Yelp is a freelancer's best friend
Dramatic? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Yelp is a freelancer's best friend in more ways than one.
If you read my previous blog about resources every freelancer could use when they're just starting out, you'd know my affection for the app.
I told you I'd be dedicated a post in the future solely to Yelp, and here it is.
I wish I could say this was sponsored.
What is Yelp?
Yelp is "a business directory service and crowd-sourced review forum." Basically, any brick-and-mortar location or physical event you can imagine is on this baby.
The best part? Every coffee shop, bar, restaurant, etc. comes pre-reviewed by your neighbors (or whoever decides to take the time to review it) so you know what you're getting.
How does it help freelancers?
Speaking of knowing what you're getting...
I work out of cafes and coffee shops occasionally as a remote freelancer. Often, I try to bring my pup along with me. This presents some challenges.
I need the cafe to be good to work out of -- no loud noises or excessive crowds, ample plugs to charge my laptop, and enough seating so I don't get there and have no place to work.
I need the cafe to allow dogs. If not inside, then outside. And there has to be shade... so I can see my laptop screen.
This is no easy feat. Especially when you don't want to spend all your time on Google looking for a place that meets your requirements.
Yelp cuts out the guesswork when it comes to getting a sense of the place you're about to work from for hours.
Guesswork takes time. And as a freelancer, time is $$$.
This is part of why Yelp is a freelancer's best friend.
Why Yelp and not Google?
Don't get me wrong, I love Google.
But, don't waste your time scouring it for "coffee near me" when you want to get some work done. Often, the information on there is incomplete and doesn't give you a full sense of the entire place.
What are Yelp's perks?
Yelp is an excellent resource when it comes to mapping out what you need in a location to get work done. It also gives you a peek into the aesthetic (I can’t do stuffy or dungeon-y vibes) and the ratings.
For instance, Yelp allows you to post photos of the inside and outside of the establishment. This lets you get a sense of the amount of seating, how comfortable the seats are (I prefer benches or couches to typical, boring chairs), and if the outdoor area has a shady area for you to work from.
People also post photos of the menu (score!), what the food looks like (for better or worse), and the parking situation (those people are angels, all of them).
Yelp also lets people post questions that either the owner or other people who have visited the location can answer. Questions about anything from "Are there veggie options?" to "Is parking hard to find?"
My favorite feature, though, is the amenities section. It shows you whether dogs are allowed, how noisy it gets, what the Wi-Fi situation is like, and whether it's good for groups, kids, and/or working.
An example of the amenities section on the Yelp app. And why it's a freelancer's best friend.
Another helpful feature is the info section. Aptly named, you can see if the owner has listed info about whether you can pay with a credit card or if its cash only, what the hours are, and provides a link to their menu (if they have one listed).
It's 👏🏻 time 👏🏻 to 👏🏻 download 👏🏻 Yelp!
If you’re an aspiring freelancer, Yelp is the best resource ever.
I promise you won't regret downloading the FREE app, or even just using it online instead of navigating to the Google homepage. It was a game-changer for me and that's why I wanted to share it with you.