Yelp for Nonprofits

More than 30,000 nonprofits have created Facebook pages, while there are at least 15,000 nonprofits using Twitter. However, those two networks aren’t the “end all, be all” for nonprofit social media. Other sites/networks may provide more value, or a stronger connection to a group’s stakeholders.

For example, what can nonprofits do with Yelp? I frequently rely on Yelp to discover new restaurants, but it’s so much more than that, as this video interview with San Francisco’s Women’s Community Clinic communication director illustrates. (The organization’s Yelp page includes 44 reviews, and an overall 5-star rating.)

5 Ways Yelp Helps Nonprofits

1. Reviews on Yelp are a goldmine for valuable insights. Collect feedback — both positive and negative — and share it with the appropriate internal departments.
2. If someone leaves factually incorrect information in a review, odds are he/she isn’t the only person misinformed. Yelp provides a platform for organizations to correct the facts — ensuring people who come to the page receive accurate details.
3. Yelp helps the clinic manage expectations, and see what messages stakeholders internalize. In the video, Anne explains that the reviews reveal that women know ahead of time that they’re visiting a free, high-demand clinic, and that that means they’ll have to wait to see a doctor. It’s expected, so patients don’t get mad.
4. Yelp provides a more realistic view of a nonprofit. Testimonials on a traditional website reflect the “best of the best” — and visitors to the site know they’re reading filtered feedback. Yelp, on the other hand, offers an unfiltered (and more trustworthy) view of other people’s experiences with that organization.
5. Especially for nonprofits dealing with sensitive issues, such as women’s health care, Yelp provides a valuable connection between people who have dealt with the organization and those considering reaching out. For the clinic, Yelp connects women with other women who may feel isolated, scared or alone. It’s an extension of word-of-mouth.

What other benefits do you see for nonprofits? Are you familiar with organizations including Yelp in their social media strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

If you operate a 501(c)3 organization and want to unlock (or create) your non-profit’s Yelp listing, visit biz.yelp.com.

Tagged as: Nonprofits, Yelp