Yelp's list of mighty review rivals
SAN FRANCISCO -- At one time, Yelp seemed to be the definitive source for reviews. If a consumer was searching for a great hotel room or a romantic restaurant for an anniversary dinner, Yelp could help.
As consumers increasingly turn to the Internet for research, competition has heated up to offer the answers they're seeking.
This means Yelp is no longer the biggest player on the review scene.
Some competitors have merely refined their offerings, while others are emerging into the space for the first time. Here are a few competitors that may be luring customers away from the popular review site.
Yelp vs. Google. Perhaps Yelp's biggest threat. The world's most popular search engine easily captures the many consumers who simply take whatever results Google returns when they type in a business name followed by the word "review." After entering such a search term, a customer is given a list of locations for that business that includes location information, a link to the business's website, and a very prominent link to Google reviews for that business.
Another point in Google's favor is the company's incorporation of location information in searches. Since many customers now search using mobile devices, the search result that addresses where an Internet user is sitting at the time of the search will win.
Despite many businesses' efforts to improve their local SEO, Google likely will always win that game.
Yelp vs. TripAdvisor. For travelers, TripAdvisor gives Yelp a serious run for its money. The site specializes in helping vacationers find the best hotels and local attractions, culling reviews from its many users to steer customers away from making the wrong choices. Yelp has this information, but TripAdvisor attracts customers who are temporarily visiting an area and therefore more likely to want to advise other visitors.
TripAdvisor's restaurant section is extremely useful for pinpointing the top restaurants in a given town. The site pulls the top choices from all the reviews and delivers a top 10 list to help customers find the best local dining spots. Yelp has a similar list, but TripAdvisor's format makes it more of a standalone list.
Yelp vs. Angie's List. When you need someone to paint your house or install a new garbage disposal, Yelp can be largely unhelpful. Angie's list is fully dedicated to helping members find the best contractor to do a job. Membership is required to read reviews but plans start as low as between $3 and $4 a month.
Angie's List is ideal for consumers who regularly hire out services such as home renovations or landscaping. The monthly fee may not be worth it for those who rarely need those services.
Yelp vs. YP. YP's CEO announced last year that the company hoped to challenge Yelp's business. Formerly known as YellowPages.com, YP's comprehensive guide makes it easy for customers to find local restaurants, attorneys, home improvement experts, and health and wellness providers.
One thing holding YP back is its user base. Many of the businesses have a lower number of reviews than competing sites, making it more difficult to get a comprehensive read on what customers really think. The company is working hard to get the word out about its services, however, as well as boosting its mobile friendliness.
Yelp is still winning the review game, but gradually customers are turning to other sources. Like Google, Yelp will have to find ways to reach customers on their mobile devices using their locations to deliver results.
As customers work to find their favorite review service, the one that delivers the most useful results with helpful user reviews will be the one that likely dominates.
A journalist and digital consultant, John Boitnott has worked at TV, print, radio and Internet companies for 20 years. He's an adviser at StartupGrind and has written for NBC, Fast Company, Entrepreneur and VentureBeat.