You may already know that Yelp is free and easy to set up, but did you know that it also helps keep you connected to your local community, provides instant feedback, and can help boost your rank on Google? Here’s how to get started:

Visit:   biz.yelp.com

Search for Your Business:  Under “Find and Claim your Yelp Business Page,” search to see if your business is already listed on Yelp. If it is not, click “Add your business to Yelp” (link is on the bottom of the page) to create your free account.

Add Your Business:  Completely and accurately fill out the requested information. In the “Business Name” section, you will want to include your broker’s brand name in your business name as well, as this is becoming required by the National Association of Realtors and individual states (e.g., Jane Smith – Best Realty Agency).

Select the Category:  You will want to choose “Real Estate” for the first category and “Real Estate Agents” for the sub-category.

Submit an Accurate Email Address:  Make sure that you regularly check the email account that corresponds to the address you submit as you will be asked to verify it. Once you click the “Add business” button, you will receive a confirmation email before you can view your business on Yelp.

Add Your Headshot and Additional Business Information:  Add a profile photo – use a professional headshot if possible. You may want to consider adding additional information to the “From the business” section, such as “Specialties” (focus on company mission, goal, guarantee, and customer service) and “History” (provide a brief bio).

Download the App:  You may want to download the Yelp for Business Owners app on your mobile device (available for both  iPhone  and  Android ). This allows you to manage your Yelp presence from your phone.