ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Most contractors wrote off Yelp years ago. But the platform has quietly become one of the most powerful lead-generation engines in the home service space, powered by AI partnerships with OpenAI and Perplexity that are funneling search traffic directly to Yelp listings.
John Wilson sits down with Katy Lightsey, Head of Services at Yelp, to break down exactly how 61 home service leads are flowing through the platform and what 68 contractor lead generation actually looks like in 2025. They cover lead costs, close rates, how Yelp Ads and Request a Quote really work, and why 68 how to get more leads for your home service business may start with the platform you've been ignoring.
What you'll learn:
→ How Yelp generates 10 million home service leads every month
→ Why AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are driving more traffic through Yelp
→ How Yelp Assistant uses AI to match homeowners with contractors
→ The truth behind Yelp's reputation with contractors
→ What every business should do to improve visibility and lead flow on Yelp
→ How Yelp Ads, Request a Quote, and lead pricing actually work
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🔗 CONNECT
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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/
Katy Lightsey→ Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-lightsey-4a137468/
Learn more → https://business.yelp.com/ownedandoperated
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💰 SPONSORS
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More Ways To Connect with O&O
John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC
📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
More Ways To Connect with OAO
John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC
📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
IN THIS EPISODE
SHOW NOTES 🔗
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.919
10 million leads a month is great.
00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:03.040
We're nationwide.
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That's the thing you gotta remember.
00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:08.880
The benefit of the Yelp audience is like they're coming to Yelp because they don't actually know where to go.
00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.400
And so they're coming to Yelp to kind of help narrow down what those choices are.
00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:15.679
I'm sure lead cost is all over the place, but like what's what should I be expecting?
00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:16.640
Five dollars?
00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:17.920
In some cases, yes.
00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.640
If you're paying out, it's because we're driving you leads.
00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.359
And so it's really just about like not even at the ballgame.
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:24.079
How are you gonna play?
00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:25.519
Let's hit the elephant in the room.
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I'm a contractor that's never used yelp.
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I shouldn't be thinking about it.
00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.839
So I think there's kind of two big things that jump out of me.
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Welcome back to Owned and Operated, a Top 150 U.S.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:42.880
business podcast.
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I'm your host, John Wilson, and on this show, we unpack how to grow and build home service businesses.
00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:54.320
Today I'm joined on the show by Katie Leitsey, who leads service operations at Yelp.
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We have a great conversation on how Yelp is gaining back contractor trust, how AI and search for home service improvement is rapidly changing, and what Yelp is deploying to help businesses drive growth.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:10.079
Thanks for joining us for this engaging conversation.
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Make sure you like and sub.
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Katie, welcome to the show.
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Thanks for coming on.
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Hi.
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Thanks, John.
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Really excited to be here.
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Appreciate you having me.
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Heck yeah.
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It's a Wednesday afternoon and we're talking about leads.
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I'm ready to go.
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Talking about leads.
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Let's get into it.
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All right.
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So you're with Yelp.
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So can you can you walk us a little bit through your background?
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Yeah, so I've been at Yelp for 12 years now.
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Really, you know, my background's primarily in customer success.
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And I've really supported businesses from the local mom and pop all the way up to enterprise over my tenure here.
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And I've spent the last three to four years really hyper focused on our services investment.
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So Yelp has made a big pivot in the last few years, really investing in tools and tech for services businesses.
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And I've been, you know, right in the mix on that on the Yelp side to really help drive us forward and take our customer feedback and really implement that into some of our tools and products.
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Yeah.
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:03.519
I think uh I mean the the big notable one that I can think of was Hatch.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:07.920
Are there any others that I would know of or like what are the other investments?
00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:08.479
Yeah.
00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:21.840
So back in uh 2016, we launched a product called Request a Quote, which essentially allows a consumer to give us a bunch more detail about what kind of service they need and then match it to pros that we know do that job.
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So before that, we were primarily a search-driven platform, right?
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So you go on Yelp, you look for a plumber near me, and you see a list of a bunch of different plumbers and kind of have to weed through that yourself.
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Um our request a quote product was kind of the start of this journey for us at Yelp, where we started to again invest in matching those consumers and pros a little bit more smartly.
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Um, and then over time, we've just continued to build on top of that.
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And then most recently, we're really investing in AI tools.
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I'm sure AI is a hot button topic for everyone in the world right now.
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Um, but we launched something called Yelp Assistant on the consumer side.
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So if you're on Yelp and searching, instead of answering a bunch of questions about your, you know, hot water heater that you're looking to get replaced, we're actually going to have an AI conversation with you and let the AI take some of your answers and get a little bit more specific about what your problem might be so we can match you to a better pro.
00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:24.639
I we talked a little bit about this off camera, but like Yelp seems like a very like it's very really popular in summer, like maybe not popular, but like uh maybe popular.
00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.280
But like it's prevalent in some areas.
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Like we have friends in California and Yelp is like a really big part of their business.
00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:37.280
Um in Ohio, like I don't know how many leads, but it doesn't seem like it's a big lead driver.
00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:39.759
So like how does geography work with Yelp?
00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.759
I mean, some listeners are like, yeah, Yelp runs my business every day.
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So how should we be thinking about it?
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Yeah, I mean, I think we're definitely West Coast dominant.
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That's no secret.
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We started in San Francisco, and so our roots run deep on the West Coast for sure, but we've really continued to see growth across the United States.
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And so we've got, you know, businesses working with us, especially at that enterprise level that have the national footprint.
00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:04.560
They're working with us collectively, right?
00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.759
We have leads coming in from all of the different geographies.
00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:13.439
It's obviously gonna depend on what specific service you work in and where exactly you're located.
00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:18.480
But we've got 10 million leads flowing through Yelp every single month in that home services space.
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Um, and they're not all coming from California.
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So we definitely are continuing to grow that market and again build tools that allow people to buy leads from Yelp, regardless of where they are.
00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:34.480
Has has AI search like helped buoy more leads from Yelp?
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Like, what's your take on that?
00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:42.399
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00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.639
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00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:53.040
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00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.000
And using it began to feel like it was a job all on its own.
00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:00.319
Field Pulse was built for owner operators who don't want more dashboards.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:07.759
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00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:16.079
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00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:20.480
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00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:30.639
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00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:33.920
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00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.519
Yeah, so um that is a great question.
00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:40.879
We have done a ton of stuff specific to AI.
00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:48.720
So not only do we have direct partnerships with OpenAI and Perplexity, like actual data integrations with them, not just a scraping situation.
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Um, but we are a very frequently cited home services discovery platform on Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI mode.
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Um, if you search like Plumbers Near Me through one of those AI platforms, Yelp is cited like 3x more than some of the other uh home service discovery platforms.
00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:20.959
And so we really are, you know, this massive breadth of consumer information, not only about the business, but actual feedback from customers that use these businesses.
00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:29.519
And so we're seeing a ton of these AI partners really leverage our data when they're answering questions when you're on again a platform like ChatGPT asking some of these same questions.
00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.680
Yeah, I would have to imagine that shows up more.
00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:35.439
I know that uh the have you noticed it changing much like by geography again?
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I mean if someone's frequently cited in California, then probably matters.
00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.639
I don't know.
00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:46.160
Yeah, I don't have that exact stat, but we can definitely circle back if we have any like geospecific.
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I think we know people are starting to make a shift towards using AI more in their daily lives.
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And so it's kind of a shortcut, right?
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Like if your Yelp listing is claimed and you're managing it and you got all your updated information, we know that these platforms are tapping into Yelp as that kind of listing directory platform.
00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:11.360
Um, and so really managing it on Yelp is going to help you reach all of these AI platforms in kind of a one-stop shop.
00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:21.199
Um, I know everyone's having a lot of conversations about like how do I make my website optimize for AI and how do I make kind of all of my digital presidents optimize for AI?
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Um, and we know that Yelp is already a key place where a lot of these players are pulling information from.
00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.959
10 million leads a month is crazy.
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10 million leads a month.
00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:31.680
We're nationwide.
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That's something you gotta remember.
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Can you give me like context?
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Like, do you know what the other platforms drive?
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I I don't know.
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Like 10 million to me sounds insane.
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I'm just like, what's the context attached to that?
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I don't actually know the I wouldn't be able to cite like a specific competitor.
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Um, I think we definitely hold up in terms of volume.
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Yeah, I would assume, yeah.
00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:57.519
And then again, yeah, it just depends on your your geography and category.
00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:02.079
Like you're again, you're not wrong in like there are obviously areas where Yelp is used a lot more.
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Um, but again, like, you know, it only takes one, right?
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It's like if you get one lead, especially if you're in a service where it's a high ticket order, yeah.
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One lead a month, you know, is more than paying for if you're running ads, for example, being able to fund that.
00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.800
So um again, like we're seeing a ton of these leads come through.
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And they're people, they're undecided buyers, right?
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It's like if you knew who you were gonna call, you're gonna call them.
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Yeah.
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Or you're gonna go on their website and book an appointment directly, right?
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Like I think the the benefit of the Yelp audience is like they're coming to Yelp because they don't actually know where to go.
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They have, they don't have a reliable plumber or HVAC person or electrician, or they've got a really big project that maybe people they've worked with in the past they don't feel like can take on.
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And so they're really looking and seeking to find someone new.
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And so I think that's really where our audience is very distinct, is like people don't know.
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They don't know who they want to go with.
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And so they're coming to Yelp to kind of help narrow down what those choices are.
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Yeah.
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Um, and being involved on your Yelp page, telling us what services you offer, telling us more about your business is just gonna help us in leads that actually match what you want to drive.
00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:10.240
Yeah, that makes sense.
00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:16.240
So it sounds like uh Yelp today is you guys are trying to play a big part.
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I mean, you're the request to quote, the hatch thing, like you guys are really like trying to really participate in the ecosystem of we're driving leads to contractors.
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Absolutely.
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Yes.
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We know that um, like we again, we have people on our platform looking for what services pros do in their area.
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We know what they need.
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And I think the you know hatch piece of it is like we also know that you have to compete to win these customers, right?
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Like they are very often coming to Yelp undecided, but it also means that they're probably shopping around, right?
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They want to get quotes from multiple businesses, they want to talk to different people, they maybe want a couple people to come out to their property to see whatever the issue is, if it's not an emergency service, of course.
00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:06.320
That those those are usually the fastest person to the lead is gonna win that job if it's emergency services.
00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:09.120
But if you think of like bigger ticket items, right?
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Roof repair, yeah, you know, you're you're you're shopping around.
00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:20.799
And so really the second step, you know, getting leads is one thing and having the volume of leads, but then it's how do you win those leads?
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So, how do you actually work those leads to be most effective and like prove that you're the best option for that consumer?
00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:34.799
Um, and I think that's where Hatch kind of fits into that portfolio nicely with all their AI tech and tools that work leads to to drive, you know, booked appointments and book service ultimately.
00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.559
Yeah, okay, yeah, makes sense.
00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.960
Um let's hit the elephant in the room.
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Let's hit it.
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Contractors and Yelp.
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They have they don't have a they don't have a love relationship.
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Well, depending.
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Depending on, I guess, where you are in the country.
00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.600
It does, it does depend.
00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:53.519
So can you walk me through can you walk me through like that?
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Yes.
00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.399
So I think there's kind of two big things that jump out at me.
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One, obviously, you know, reviews are a a core piece of what Yelp does.
00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:09.039
Um, and we, you know, are not a Google or another platform that just lets any review get posted.
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We really take a lot of time in our review algorithm trying to recommend to consumers the best information to help them make buying decisions.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:23.759
And so that sometimes comes in the form of some chunk of reviews showing on your page, some not.
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.720
Um, that algorithm is always running and ever evolving.
00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.720
And so, like, reviews can be recommended one day and not another, or vice versa.
00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:39.519
But really, the intent is like getting enough information about the people writing these reviews to feel confident that we know enough to recommend that information to the community.
00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:45.039
So that's kind of like a differentiator for Yelp and a lot of why people come to Yelp in the first place, right?
00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:48.080
They know that not every single review on the page is posted.
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They know we're taking that extra step to try to give them a more refined set of information.
00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:02.559
And the review piece, I know, is kind of a is definitely a big piece of um concern and feedback that we hear from customers and and non-customers alike.
00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:11.120
I think the second big thing is we have invested tremendously in services products specifically in the last few years.
00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:15.279
So we've had in the last six years 200 additional products.
00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:22.960
If you, you know, talk to someone at Yelp before 2020 or even the year 2020, which was a bit chaotic for everybody, right?
00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.840
We didn't have a lot of these tools and a lot of these products.
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Um, and so we've just really invested in trying to make this ecosystem best for consumers and best for pros.
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:39.679
So things like Yelp Assistant on our consumer side, which essentially is like an AI agent for you to explain your problem.
00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.759
We know homeowners don't always know what's wrong.
00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.720
Um, there's some weird sound in my wall.
00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.159
Is it a pipe?
00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.519
Is there an animal in there?
00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.799
I don't know, right?
00:12:51.039 --> 00:13:01.600
And so allowing our AI to kind of have more of a conversation and ask a bunch of qualifying questions really helps us narrow in onto what the problem might be and then match it to a pro in a more effective way.
00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:05.279
And so again, we're investing tremendously in those products.
00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:12.559
And so there's been a really big shift in driving leads specifically for what you do in your area.
00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:27.279
And if you're not on Yelp and you're not engaging because of what it maybe was six years ago, you're just missing out on this marketplace and you're missing out on people that are using Yelp to make their buying decision versus, you know, if they knew it was you, they call you directly.
00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.240
Yeah.
00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:34.399
I think the challenge, uh, so I'll like try to give an I'll try to give like well, I'll give our own which I shared with you off camera.
00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.559
I'll give our own experience and then just I think this is the experience a lot of contractors have had.
00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:45.200
So, like, how should I be thinking about this as someone that spends way too much money every month on leads?
00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.759
How should I be thinking about this, Katie?
00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:52.399
So I I we haven't I don't know if we actually you should look it up in our file.
00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.279
That'd be kind of funny.
00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:55.360
I wonder if we ever did pay Yelp.
00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:59.039
Um we probably did at some point.
00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.440
I mean I just don't remember it.
00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:18.080
But like in in the late 20 teens, uh, we were like really working on like our online listings and reviews and um we were pushing reviews to like uh Google and um Yelp and I feel I don't even remember what else.
00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.159
Th there were like five or six listing sites, right?
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.600
Like maybe BBB or something.
00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:33.679
And uh one of the challenges that we had with Yelp was like the ex example I gave was we sent like 90% of the reviews that we received were hidden.
00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.799
And it coincidentally happened to be like the good reviews.
00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:43.840
So then we sort of wrote off Yelp until like I have more and more friends in other markets being like, no, Yelp is actually helpful to us.
00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.320
And I'm like, okay, well, maybe I actually have to think about this.
00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:56.480
Uh but we sort of wrote it off for years because um it didn't really add value and we're hiding all the good stuff.
00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:06.879
And the perception that we had internally was okay, this is this is clearly pay-to-play, and we're not paying, so we're gonna make us look bad on the internet.
00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.279
So, like, yeah, I I think that's the sort of public contract of perception.
00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.039
Like, how should they be thinking about it?
00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.399
Totally.
00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.919
So to bust a meme, Yelp is not a pay-to-play site.
00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:23.679
And so paying us doesn't change this impact or the how your reviews are displayed on your page.
00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:34.879
Um, and so just to call that out, I think secondarily though, the more engagement you're having on Yelp, the more plugged in you are to this community and this ecosystem, the better off you're gonna be, right?
00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:44.960
So if you're responding to those reviews on your public page, you're showing potential customers how you handle critical feedback, how you handle maybe a job that didn't go as well as it could have.
00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.639
Um, and I think that speaks volumes.
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:54.960
And I know that Yelp consumers and Yelp users are absolutely cognizant of that and evaluating a business based on how they're responding to some of that.
00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:58.720
And so we really give business owners a voice in the conversation in that regard.
00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:09.440
And so taking control of your Yelp page, making sure your information looks good, making sure your pictures and your photos look great, but also engaging with the people that are engaging with you on the platform is really important.
00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:13.679
But at the end of the day, again, we're really focused on driving leads.
00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.240
And that's where the paying component come in, comes in.
00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:20.000
So if you're paying Yelp, it's because we're driving you leads, right?
00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:24.399
And so the more leads you're getting from Yelp, the more likelihood you are to convert those leads.
00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:28.000
If they're using Yelp to make that buying decision and it's important to them, right?
00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:42.399
Like those are the consumers that not only Yelp knows a lot about, um, but we also, you know, they value so much the feedback they get from other people in their community on Yelp and are probably more likely to come back to Yelp to share that feedback and share that experience, right?
00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:46.080
And so it's kind of a cycle, if you will, in a circle.
00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:52.559
Um, if you're really engaged on Yelp, you're working that platform, you're gonna have a better time in the long run.
00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.080
But the paying component is specifically to drive leads.
00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:06.160
And because so many of our users are undecided, if you're not at all engaged, you're not going to even be in the in the play for that lead.
00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:14.240
And it's like if you knew there were leads for what you do in your area coming to your business and you're just ignoring them, that's not great business practice either, right?
00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.000
So, like, how can you engage with Yelp?
00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.759
How can you be a part of the conversation?
00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.319
We give business owners a voice in that way.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:33.119
Um, and so, you know, my advice is to lean into that, show how you handled some of these things in terms of how you're responding to those reviews publicly on your page, and then work those leads and work that channel.
00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.519
Um, and it kind of all snowballs from there.
00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.839
How does the lead buying part work?
00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.279
Like is it per lead or like monthly or yeah?
00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:45.279
So we have um we support businesses of all size.
00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:50.799
So there's, you know, a mom and pop local business all the way up to the enterprise national footprint businesses.
00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:55.039
Um and so we've got a bit of a different product suite depending on what kind of size business you are.
00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:05.279
If you're on the you know, more local, like single owner uh side, we have self-serve cost per click ads that include these request to quote leads.
00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:14.640
So request to quote is essentially our product that allows a, you know, again, a customer to tell us exactly what their service is that they're looking for, answer some specific questions, right?
00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:26.720
So, like if we are in an in the HVAC vertical and they're asking, you know, we can ask specific questions about whatever their job is that they're looking for and then match them to a pro that most fits that profile.
00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:30.960
Um, that request to quote product is incorporated into your cost per click model.
00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:37.839
So you're actually able to get search ads and those request to quote ads as a part of your um purchase.
00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:43.599
And then as you scale up, you know, we do a lot more custom pricing, packaging, play with different products.
00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:49.359
We've got an off-platform product as well where you can target our Yelp audience off-platform in other sites.
00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:49.680
Yeah.
00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:59.200
Um, and so there's a lot of kind of product makeshift depending on the size of your business, but we've got something for everyone, um, really with the focus of like driving lead volume for Service Pros.
00:18:59.359 --> 00:18:59.680
Yeah.
00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:05.920
Do you know when we start working with like new lead partners?
00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:09.519
Uh so we're four locations, three states.
00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:14.880
And what we'll usually do is reach out to our lead partners and like, hey, what's estimated monthly volume?
00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:18.400
Like that's data that you guys would have some access to if someone's thinking about this.
00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.039
Absolutely.
00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.279
Okay.
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.759
Yes.
00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:27.759
So our team that our teams that sell Yelp ads to we're again, regardless of size of your business, that's exactly what they're doing, right?
00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:35.119
They're trying to make sure not only is your Yelp profile set up optimally, but let's actually see what's happening in your market, right?
00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:37.680
What are the what's the number of leads coming through?
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.279
What are your competitors doing?
00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:42.400
How can we help to get you into this uh into the mix?
00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:47.440
And so they're really recommending like specific packages and pricing and and really helping you understand.
00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.119
Our team is a bunch of experts, right?
00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.519
They talk to local service pros all day long.
00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.759
Um, and so they know what works and they know what doesn't.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:00.319
And they're really, you know, taking the time with each business owner to recommend what's going to be the best fit for you based on where you are and what category you're in.
00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.319
The start of the question is gonna sound rough.
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.720
So give me some grace as I go here.
00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.359
Okay.
00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:12.160
I'm I'm imagining my group of friends and being like, hey guys, uh you should give Yelp a shot.
00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:20.400
And you can insert Yelp, you can insert like I think everyone has like that one lead partner that they felt did them wrong at some point.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:20.960
Totally.
00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.599
So like it could be Angie, it could be Google.
00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:27.599
I mean, you could pick a partner, but unfortunately, I'm talking to you today, so I have to pick on you a little bit.
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.480
Um that's okay.
00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:37.119
But like, what would the message be so they can like like, hey man, like how how do you restart that relationship?
00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.960
Yeah, that's a great question.
00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:44.559
I mean, I think we know that you have to diversify your lead platforms as a contractor.
00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:47.839
If you're a service pro, like can't put all our eggs in one basket.
00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.480
Yelp has a marketplace, 10 million leads a month in services.
00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.759
You're missing.
00:20:54.079 --> 00:21:04.880
And so while if you came and worked with Yelp 10 years ago, six years ago, even three years ago, right, we have evolved, we have done a ton of work to really invest in this space.
00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:18.640
And, you know, a lot of that was taking feedback from our customers on what about our product, you know, wasn't exactly fitting the bill and implementing that into our strategy and our you know product roadmap and really developing tools that we know are important to business owners.
00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:22.720
And so I would say, you know, give it another chance for sure.
00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.640
And that's probably true for any lead vendor.
00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:27.440
I think, you know, in this space, everyone's moving really fast.
00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:36.160
And especially with AI, you know, it's pushing us all to think broader and differently about how leads are gonna go from consumer to pro in the long run.
00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:40.880
And so, you know, giving Yelp another chance at that, we know the volume is there.
00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:47.119
Um, and again, like if you're not gonna work that lead, someone else is, and someone else in your market is gonna win it.
00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:53.039
Um, and so it's really just about like, can't even, you know, if you're not even at the ball game, how are you gonna play?
00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.279
Right.
00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.039
It's like you gotta get into the mix um to be able to tap into some of this.
00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.880
And again, undecided buyers.
00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.759
These are not people.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.599
That are like, oh, I'm gonna go with the guy I always use, or maybe someone else.
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:07.519
Like, we are primarily people coming because they don't know where to go.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:07.920
Yeah.
00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:15.119
Um, and so it's just a great opportunity to like have your business be the one that gets in front of them and and sells them really on why you're the best fit for them.
00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:22.559
I know what opened up Yelp, like what reopened the conversation for us in Yelp was like, I think you said it earlier, but like AI is referencing it a lot.
00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:32.640
So suddenly, sort of uh like as a if we saw it as like a review listing site previously, because I don't know that we ever really saw it as a lead site, um, it didn't feel relevant.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:38.079
But today it's starting to feel relevant because um if we were LA, I'm sure that'd be different.
00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:43.759
But in Ohio, uh, it's starting to feel more relevant because like it's getting referenced more often from chat.
00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.759
Uh any other like, I know we briefly talked about AI.
00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:54.640
Any other like takes on how AI is changing local search and like that pro to contract uh homeowner to contractor.
00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:59.200
Customers today expect to see pricing before they ever reach out.
00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.319
And like it or not, transparency is the new baseline.
00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:07.039
And homeowners are wanting to understand their options before they even pick up the phone.
00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.079
Instead of fighting that shift, we just leaned into it.
00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:12.400
That's why we use Contractor Commerce at Wilson.
00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:18.000
It runs at about$1,600 a month, and we've rolled it across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.
00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:24.799
We're using it for generator installs, water heaters, full HPAC replacements, and it is driving real revenue for us.
00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:30.480
We've had months with$20,000,$30, and even$40,000 in book jobs directly through the platform.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:34.000
In strong months, we're seeing double-digit jobs coming straight from our website.
00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:46.240
What it really does is it turns your website into like a guided sales experience, and customers can explore options, they can see some price ranges, and by the time they reach out, they're already educated and informed on what they want.
00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:52.160
If you're looking to modernize your sales process and capture demand that would otherwise bounce, it is worth checking out.
00:23:52.240 --> 00:24:01.839
Visit contractorcommerce.com and book a demo to see how Contractor Commerce turns your website into a 24-7 sales and qualification engine.
00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:08.559
Yeah, I mean, I think we're seeing AI kind of disrupt the entire cycle from start to finish, right?
00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:14.720
Again, like I talked about Yelp Assistant, where our consumers are engaging with AI to learn more about the project.
00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:21.599
I think after the leads are matched with a pro, a lot of those pros are using AI to work those leads, right?
00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:25.759
And so how am I, you know, calling or emailing or texting these leads?
00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:29.119
And how am I using AI to be really efficient at that as in a business?
00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.000
Um, so we're seeing AI at like all ends of the funnel.
00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:38.240
And then I think you take the AI players and layer on top that people are just searching in a different way, right?
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:46.559
Like maybe you came to Yelp.com before and started your search there, but now you're pulling up Chat GPT on your phone and saying, hey, contractors near me.
00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:51.359
Um and we know that we are again one, you know, heavily cited in a lot of those platforms.
00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:55.759
And then we've got, you know, direct uh partnerships with both OpenAI and Perplexity.
00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:04.240
And so we're continuing to just give that data and you know, be able to for the AIs to answer questions about businesses specifically.
00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:20.960
It's another tool we launched in the last couple of months as well, where you can go to a business page and like ask AI questions about the business and we can look back at all of the different information that you've given us on your profile over the you know years and the reviews, especially if you're in a market where their volume is really, really high.
00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:27.039
Um, we're just really using AI to just help people make better decisions and refine, I think, their choices.
00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:32.240
I think right now we live in such a saturated world where there's so many choices all the time.
00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.480
Like we're like paralyzed by how many choices.
00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:41.279
And I think AI in many places is really helping us as consumers be a little bit more narrow and deliberate.
00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:48.960
And so Yelp being a big source of uh data and information in those platforms, you know, it's really a shortcut for a business, right?
00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:56.160
If your Yelp presence is super buttoned up and airtight, you're gonna benefit through AI channels where we're establishing those partnerships.
00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.759
Yeah, ours is definitely not.
00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:00.480
I don't know that I don't know if we've looked at it for a long time.
00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.920
We should take care of that.
00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:04.799
We should absolutely chat through how to make that better.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.279
Yeah.
00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:07.599
Uh like, are you seeing how much?
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:16.559
I don't know if you have the data on this, but do you have any data on like how much of your current search is coming from AI versus direct for Yelp leads specifically?
00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:23.440
Well, we know that our Yelp assistant project submissions like were up 400% at the end of 2025.
00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:27.599
So like we're definitely seeing consumers engage with it a ton.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.720
Um, we're still in the process of like scaling that up.
00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.960
And so I think when we get to full, you know, fledged day, we can share some of that data.
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:38.000
But, you know, people are coming in through various channels, right?
00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:42.000
There's obviously they're using this AI, some of them are going the more traditional search route.
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:47.519
Some of them are know a business that they want to start with, but they're not sure if that's the business.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:55.119
So maybe they're starting off on like a specific contractor's page and then asking to send their information to other pros and get more information.
00:26:55.279 --> 00:27:12.400
Um, and so it's, you know, there's a lot of consumer choice on Yelp's platform in terms of where they can come and engage, but we're definitely seeing heavy adoption in some of our AI tools on the consumer side, um, which honestly makes it easier for the pros to again, like homeowners are not contractors.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:15.440
You know, like they don't actually know a lot of the times.
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.960
I can at least speak for myself.
00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.880
Like something is wrong.
00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.559
I don't know what, right?
00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:25.599
I need someone to ask me 45 questions to be able to determine what, like, who do I actually need?
00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.039
What's even the service pro?
00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:29.839
Like, there's many moments where consumers don't even know where to start.
00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.160
Yeah.
00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:36.319
And so I think what Yelp does in this kind of Yelp assistant concept is like, hey, we're just gonna ask you a bunch of questions.
00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:48.400
You're gonna chat with a bot, and then the bot is gonna be able to take all that information and structure it in a way where we can start to match and say, okay, we believe based on all the information we have that you probably need an HVAC person.
00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:51.039
And so we're gonna match you to pros and HVAC, right?
00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:53.519
Um, and obviously there's things that are more straightforward than that.
00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:59.680
But I think in home services specifically, like it can be one thing to a consumer and a completely different job to a pro.
00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:02.400
And so, how can we be kind of a translator in that journey?
00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.759
Um, is really what we're focused on.
00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.440
Yeah, yeah, that's interesting.
00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:12.400
So as you like 400% growth in that product, is that like general?
00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:14.240
Is that five percent of Yelp?
00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:16.000
Is it 30% of Yelp?
00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.279
Like how much of it is.
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:23.200
Yeah, we are um have just recently scaled it across platform.
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:27.839
So like that stat on the end of 2025, it was focused in home services categories.
00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.240
And so, you know, Yelp is not only home services.
00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:32.880
We do, you know, represent just local businesses in general.
00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:38.880
So we've got tons of restaurants, obviously, but retail shops and your local beauty salons, right?
00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:44.319
We've got you know lots of different and e local business essentially is represented on Yelp's platform.
00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:55.680
Um, and but we started this in home services because the consumer to pro like amount of conversation and back and forth data to know who's the right pro was the greatest, right?
00:28:55.839 --> 00:29:01.279
You know, if you're getting your haircut, you know basically what that is, and every everyone's speaking the same language, right?
00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:08.640
And I think in in the services space, we really had an opportunity to um again take one translate, right?
00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:12.079
Take someone's information and and match it to a pro on the back end.
00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:14.079
So um we started in services.
00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:22.880
So 2025 is very much focused on that home services space, and we, you know, kind of enabled it for consumer searching in those categories, but we've recently scaled that up.
00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:25.839
So now anyone can go on Yelp and use Yelp Assistant for anything.
00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.039
Okay, yeah.
00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:32.000
On the so on this, like sort of the flow we have Yelp Assistant.
00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:34.720
We're helping to discover like who do we need, what do we need?
00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.880
It's clearly gonna be John in Ohio.
00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:37.920
Totally makes sense.
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.119
Uh obviously.
00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:44.559
They're gonna use Google or AI or something to sort of like land on Yelp.
00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:51.839
Um and request look can you walk me through the request a quote thing?
00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:55.920
Like, I'm trying to like I have literally never used Yelp, so like I don't know.
00:29:56.079 --> 00:30:22.480
What I'm trying to imagine is like the ecosystem is thumbtacks over here, and thumbtack is like the uh like we use thumbtack quite frankly a lot, like I think 30 grand a month or something, and that but it's like made for like the one man show, and then there's like Google, and like there's every you know, there's everything in between, and I'm the request a quote thing reminds me a little bit of thumbtack where it's like you can get a price immediately.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:35.519
So basically, request a quote is a product where a consumer answers questions in a vertical about what they need serviced, and then we take those details and we match them to multiple pros.
00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:35.920
Yeah.
00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.319
Right.
00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:40.079
And so let's say So is every every lead's a shared lead, just clarifying.
00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:42.400
I'm I'm learning alongside you here.
00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:43.200
No, you're good.
00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:46.720
Not every lead is a shared lead, every paid lead is a shared lead.
00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.119
Okay.
00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:50.000
Um, but there's someone doing it if they land on your page.
00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.880
Yes, exactly.
00:30:50.960 --> 00:31:01.440
So like if they go to your page, if they already know John from Ohio and they're like, oh, I've found John's page and I'm gonna go on and I'm gonna request a quote from him specifically, they have the choice to just send it to you and not send it to anyone else.
00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:01.839
Okay.
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:04.559
Um, but again, most of these are undecided buyers.
00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.480
They don't actually know where they want to go.
00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:19.599
And request a quote, it's a bit of a misnomer in that, like, we obviously want you to be able to give a quote if you're in a vertical where quoting digitally with that kind of inform structured information is applicable.
00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:32.720
We also know that a contractor, like if I'm doing a I'm actually in the middle of a home renovation right now, a full home renovation, like no one's gonna give me a quote with one, you know, very three questions I've answered on Yelp.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.279
Two bucks.
00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:43.759
But what I do, right, what I do expect them to do, right, is respond to me and say, hey, we'd love to come on site and meet with you and talk to you about your project, or let's schedule a call, let's schedule a FaceTime, right?
00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:49.519
And so it's really more about a messaging platform and connecting that consumer with a pro we know can do that service.
00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:54.720
And then the pro is ultimately going to go back and forth and engage with that business.
00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:57.920
So sometimes we're sending a phone number, you can pick up the phone and call them.
00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:01.519
Sometimes you're communicating with them within the Yelp, the Yelp platform.
00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:12.160
And so if you're a consumer, I might be in my Yelp app and I have, you know, four different messages from the different pros that Yelp has matched me to, and I'm having a couple different conversations.
00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.640
And so again, the choice begins, right?
00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:18.720
And so how quickly you respond to that inquiry is like table stakes.
00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:24.720
Like we know speed to lead is like in any lead space, it doesn't matter Yelp or anything else, right?
00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.480
You got to be quick to the draw.
00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:29.759
Um, but then like outcome-driven conversations, right?
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:37.200
So like I am booking an appointment or booking a consultation or scheduling a time to call you, or I'm picking up the phone and calling you right then and there, right?
00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:41.279
And so it's really about um getting to those consumers as quickly as possible.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.519
Yeah.
00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:48.000
And then the idea is once that consumers kind of narrow down who they want to move forward with, it kind of happens off of our platform at that point, right?
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:52.480
You're communicating directly with these people, you know, and and working to convert them into a customer.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.519
Okay, that makes sense.
00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:55.200
Would that help explain it?
00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:55.759
Yeah, it does.
00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.640
Yeah, yeah, it does.
00:32:56.880 --> 00:33:03.440
So for um and like I'm sure lead cost is all over the place, but like what's it, what should I be expecting?
00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.880
It's it is all over the place.
00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.759
Five dollars?
00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.440
Uh no, yeah.
00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.960
In some cases, yes.
00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.799
Like, I can't say that that's untrue.
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:15.359
They're definitely because it's wrapped up with as a part of our ad product as well.
00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:23.680
Um, you can think of it kind of similarly to cost per click um prices, where maybe you're buying at search ads historically.
00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:28.079
Um, but it varies by market, it varies by you know category, obviously.
00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:32.480
Again, we're really working to try to like narrow in on that quality component, right?
00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:37.839
It's like people will pay more for a lead that like perfectly matches what they do and they have a high likelihood of converting.
00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:45.920
Um, and so that's again, like kind of the next evolution that we're we're waiting into at Yelp is how do we continue to evolve that space and get better at that matching piece?
00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:56.079
Um, but the idea is like, yeah, I mean, you're buying ads and leads on Yelp and competing to convert them into a customer.
00:33:56.240 --> 00:34:03.279
But there is, yeah, there's a world where like you're paying$10 for a click for that lead and that turns into an actual customer for you, right?
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:08.000
And if your you know average ticket price is$3,500, like definitely made your money back.
00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.760
Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:13.119
Is there a good sense uh of like close rate?
00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:15.599
Do you have that information?
00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:21.360
Um, I don't have a specific stat on that because again, no, you're not gonna like my answer.
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.199
Varies by market, varies by geo, right?
00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.400
It's just totally dependent.
00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:33.440
I think we know for a fact that businesses that have like really strong lead response strategies and tactics have a higher likelihood of converting.
00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:47.920
And so our businesses that are using, again, some of those AI tools to work these leads, be responsive no matter what time of the day it is, no matter when the inquiry comes in, are definitely seeing more success like right out of the gate in terms of conversion.
00:34:48.079 --> 00:35:00.159
Um, and then again, I think like what's also important is leveraging AI and being quick to the draw, but then like continuing to connect with people with that human touch, right?
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:05.119
You know, like there's a trust thing in services that's really important for consumers.
00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.679
You are having someone come into your home.
00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:14.239
Maybe someone's gonna be in your home for months on end and like you really want to feel confident in some of those decisions that you're making.
00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:24.880
And so, you know, taking the time to really sell them on why you are trustworthy and you're the best person to do the work, um, I think absolutely drives more success for businesses on Yelp.
00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.599
Yeah.
00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.760
All right, what do businesses miss?
00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.760
Like, what should I be doing?
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:32.800
I haven't paid attention to my Yelp profile in seven years.
00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:34.639
We're gonna make we're gonna make sure you get it.
00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.840
Well, I'm gonna look it up really quick, actually.
00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.719
Now I'm really curious.
00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:40.159
And again, you've been ignoring it.
00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.280
What might surprise you?
00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:41.920
You don't know.
00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.559
We don't know.
00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:44.000
No, it's two stars.
00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:45.199
That's fine.
00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:45.920
Still two.
00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.239
Okay.
00:35:46.320 --> 00:35:46.960
You're not paying attention.
00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.239
All right, what should you not engage in?
00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:48.880
What should I be doing?
00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:56.800
So I think if you are not you looking at Yelp today, you're not using it in any capacity, you're ignoring it, you're being like John, you're ignoring it.
00:35:56.960 --> 00:36:00.159
I think there's three critical things that you can do immediately.
00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:00.559
Okay.
00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:02.719
First thing is claim your business page.
00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:05.360
It is free, it takes minutes.
00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:09.280
Um, and basically it gives you control over your page, right?
00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:14.239
And the biggest thing you can do once you're logged into that is complete your information.
00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:16.000
Like, is the right phone number listed?
00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:19.679
Is your website up to date with all the right information about your business?
00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:25.840
Do you have photos of projects you've completed, especially if you're, you know, in more of the remodel space and people want to see, right?
00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:27.599
Like what work you've been able to do.
00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:31.440
So take the time and then tell us what services you do and offer.
00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:34.159
Um, all of that is part of that business profile.
00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:38.239
And then claiming that free page, you also get access to respond to those reviews.
00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:43.519
So you can very immediately start to be a part of the conversation and have perspective.
00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:45.280
And you should respond to every review.
00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:48.480
It doesn't matter if it's a five-star review or a one-star review.
00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:53.280
You should take the time to engage with the people that want to engage with you on this platform.
00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:56.480
Um, and all of that can happen once you claim your business page.
00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.920
So that is like step one.
00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.719
Got it.
00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:05.760
When you're ready to scale and you're ready to tap into that lead volume, those 10 million leads a month, that's when you can get started with Yelp Ads.
00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:09.760
And Yelp Ads ultimately is gonna drive those leads for what you do in your area.
00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:12.800
So you can start working them and working to convert them into customers.
00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:13.360
Okay.
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:16.559
So I have to claim my profile, which I think we did.
00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:17.760
I our phone number's on there.
00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:21.119
If you worked with us at all in the past, I'm sure you claimed it.
00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.639
Maybe you have a new email now.
00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:22.960
Who knows?
00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.320
You can make sure you get set up.
00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:24.880
Yeah, who knows?
00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.679
We'll get it right.
00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.079
Okay.
00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.519
So I'm gonna claim my profile.
00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.880
I'm gonna upload some photos.
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.239
How like how often?
00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:33.760
I mean, uh we don't want a blank listing, right?
00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:36.639
Or we don't want a page with only consumer content.
00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:41.519
Again, that's where the pro had the the ability to control some of the narrative, right?
00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:44.800
So you don't have to upload photos every other day.
00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:48.239
I think, you know, like a restaurant is maybe different if the menu changes once a week.
00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:50.400
We want to see the new pictures of the menu items.
00:37:50.480 --> 00:38:06.320
But in home services, just spend some time getting some good quality images on your page to start, and you're probably good if you have a really great job, especially again if you're in the remodel space, like before and afters do wonders for consumers in the market for pros like this.
00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:12.400
Um, and so if you have a great project down the road, you think, wow, this would probably be really awesome to put on Yelp, come back and upload it.
00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:14.960
But it's really just about making sure you have something, right?
00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.639
You're putting the content forward.
00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:34.719
And um, you know, if you're buying from it through our ad program and buying some of our like uh additional platform management tools, you can control what images show and in what order and all the things like that, and really like customize your business profile as well to drive the actions that you're looking to drive for your particular business.
00:38:35.039 --> 00:38:35.360
Okay.
00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:41.119
Uh is there like APIs to connect to like make photos or reviews easier?
00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:42.480
Or like how's that work?
00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:48.400
So photos and reviews are best managed in our Yelp business owners account.
00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:52.800
But when you get into the lead land, uh APIs are absolutely in play.
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:59.840
And so we have a Zapier app if anyone is you know more techie and trying to aggregate leads into a centralized platform.
00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:10.320
And we have tons of partners in this space as well that are already done the heavy lifting on the API integration, and then you're able to just kind of ingest your Yelp leads into those platforms and work them from there.
00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:10.960
Okay.
00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:21.920
All right, so reputation control, visibility, because we're showing up more, and like we have to we have to engage.
00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:25.760
I think that's sort of the gotta engage because you go, you're making us engage.
00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.559
I don't love it.
00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.199
I don't love it.
00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:28.079
We gotta do something.
00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.599
Am I convincing you yet?
00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:30.880
Uh yeah, let's get in there.
00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:32.000
Yeah, maybe.
00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:36.079
Most home service companies don't stall because of demand.
00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:38.239
They stall because they run out of good people.
00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:42.559
Finding solid help fast is hard, especially in this industry.
00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:44.719
And that's where Quick Staffers comes in.
00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:50.800
They help home service companies build reliable virtual teams that actually understand how the trades work.
00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:59.599
Quick Staffers provides vetted, remote staffed who are already trained on ServiceTitan and use proven SOPs, same as the ones that I use at Wilson.
00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:07.280
These are VAs you can plug in from day one to handle customer service, lead follow-up, scheduling support, and a ton more.
00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:11.199
They've been a huge help in scaling my team without the usual hiring headaches.
00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:13.199
Check them out at the link below.
00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:16.400
I'm a contractor that's never used Yelp.
00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:20.320
Me, John, I feel like I'm at AA right now.
00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:24.639
Um where would I start and how should it change as I grow?
00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:26.639
So, right, I have four locations.
00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:28.639
How should I be thinking about it?
00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:30.159
Like, where do I begin?
00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:30.719
Yep.
00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:44.159
So again, step number one, claim your page, take control of your profile, manage your photos, tell us what services you offer, get in, get involved in the conversation with the reviews that are posted on your page, publicly respond to all of them.
00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:52.000
And once you've done that and you feel good and ready with how your page looks and it's representative of what you do, that's when you get started on Yelp Ads.
00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:56.719
Um, and that's how you tap into those 10 million leads that are flowing through our platform every single month.
00:40:56.880 --> 00:41:04.880
Um, and so, you know, talking to a Yelp Ads representative, they'll help you understand what is the landscape of your market in your area.
00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:08.719
Um, you know, recommend budgets and like what's the right place to start.
00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:11.599
And we see tons of businesses scale from there.
00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:20.159
And so I think what's really awesome about Yelp is you can be the I have a truck and I started yesterday, and I'm gonna use Yelp to kind of jumpstart my business.
00:41:20.239 --> 00:41:28.559
And I can grow all the way into, you know, again, those businesses that have a national footprint that are, you know, working across the entire United States.
00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:32.079
Um, we've got leads for everyone in all of these places.
00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:35.920
And so you can really kind of custom and scale your budgets up as your business grows.
00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:37.360
Well, I appreciate you coming on today.
00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:38.800
This was a bunch of fun to learn about Yelp.
00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:39.119
Of course.
00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:41.039
I have uh never wondered.
00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:43.039
So now, or I've always wondered.
00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:45.920
So now I'm gonna bother you a lot directly.
00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:47.840
I'm pretty sure you said you'd I I'd get your number.
00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:49.840
So like now I'm I'm gonna annoy the hell out of it.
00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:56.159
It is, I am happy to answer questions that you have and set you up with someone that can get everything squared away.
00:41:56.239 --> 00:41:56.559
Sounds awesome.
00:41:57.280 --> 00:41:58.320
We'll get it taken care of.
00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:59.039
Sounds awesome.
00:41:59.119 --> 00:42:00.719
I appreciate you uh appreciate you coming on.
00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:03.280
If people want to hear more or understand more, like where can they go?
00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:08.480
Yeah, so um biz.yelp.com is a great place to start if you're a business owner.
00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:12.400
Um B-I-Z.yelp.com.
00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:18.559
Um and there's also, you know, you can go on there and then it'll direct you accordingly.
00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:28.239
So you can get in contact with someone over the phone, you can chat with um folks through that platform, um, and then it can answer a bunch of questions if you've got curiosities before you get started.
00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:28.800
Awesome.
00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:29.760
Thanks, Katie.
00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:30.880
Awesome.
00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:31.840
Thanks, John.