Yelp, the website and mobile app that features crowd-sourced reviews about businesses, has rolled out a new option to feature Veteran-Owned Businesses. The company announced this effort to help a growing number of consumers that choose to support businesses that align with their values. They announced that searches for Veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. increased by 101% year over year in the third quarter.
The searchable attribute can be added to the Veterans Yelp page and allows the Veteran to self-identify. Consumers will see this attribute under the "more info" section of the business profile. All Veterans that choose this Veteran-owned attribute will also receive a free window decal for their physical location.
Veteran businesses can learn more about the new attribute and how to use it by using the Yelp Veteran-owned Business Resource Hub. The Hub offers information and tools, inspirational stories, and more context on how Yelp is giving visibility to veteran-owned businesses.
In addition to this tool, Yelp is also launching a Veteran Business Fund that is set to award $10,000 to 10 Veteran-owned U.S. businesses totaling $100,000. Eligible businesses can enter for a chance to win at VeteranBusinessFund.Yelp.com through Veterans Day, November 11, 2022. You can find the official rules at VeteranBusinessFund.Yelp.com/rules.