Yelp’s New Feature Lists Virtual Service Offerings

Need to Know 

• Yelp has introduced a new feature to its app allowing businesses to list virtual service offerings.
• Users can now search and discover virtual services such as online fitness classes and virtual museum tours.
• The San Francisco-based app has introduced or adapted a number of service offerings to support local businesses amid the pandemic.

Analysis 

In an effort to support businesses that may be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Yelp has added a new feature to its app. 

The new feature allows businesses to list their virtual service offerings, so they can showcase online classes, virtual tours, and more. 

Users can also search a new category for virtual service offerings, allowing them to easily find businesses that are offering online services. 

“In the past month alone, we’ve seen businesses of all kinds adapting to these new circumstances and are already enabling virtual services,” said Yelp’s Head of Consumer Product, Akhil Ramesh. “Categories that have seen the greatest adoption to date include home services, fitness, gyms, health, and real estate.”

Restaurants will soon be able to showcase on their profile that they are offering curbside pickup and delivery as well. In fact, some businesses like Chili’s are adapting Yelp’s existing Waitlist function to manage curbside takeout orders. Chili’s is even adding “table numbers” to parking spots outside in order to create a safe and seamless takeout experience. 

Yelp will also add Collections of businesses with virtual service offerings, for easy discovery of curated relevant, open businesses. Yelp Collections are personally curated by Yelp team members in over 100 cities across North America and will include compilations of businesses offering services such as virtual museum tours, cocktail deliveries, or virtual fitness classes. 

To support small businesses amid the pandemic, Yelp has also introduced a new banner that businesses can customize to post updates to their profiles and has committed $25 million in waived advertising fees and other premium service offerings.