customers can print out vouchers to redeem at your store as well redeem them directly through their mobile devices.
How long does my deal last?
Your deal will remain available for consumers to purchase indefinitely unless you indicate a maximum number available or remove your deal via biz.yelp.com.
How are refunds handled?
If Yelp issues a refund to a customer, you owe Yelp your 70 percent share of the customer's payment. Yelp will deduct this amount from future payments owed to you. In general, we believe that Yelp deals should always be a great experience for the customer. So when a customer is unhappy or believes that a deal was difficult to redeem at your business, we will refund their payment right away.
Danny Wurst is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp Chicago. In addition to leading the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off, he also regularly interacts with business owners to answer questions and provide insight on online services like Yelp. When he's not working (or sometimes when he is), he's enjoying his favorite meal: a burger and beer.
