As a contractor, you’re always looking for new ways to generate leads and grow your business, and Yelp is often considered a potential platform for this. But is it really worth the time and investment? Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons of Yelp for contractors, based on real reviews and industry insights.
Pros of Using Yelp for Contractors
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Massive Exposure and Credibility Yelp attracts over 178 million unique users per month, making it one of the most popular review platforms. For contractors, having a presence on Yelp can improve credibility and give potential clients the confidence they need to hire you. Maintaining a profile with positive reviews can significantly boost your visibility.
“93% of people between 35 and 54 years old check online reviews before making decisions, and Yelp remains one of the most trusted sources for that.”
— Perfectly Optimized -
Free Business Listing and Tools Setting up a Yelp business profile is free and provides basic tools to help your business get noticed. You can upload photos, respond to reviews, and share essential business information. This no-cost entry makes it easy for contractors to start using the platform without upfront investment.
“Yelp’s free features make it a useful platform for small businesses trying to get more visibility without spending on ads.”
— Brandon Gaille -
Potential for Local SEO Boost Thanks to Yelp’s high domain authority, contractor profiles often rank well in Google search results, especially in local markets. If you’re working in a less competitive area, this can help you secure more leads from organic traffic.
“Yelp profiles often rank highly on Google searches, which can boost your visibility in local markets.”
— Datapins
Cons of Using Yelp for Contractors
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Expensive and Questionable ROI for Ads One of the biggest drawbacks of using Yelp is the high cost of advertising. Contractors report paying as much as $20 or more per click for leads, which can be difficult to justify, especially when the return on investment (ROI) isn’t always consistent.
“Yelp ads are quite expensive, with reports of $20 per click and limited targeting options, which can make it difficult to reach the right audience.”
— Sagapixel -
Aggressive Sales Tactics Many contractors have experienced aggressive sales calls from Yelp representatives who try to push expensive advertising packages. While advertising may work for some, contractors often feel pressured into paying for services that might not provide value in their industry.
“Yelp’s sales team can be very aggressive, pushing businesses into ad packages even when they may not be the best fit.”
— Sagapixel -
Limited Control Over Reviews Yelp’s review filtering system is another point of contention for contractors. Positive reviews can sometimes get filtered out, while negative reviews remain visible, leaving contractors feeling frustrated with their online reputation.
“Yelp filters reviews using a strict algorithm, sometimes hiding positive feedback while leaving up negative reviews, causing frustration for many business owners.”
— Brandon Gaille -
Perception as a Restaurant-Centric Platform Despite its efforts to cover a wide range of industries, Yelp is still heavily associated with restaurant reviews. For contractors, this perception can limit its usefulness as customers might turn to Google or Angi for home service needs rather than Yelp.
“Yelp is still seen as primarily a restaurant review platform, which may not make it the best fit for contractors looking for serious leads.”
— Datapins
Yelp Contractor Reviews being higher in California and certain states and areas
Should Contractors Use Yelp?
Yelp can be beneficial for contractors who want to increase visibility and maintain an online presence. However, the high cost of advertising, limited review control, and aggressive sales tactics make it less ideal for contractors relying solely on the platform for lead generation. For established contractors, Yelp can be a good supplement to other lead generation strategies, but it shouldn’t be your only tool.
A Smarter Way to Grow Your Business
If you’re serious about growing your contracting business and want more control over your leads, it’s time to invest in specialized contractor marketing. At Hook Agency, we help contractors generate high-quality leads through SEO and targeted digital marketing. Instead of relying on Yelp’s unpredictable ROI, we help you rank higher on Google and attract clients directly.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Check out Hook Agency to see how we can help you grow sustainably and effectively!