The Resurgence of Yelp for Pest Control in 2023

Picture this: You have a pest control business, and you’re struggling to get the word out. Your website isn’t getting any traffic, and you’re constantly overshadowed by your competitors. It’s a frustrating situation that’s all too common in today’s oversaturated market. But there’s hope.

Standing out from the crowd is crucial in an age where every pest control company is clamoring for attention. One effective way to do this is by establishing a strong online presence through Local SEO, Paid Ads, and other proven channels. However, there’s another platform that’s quickly regaining prominence and can give your business a significant boost – Yelp.

With Apple Business Connect on the rise, Yelp’s relevance is only set to increase. As a pest control business owner, it’s vital to leverage the power of Yelp to grow your business.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into Yelp and explore its advantages to pest control businesses. From the benefits of having a Yelp page to tips for optimizing it and the crucial role Yelp reviews play in Apple Business Connect, we’ve got you covered. So if you’re serious about expanding your online presence and attracting more customers, read on!

Why should you care about Apple Business Connect?

Before diving into the “Yelp regaining importance” narrative, it is important to grasp the concept of Apple Business Connect and why it is relevant to your pest control business.

What is Apple Business Connect?

Like Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect is a free web-based portal from Apple to help you easily manage, measure, and grow your business. It allows you to set up your business so customers can find it across Apple’s ecosystem of apps and services. 

Why should you care?

The relationship between Apple Business Connect and Apple Maps is similar to that of Google Business Profile and Google Maps. In January of 2023, Apple shook up the Local SEO community by revealing a series of significant updates to Apple Business Connect. The goal is to furnish local businesses with a fresh avenue for generating leads and to contest the predominance of Google Business Profile.

Apple Business Connect is still in its nascent stage with little competition, presenting an ideal prospect for your pest control enterprise to adopt the platform and secure a first-mover advantage.

How Yelp Impacts Apple Business Connect

Similar to Google Business Profile, customer reviews play a crucial role in the success of a business on Apple Business Connect. However, unlike Google, Apple Business Connect has no review collection system yet. Instead, it relies on Yelp reviews and ratings to determine the rankings of local businesses on its platform.

In essence, if your pest control business receives poor reviews on Yelp, it is unlikely to perform well on Apple Business Connect. Conversely, if your business is well-optimized for Yelp, it is likely to excel on Apple Business Connect as well. This presents an opportunity to “kill two birds with one stone.”

The Importance of Yelp Reviews for Apple Business Connect

The impact of Yelp reviews on a pest control business’s visibility on Apple Business Connect cannot be overstated. It is imperative for businesses to comprehend how Yelp reviews can influence their rankings and, ultimately, their performance on this platform. Here are some compelling reasons why businesses need to pay close attention to their Yelp reviews: they directly affect their standing on Apple Business Connect.

Quantity and Quality of Reviews:

The number and quality of reviews on Yelp are the primary factors that affect a business’s visibility on Apple Business Connect. A business with many positive reviews is more likely to rank higher on Apple Business Connect, making it more visible to potential customers. Thus, businesses should strive to get more positive reviews on Yelp to improve their visibility on Apple Business Connect.

Let’s look at Natural Resources Pest Control’s Yelp page. The business has 32 reviews on its Yelp listing. While this number is not particularly high, it is also not too low compared to other pest control businesses on Yelp, as the majority of them have 30 or fewer reviews.

However, the more important thing to note is the average rating. All 32 reviews left for Natural Resources Pest Control are 5-star ratings, which is an outstanding achievement. This means that every single customer who left a review was extremely satisfied with the service they received. Having such a high average rating and reviews is an excellent example of the quality and quantity of reviews.

Relevance and Accuracy of Reviews:

Apple Business Connect considers the relevance and accuracy of reviews when ranking businesses. Reviews relevant to a user’s search query and accurate and trustworthy are more likely to be considered by Apple Business Connect when ranking businesses. Hence, businesses should encourage customers to leave honest and accurate reviews on Yelp to help improve their visibility on Apple Business Connect.

To understand relevance and accuracy, let’s look at the above review. The review clearly states the type of pest, the severity of the issue, and how the pest control company went above and beyond to eliminate the pest issue. Taking cues from this, Apple Business Connect will most likely prioritize this business in rankings whenever someone searches for a flea control service in the same city.

The recency of Reviews:

The recency of reviews is another essential factor that can impact a business’s visibility on Apple Business Connect. A business that has recently received reviews on Yelp is more likely to rank higher on Apple Business Connect than a business that has not received any new reviews in a while. Therefore, businesses should encourage their customers to leave reviews on Yelp regularly, which can help improve their visibility on Apple Business Connect.

The timestamp accompanying the review in the above example indicates its recency. When someone searches for a rodent service provider in the same city, Apple Business Connect will likely prefer this business over one that hasn’t received a review in a while. To Apple Business Connect, a review’s recency indicates a business’s active status.

Engagement with Reviews:

Engagement with reviews on Yelp is another important factor impacting a business’s visibility on Apple Business Connect. Businesses that engage with their customers by responding to reviews, thanking them for positive reviews, and addressing any negative feedback are more likely to be seen as customer-focused and trustworthy. This can help improve their visibility on Apple Business Connect, as well as on Yelp.

Replying to or engaging with reviews on your Yelp page is one of the most effective yet underutilized hacks. The above review is a great example of engaging and replying to a review. The business representative is thanking the customer for the review and taking this opportunity to highlight other pest services, the service area, and a special offer.

Tips for Pest Control Businesses to Optimize Yelp Listing

As a pest control business owner, maximizing the benefits of Yelp is critical for building a positive online reputation and attracting new customers. Here are some strategies to consider:

Claim your business profile: The first step to maximizing the benefits of Yelp is to claim your business profile. This will allow you to manage your business information, respond to customer reviews, and add photos of your services.

Encourage customers to leave reviews: Positive reviews are essential for building a strong online reputation on Yelp. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews by including a Yelp link in your email signature and on your website.

Respond to reviews: Responding to positive and negative customer reviews shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service. Be sure to respond promptly and professionally to all reviews, thanking customers for their positive feedback and addressing any concerns or complaints.

Use photos: Adding photos of your pest control services, equipment, and team members can help prospective customers better understand your offer and build trust in your brand.

Offer Yelp Deals: Yelp Deals are special offers or discounts exclusively available to users. Offering a Yelp Deal can help you attract new customers and build loyalty among existing customers.

Here is how you can set up a Yelp deal:

Here is where you can see all your active and past deals.

Insights and analytics: Yelp provides businesses with valuable insights and analytics about their performance on the platform. By monitoring your Yelp profile’s performance, you can identify areas for improvement, track customer sentiment, and adjust your marketing strategies accordingly.

Let’s look at Natural Resources Pest Control’s Yelp page performance in the past 12 months (with minimal effort). The business received nearly 44,000 impressions, which equates to over 3,600 impressions per month.

Regarding the leads, Natural Resources Pest Control received almost 300 leads in the last 12 months. That’s ~25 per month.

All of these are without any paid promotion or spending on Yelp advertising. 

Now, let’s look at some dos and don’ts for managing your business’s Yelp presence:

Dos:

• Monitor your Yelp page regularly: Keep an eye on your Yelp page to stay informed of customer feedback and respond to reviews promptly.
• Respond to all reviews: Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
• Engage with customers: Engage with customers by answering questions and addressing concerns to build trust and loyalty.
• Update your business information: Keep your business information up-to-date, including your hours of operation, address, and contact information.
• Use photos: Adding photos of your services, team members, and equipment can help prospective customers better understand your offer.

Don’t:

• Don’t ignore negative reviews: Ignoring negative reviews can damage your online reputation and turn potential customers away.
• Don’t offer incentives for reviews: Yelp prohibits businesses from offering incentives for reviews, so avoid this practice to comply with their guidelines.
• Don’t be defensive: Respond to negative reviews professionally and without becoming defensive or confrontational.
• Don’t violate Yelp’s content guidelines: Avoid posting fake reviews, using profanity or hate speech, or engaging in other behaviors that violate Yelp’s content guidelines.

Wrapping It Up

There is no denying the immense power and impact that Yelp can have on field service businesses, especially pest control. Yelp provides a level playing field for all businesses, allowing them to showcase their services, engage with customers, and boost their visibility, not just on Yelp but also on Apple Business Connect.

The benefits of Yelp are numerous, and with the right strategies and practices, businesses can leverage this platform to their advantage. As we have seen from the discussed examples, pest control businesses that have implemented effective Yelp strategies have reaped rewards in terms of increased leads, positive reviews, and, ultimately, increased revenue.

So if you are a pest control business looking to grow and succeed in 2023 & beyond, do not underestimate Yelp. Embrace this platform, put these tips into practice, and watch as your business thrives and becomes a force to be reckoned with. The possibilities are endless, and the rewards are yours for the taking. The time to act is now!