Step-by-Step Guide to Automating Yelp Review Requests

Want more Yelp reviews without breaking the rules? Here's how to automate your requests:

Follow Yelp's guidelines - don't directly ask for reviews
Choose an automation tool (e.g. Birdeye, Podium, ReputationDash)
Connect your Yelp account to the tool
Set up triggers to send requests at the right time
Create email/SMS templates to request feedback
Add quality checks to filter requests
Test your system and analyze results
Track key metrics like total reviews and average rating
Expand to other review sites like Google and Facebook
Keep customer data updated and use feedback to improve

Key things to remember:

Time requests carefully (e.g. 24 hours after purchase)
Personalize messages with customer details
Make leaving a review quick and easy
Respond to all reviews promptly

Benefit	Impact
Save time	Up to 3 hours per day
Increase reviews	20-30% more reviews
Boost rating	1-star increase = 5-9% more revenue

Automating Yelp reviews can significantly grow your business when done right. Focus on providing great experiences first, then use these tips to encourage more feedback.

1. Know Yelp's review rules

Yelp's review policy is unique. Here's the big surprise: Yelp tells businesses NOT to ask for reviews.

Why? They want genuine, unbiased reviews from naturally motivated customers.

Yelp's do's and don'ts

Do's	Don'ts
Provide great customer service	Ask for reviews
Display Yelp branding	Offer review incentives
Respond to reviews professionally	Have staff compete for reviews
Encourage Yelp app check-ins	Write self-reviews
Address concerns quickly	Pressure users to change negative reviews

Yelp's Content Guidelines say:

"Great Yelp reviews and ratings should come from consumers who had a great experience that they're inspired to tell others about."

Breaking these rules can hurt your business. Yelp might not recommend prompted reviews or could put a Consumer Alert on your page.

So, how can you get more reviews without breaking rules?

Boost your customer service: Happy customers often leave reviews without asking.
Use Yelp's marketing tools: Display Yelp stickers to increase visibility.
Push for check-ins: Ask customers to check in on the Yelp app. Yelp might prompt them to review later.

2. Get ready for automation

Time to prep for automating your Yelp review requests. Let's look at where you're at and where you want to go.

Check your current setup

First, take a hard look at how you're getting Yelp reviews now. Ask yourself:

How many Yelp reviews do you get each month?
What's your strategy for asking for reviews?
What's your Yelp rating right now?
How fast do you respond to reviews?

Take Lake Powell Paddleboards, for example. Before automating, they had less than 100 TripAdvisor reviews and only 11 on Google. Not great.

Set your targets

Now that you know where you stand, decide what you want to achieve. Make your goals specific and measurable.

Think about:

New reviews per month
Boosting your star rating
Speeding up review responses
Getting more customers to leave reviews

Here's what your goals might look like:

Goal	Now	Target	When
Monthly Yelp reviews	5	20	3 months
Average stars	3.8	4.5	6 months
Response time	48 hrs	24 hrs	1 month
% customers reviewing	10%	30%	3 months

Set goals that push you but are still doable. You can always adjust as you go.

3. Pick an automation tool

You've set your goals. Now it's time to choose a tool to automate your Yelp review requests. Let's dive in.

What to look for in a tool

When shopping for a review automation platform, keep these features in mind:

Easy-to-use interface
Customization options
Review moderation
Detailed analytics
Real-time updates
Support for multiple platforms

Compare popular tools

Here's a quick rundown of some top review automation platforms:

Tool	Standout Features	Starting Price
Birdeye	200+ review sites, AI insights	$299/month
Podium	SMS requests, sentiment analysis	$399/month
Yotpo	Photo/video reviews, social integration	$29/month
Sprout Social	Unified social and review management	$79/month
ReviewFlowz	SaaS-focused, Slack integration	Custom

About ReputationDash

ReputationDash is the new kid on the block, but it's worth a look for small businesses:

Budget-friendly pricing
Simple, non-techy interface
Yelp-specific features
Custom automation rules
Time-saving response templates

4. Set up your automation system

Time to connect your chosen automation tool with Yelp. Here's how:

Set up your Yelp account

Create or claim your Yelp business profile
Fill out your profile completely
Turn on Yelp messaging

Connect your tool to Yelp

The process varies by tool, but here's the gist:

Get your Yelp API key:
- Create a Yelp Developers account
- Make a new app in the Yelp Fusion API dashboard
- Copy your private API key
Paste the API key into your tool's Yelp integration section
Complete the authentication process
Test it out with a sample review request

Step	What to do
1	Get Yelp API key
2	Enter API key in tool
3	Set up authentication
4	Test connection

The Yelp Fusion API base URL is https://api.yelp.com/v3. This lets you access business search, reviews, and more.

Stuck? Check your tool's docs or hit up their support team.

5. Plan when to ask for reviews

Timing is everything when it comes to getting Yelp reviews. Here's how to nail it:

Map out customer interactions

Identify the best moments to ask for reviews:

Right after service delivery
When customers are happy
After providing support
At customer milestones
During special events

For example, if you're an HVAC company, ask for a review right after cleaning an air conditioner, especially if the customer's smiling.

Set up automatic triggers

Configure your system to send requests based on specific actions:

Trigger	Action
Service completion	Send request immediately
Positive feedback	Send within 24 hours
Customer milestone	Send personalized message
Special event	Send themed request

Consider your business type:

One-time services: Ask right after
Project-based work: Ask during and after
Product purchases: Give time for use before asking

"The fresher an experience is in the client/customer's mind, the more meaningful the review will be." - Courtney Quigley, Rize's reputation consultant

To get your timing right:

Use a customer journey map
Set up email reminders for non-responders
Watch customer behavior trends and adjust

6. Write effective review requests

Want more Yelp reviews? Here's how to craft messages that get results:

Create email and text templates

Start with a basic template, then tweak it:

Template Type	What to Include
Post-purchase	Thanks, mention specific item/service
Service feedback	Ask about recent experience
Loyal customer	Acknowledge relationship, show appreciation

Keep it short. Include:

Customer's name
Specific experience details
How to leave a review
Your Yelp profile link

Example email:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for visiting [Business Name]. How was your [product/service]?

Mind sharing your thoughts on Yelp? It helps us and other customers.

Here's the link: [Yelp Profile Link]

Thanks!

[Your Name] [Business Name]

Make it personal

Tailor your requests:

Use their name
Mention their specific purchase/visit
Adjust tone based on customer history

New customers? Focus on their recent experience. Regulars? Acknowledge their loyalty.

Don't offer incentives for reviews. It's against Yelp's rules.

After they review:

Send a thank-you message
Respond to all reviews quickly

7. Set up quality checks

To keep your Yelp review requests on track, you need some guardrails. Here's how to follow Yelp's rules and handle feedback like a pro.

Follow Yelp's rules

Yelp doesn't mess around with review policies. Stay on their good side:

NO incentives for reviews
DON'T ask for positive reviews
AVOID spamming customers

Set up these filters in your automation tool:

Filter	Purpose
Time delay	Wait 24+ hours after purchase
Frequency cap	1 request per customer every 3 months
Content check	Flag "positive review" or "5 stars" messages

Fun fact: In 2023, Yelp's system filtered out 3.5 million sketchy reviews. Don't be that business.

Turn negative feedback into gold

Bad reviews happen. Here's your game plan:

Reply FAST (within 24 hours)
Be cool and thank them
Explain how you'll fix it
Offer to chat privately

Kent Campbell from Reputation X says:

"Keep an eye on the 'Not Recommended' section of your Yelp page. It's a goldmine of insights about what customers really think."

Handle negative feedback well, and you'll show potential customers you've got their back.

8. Test and improve your system

Time to put your Yelp review request system to the test. Here's how:

Run a small test

Start small. Pick 50-100 recent customers and send them your automated requests. Watch what happens for a week or two.

Keep an eye on:

How many people open your emails
How many click your links
How many actually leave reviews

Use data to make it better

Got some results? Great. Now let's make your system even better.

If this is low	Try this
People opening emails	Play with subject lines or sender names
People clicking links	Make your call-to-action clearer
People leaving reviews	Make the review process easier or adjust when you send requests

For example, "How was your pizza?" might get more opens than "Please review us".

Always test your changes. It's worth it. One study found A/B testing led to 20% more sales with video reviews.

Here's a real-world example:

A Chicago pizzeria tested sending review requests 2 hours vs. 24 hours after pickup. The 2-hour timeframe got 35% more responses. Why? The pizza was still fresh in people's minds.

Keep testing. Find that sweet spot where you get lots of good reviews without bugging your customers too much.

9. Track Your Results

Once your Yelp review request automation is live, it's crucial to monitor its performance. Here's how:

Create a Simple Dashboard

Set up a spreadsheet to track key metrics:

Metric	Meaning
Total reviews	Review growth
Average rating	Customer perception
Response rate	Your engagement
Response time	Your speed

Pro tip: Use Yelp's tools. Enable email alerts on biz.yelp.com and push notifications on the Yelp for Business app for instant updates.

Quick Responses Matter

Aim to reply within 24 hours. It's not just good practice - it's effective:

88% of consumers would use a business that replies to all reviews, compared to 47% for those that don't respond at all.

When responding:

Thank the reviewer
Address specific points
Offer solutions for negative feedback

Keep an eye on common issues in reviews. They're valuable insights for improving your business.

10. Add other review sites

Let's expand your review strategy beyond Yelp. Here's how to include other key platforms:

Create a multi-site plan

Focus on 2-3 main review sites alongside Yelp. Google and Facebook are solid choices. Here's your game plan:

1. Register your business

2. Customize your approach

Tailor your review requests for each platform. What works on Yelp might flop on Google or Facebook.

3. Use platform-specific features

Each site has its own tools. Google My Business? Post updates and offers. Facebook? Run targeted ads to boost engagement.

4. Create unique URLs

Generate separate links for each review platform. Makes it easy for customers to leave reviews on the right site.

5. Monitor across platforms

Use a tool to track reviews from multiple sites in one place. Some options:

Tool	Features	Pricing
Birdeye	Manages reviews from 200+ platforms	Custom quote
Podium	Automates review invites across various sites	Starts at $399/month
Automated Customer Reviews	Sends follow-up emails after orders	$20/month with 7-day free trial

6. Adjust your strategy

Check which platforms are performing best and focus your efforts there.

Don't spread yourself too thin. It's better to crush it on a few key platforms than to be mediocre on many.

11. Fix common problems

Boost response rates

Low response rates? Here's how to fix that:

Act fast: Send requests within 24 hours. It boosts responses by 33%.
Get personal: Use names and mention specifics about their visit.
Make it easy: Give a direct link to your Yelp page.
Follow up: No response? Send a friendly reminder after a week.
Mix it up: Use email, SMS, and in-person requests.

Channel	Good	Bad
Email	Easy to automate	Might get ignored
SMS	Quick, high open rates	Can feel pushy
In-person	Personal touch	Limited reach

Tackle tech issues

Tech problems slowing you down? Try these fixes:

Beat the filter: Yelp filters about 25% of reviews. To avoid this:
- Ask customers to fill out their Yelp profiles
- Encourage them to review other places too
- Don't request reviews while customers are at your business
Fix integration errors: If your tool isn't playing nice with Yelp:
- Double-check your API connections
- Make sure your Yelp business account is set up right
- Reach out to your tool's support team
Stay compliant: Follow Yelp's rules:
- No bribes for reviews
- Don't ask for only good reviews
- Respond to ALL reviews
Keep data fresh: Update customer info regularly so requests hit the mark.

12. Tips for long-term success

Keep your Yelp review system running smoothly by focusing on these key areas:

Keep customer info up to date

Accurate customer data is a must. Here's how to maintain it:

Update your database regularly
Verify details through multiple channels
Use software to flag outdated info

Data	Update	Verify
Email	3 months	Email
Phone	6 months	SMS
Address	Yearly	Postcard

Use feedback to improve

Reviews are packed with insights. Put them to work:

Spot trends in customer feedback
Make changes based on customer ideas
Tell customers when you've made improvements

"Reply to every Yelp review—even the bad ones. It shows you're serious about feedback." - Meredith Wood, Fundera

Responding to reviews shows potential customers you care. In fact, 88% of consumers are more likely to use a business that responds to reviews.

Pro tip: Use a review management tool to track feedback and measure improvements over time.

Conclusion

Automating Yelp review requests can supercharge your business. Here's how to do it right:

Follow Yelp's rules. No direct asks or bribes for reviews.
Pick the right tool. Trustmary, for example, lets you send requests via email, QR codes, or website embeds.
Time it perfectly. Find the sweet spots in your customer journey.
Write smart messages. Keep 'em simple and real.
Set up filters. Catch negative feedback fast.
Start small, then scale. Use data to improve.
Keep an eye on performance. Set up a dashboard.

The goal? Boost your online rep naturally. As Meredith Wood from Fundera says:

"Reply to every Yelp review—even the bad ones. It shows you're serious about feedback."

Automating isn't just a time-saver. It's a feedback magnet and visibility booster. Fun fact: a 1-star jump on Yelp could pump up your revenue by 5-9%.

Last tip: Keep customer info fresh and use feedback to level up your business. Do this, and you'll be a Yelp review automation pro in no time.

FAQs

How to politely ask for a Yelp review?

Asking for Yelp reviews doesn't have to be awkward. Here's a simple approach:

Use email
Keep it short
Be genuine
Explain why
Make it easy

Try this template:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for visiting [Business Name]. Enjoyed your experience? We'd love your feedback on Yelp.

Quick link: [Yelp Page Link]

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Business Name]

Pro tip: Send review requests 13 days after purchase. It works better than asking the next day.

"Keep it brief – your customers are short on time, so cut to the chase, fast!" - REVIEWS.io