Beyond Google: Yelp, Facebook, Healthgrades, Angi and Where Reviews Matter by Industry

Google first, always

You need Google reviews. Full stop.

Google is where most of your customers search for you. When someone types your business name or "plumber near me," Google's local results appear first. Review count and review score feed into how Google ranks you for prominence—meaning more reviews and higher ratings help you show up higher in local search results.

This is not a close call. Google reviews drive visibility and traffic. Every other platform is secondary.

That said, Google is not the only place customers look. They also check Facebook, industry-specific sites, and review aggregators. Your job is to build a presence on Google first, then expand strategically to platforms where your customers actually spend time and where your industry matters.

The best review sites for small business depend on your industry and where your customers naturally go to research you. A dentist's patients look on Healthgrades. A contractor's clients check Angi. A restaurant's diners scroll Facebook. You need to know where your people are.

Yelp: the platform you can't ask on

Yelp is a major review site. It drives traffic and credibility. Many customers check it before they call you.

Here is the catch: Yelp's policy asks businesses not to solicit reviews from customers. Yelp's recommendation software may hide reviews it believes were solicited. If you send a blanket email asking for Yelp reviews, Yelp may filter those reviews out of your public count.

This does not mean you ignore Yelp. It means you do not actively ask for Yelp reviews.

What you can do:

• Claim and complete your Yelp business profile. Add photos, hours, a description, and a link to your website.
• Respond to every review—positive and negative. Yelp rewards engaged business owners.
• Encourage reviews in general (on Google, Facebook, and your industry platform) without specifying Yelp. Some customers will naturally leave Yelp reviews anyway.
• Monitor your Yelp page regularly. Flag fake or irrelevant reviews for removal.

Yelp reviews will accumulate over time as a byproduct of your broader review strategy. Do not make Yelp your primary target. Focus your ask on Google and your industry platform.

Facebook: social proof, not search

Facebook reviews are not the same as Google reviews. They do not rank you in local search results the way Google reviews do.

What Facebook does do: it builds social proof. When a friend sees that 200 people gave you five stars on Facebook, they trust you more. Facebook is also where many customers spend time, so a strong presence there keeps you top of mind.

Facebook recommendations (the five-star rating) are visible on your business page and in your followers' feeds. They create credibility and encourage clicks to your website or a call to your business.

But Facebook reviews do not feed Google's ranking algorithm. Do not expect Facebook reviews to improve your Google local search visibility. They are a complement to Google, not a replacement.

How to use Facebook:

• Claim your Facebook business page and keep it current.
• Post regularly—at least once a week. Share photos, updates, customer stories, or tips.
• Ask for reviews as part of your overall review strategy. A simple post ("We'd love to hear from you—leave us a review on Facebook") works.
• Respond to every review and message. Facebook's algorithm favors pages that engage with customers.

Facebook is worth doing, but it is not where you should spend most of your energy. Google and your industry platform come first.

Industry platforms: where reviews really matter

Different industries have different review homes. Customers in your field expect to find you on specific platforms. Being absent from those platforms costs you credibility and traffic.

Health and medical services

Healthgrades is the dominant review site for doctors, dentists, therapists, and other health providers. Patients research providers on Healthgrades before booking. A strong presence there is essential.

Other platforms: Zocdoc (for primary care and specialists), Google, and Facebook.

Home services and contractors

Angi (formerly Angie's List) is the major platform for plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, and general contractors. Homeowners use Angi to find vetted contractors and read reviews before hiring.

Other platforms: Google, Facebook, and Yelp.

Auto repair and dealerships

Google and Yelp dominate. Some shops also appear on CarGurus and Edmunds. Industry-specific platforms are less critical here than in health or home services.

Restaurants and hospitality

Google, Yelp, and Facebook are the big three. TripAdvisor matters for hotels and tourism-focused restaurants. OpenTable (for fine dining) and Resy (for upscale restaurants) also carry weight.

Real estate

Zillow and Realtor.com are where buyers and sellers look. Google and Facebook matter too. Industry-specific platforms are more important than general review sites.

Legal services

Google and Avvo are the main platforms. Avvo is where potential clients search for attorneys and read peer reviews.

The pattern is clear: find out where your customers research your industry, then build a presence there. Ask for reviews on those platforms. Respond to every review. Keep your profile complete and current.

A simple priority order by industry

Here is how to prioritize your review strategy:

Tier 1 (must do): Google. Always. This is non-negotiable.

Tier 2 (your industry platform): Healthgrades for health providers. Angi for contractors. Zillow for real estate. Google and Yelp for restaurants. Avvo for attorneys. This is where your customers expect to find you.

Tier 3 (secondary): Facebook, Yelp (for non-health industries), and any other general review site relevant to your area.

Tier 4 (nice to have): Industry-specific niche platforms, local directories, and aggregators.

Do not spread yourself thin. Master Tier 1 and Tier 2 first. Once you have a steady flow of Google and industry-platform reviews, add Tier 3. Tier 4 can wait.

When you ask for reviews, direct customers to Google first. Then ask them to leave a review on your industry platform. Mention Facebook if it fits your strategy. Do not ask for Yelp reviews directly.

If you use a tool to manage review requests, make sure it routes customers to the right platforms for your business and respects each platform's rules—including Yelp's policy against solicitation. LinkToReview's review page can route customers to more than one destination, but every request must follow each platform's rules—Yelp's included.

Key takeaways

• Google reviews are your foundation. They drive local search visibility and rank you higher for prominence. Build here first.
• Yelp is valuable but off-limits for direct solicitation. Yelp's policy discourages review requests, and Yelp may filter solicited reviews. Claim your profile, respond to reviews, and let Yelp reviews come naturally.
• Facebook builds social proof and engagement but does not improve your Google ranking. Use it to stay connected with customers and encourage general review activity.
• Your industry platform is your second priority. Healthgrades for health providers, Angi for contractors, Zillow for real estate, and so on. This is where your customers research you in your field.
• Prioritize ruthlessly. Master Google and your industry platform before adding Facebook or other sites. Spread your effort where it matters most.
• Every review request must follow platform rules. Google prohibits review gating—ask everyone the same way. Yelp asks you not to solicit. Respect these boundaries.