Remember that bulky yellow phonebook from many years ago? Believe it or not, it is still with us, just in an online jacket. Although discontinued in printed form, the Yellow Pages has become one of the best review tools for local businesses in the U.S.
It is now a massive online platform that continues to connect customers with businesses in their immediate region. The Yellow Pages still categorize businesses, making it easy for people to find them. Consumers can look for plumbers, pizza places, landscapers, and lawyers on one website.
No matter your business type, you can list it on the Yellow Pages, and people will find you. Your listing can include all your business’s most important information, like contact details and business hours. And most importantly, it can include Yellow Pages reviews from past customers.
Positive YP.com reviews are the best way to attract more customers through the Yellow Pages platform. So, let’s look at exactly how Yellow Pages works in 2024 and how you can maximize your Yellow Pages business listing.
How Yellow Pages Works
The Yellow Pages United States version was a household staple for decades. Now that it has become a nostalgic symbol of an older era, can it still bring value to businesses and consumers?
It can and it does, especially because of its online shift. And because of its strong focus on Yellow Page reviews, the Yellow Pages is forging its own trajectory in the online review space.
Is This The Online Version of the Yellow Phonebook?
Yes, YP.com is the online version of the traditional Yellow Pages directory. It is a website-based directory that includes residential and business listings, just like the original paper version.
This means if you list your business, customers can find you. If you list your address, your family from other states can find you, too.
How To Find Someone or a Business
If people want to find you, they will open the White Pages page, where there is a People Search option. This option will direct users to a search engine that searches the entire YP.com website.
Typically, if a person wants to find you and not your business, they will search by first and last name, and city and state. If they know your address but not your contact number, they can use it to run a reverse address lookup on the website.
If a person has your phone number but does not know who it belongs to, they can enter the number on the website, and your details will come up.
If a person is looking for your business, they can enter the business name and location to find your profile page.
Yellow Pages Features
In addition to making it easy to find people and businesses, the Yellow Pages website offers advanced search filters. People can refine their searches according to price, rating, and delivery options.
Moreover, you can create a detailed business listing on YP.com. You can model it after your Google Business Profile by adding photos, your logo, operating hours, a link to your website, and a section for user reviews.
YP.com even has an app for on-the-go searches and location-based business recommendations.
Pros and Cons of Yellow Pages
As with any business tool, there are pros and cons to listing your business in the Yellow Pages. These include the following:
Pros:
Yellow Pages business listings target ready-to-buy customers. People who search the site are actively looking for a business to buy from.
Moreover, these listings can make your business more visible in your area. And, because the Yellow Pages has been around for so long, it makes your business more credible.
Cons:
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee your target audience is interested in using the Yellow Pages website. With online search being as easy as it is, most people turn to Google instead.
Furthermore, you must pay to list on the Yellow Pages, whereas a Google listing is free. And it is not easy to track how many new customers found your business on the Yellow Pages site.
Why are Yellow Pages Reviews Important
On the other hand, the fact that the Yellow Pages website includes reviews with each listing is a huge pro. This can help you build trust with your audience. Yellow Pages reviews offer potential customers insights into others’ experiences with your business. This directly influences their decision-making process.
Moreover, these reviews can boost your SEO efforts, making your listing more likely to be seen by consumers. And you get first-hand feedback on the impact your business has on the market.
How to Get More Reviews On Yellow Pages
Now that you know how important it is to appear in the Yellow Pages and get positive reviews on the platform, you should use different strategies to maximize the number of reviews you get.
Ask For the Reviews
The easiest way to increase your Yellow Pages reviews is to ask for them. Encourage your customers to leave a review at the point of sale. Or ask for their contact information so you can ask them later via an email marketing campaign. You can even use your social media platforms to ask and receive feedback, which you can link to your Yellow Pages listing.
Send Emails and Texts
Use a texting platform to send messages to your customers, asking them to leave a review on your Yellow Pages profile. Include a link to the profile in the message. You can also do this via email. If you provide products and services, you can also insert review requests in transactional emails.
Buy Yellow Pages Reviews
Did you know that you can buy Yellow Pages reviews? Several platforms offer you this type of instant review boost. Establishing an initial review pattern on your profile will encourage organic reviews.
Create Online Review Cards
It is crucial not to overcomplicate the review process. Another way to make it easy for customers to leave a review is to create online review cards. These cards typically feature your business information and a link where customers can leave a review. You can also add a QR code that takes people to the review form.
Reply to Reviews
The customer review process is not a one-way street. You should reply to all the reviews you receive, whether good or bad. This will show your commitment to providing excellent customer service. And it proves to your customers that you want to solve their problems.
Add a Strong Call to Action
You can even add a call-to-action on your Yellow Pages Profile. You can add a CTA on the same page where your customers review their receipts. Or you can use a contact form that doubles as a CTA.
Share on Other Social Platforms
You should also be adding your profile link to your social media profiles. You can even create social media posts about your existing positive testimonials on the Yellow Pages website. Target all the popular platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, X, and Instagram.
Add a Sign at Checkout
If you run an online eCommerce business, you can add a sign on the checkout page, asking customers to leave a review. This is another way to make it easier for people to review your business.
Make the Most Of Your Loyalty Program
If you have a loyalty program, you can offer your customers bonus points for leaving a review. Remember that you cannot offer customers a direct gift or product in exchange for reviews on the YP.com platform.
Use Third-Party Review Platforms Like Podium
You can also use Podium to get the reviews you want. Podium can help you connect to the Yellow Pages site (and other review sites) and save all the reviews you get on one central platform.
Attract More Reviews With Podium
Podium will help you double the monthly reviews you get now, in less than 60 days. The Podium solution includes automation, AI-powered replies, and textable review invites. And you can use all these features on one platform.
Boost your business reputation and get those 5-star reviews you deserve with the help of Podium. Request a demo here.
