Battle of the Platforms: Google Review vs. Yelp

As someone who has only a little experience on Yelp and literally no experience on Google Reviews, I thought it would be useful to do more research into the two of them and figure out which one is the better of the location-based platforms.

With the help of this article, along with my own opinions, and complaints and praises I have heard, I was able to compile a pros and cons list for both Google Reviews and Yelp.

Yelp was founded in 2004 to help people find local businesses like dentists, hair stylists, mechanics, and restaurants. It had a monthly average of 86 million unique visitors who visited Yelp via their mobile device in 2015. Yelpers have written more than 95 million reviews expressing their opinions and giving ratings out of 5 Stars to service places they visit. In addition to reviews, you can use Yelp to find events, lists and to talk with other Yelpers. Every business owners can set up a free account to post photos and message their customers.

Pros of Yelp:

- It is easier to use (compared to Google Reviews)

- Currently, it is the #1 site for local reviews and recommendations - leading to lots of traffic, which is great for those businesses

- Unlike Google Reviews, you do not need an account to search for reviews/recommendations (you do need an account to post a review, however.)

Cons of Yelp:

-Can filter out legitimate business reviews through the Yelp Review Filter

- More ads, less local business

Google Reviews:

(Sometimes referred to as Google+Local Reviews) Essentially, it works very similarly to Yelp, one difference being that you have to have a Google+ account to use it. However, the chances are that you already have a Google+ account whether you're aware of it or not.

Pros:

-Google is the most powerful search engine in the world - if your business is under Google reviews, anytime someone searches something related to your business name there's a higher possibility that your business will get noticed intentionally and unintentionally. In short, Google reviews are attached to how google organizes its search results. That's not something you'll get on Yelp.

-The more activity you have on any of the Google platforms = more attention for your business in search engine results

-Even though Yelp will show up on Google search, it's likely to be 2 or 3 down the line after Google reviews.

-Minimizes spam and sorting out false reviews much better than Yelp

-Ability to manage your location, reviews and listing all in one, easily accessible place

-Greater SEO power than Yelp

-YouTube integration - as well as all other Google applications

Cons:

-Exclusively designed for people in your Circles, those who are not in your Circles have a little bit of a harder time finding all of your information

-Google+, despite all it's worth, still has a very small active user base

-Harder to navigate compared to Yelp

While there are many people who claim, with strong evidence, that Google Reviews will surpass Yelp soon. And while it definitely seems that Google Reviews are the place to go whether you are interested in advertising your local business or if you are trying to find the best place for food, services, and other recommendations. However, I personally will continue to use Yelp over Google Reviews simply out of habit. That may be the one thing that will continue to drive Yelp over the top, humans are creatures of habit, we do not like to stray from the comfort of our own platforms.