Maximizing Visibility: Yelp Ad Specs Guideline
Picture this: you spend a crazy amount of time crafting your Yelp ads and are finally ready to publish it on Yelp. But once you publish your hard work to your business account, the cover image is blown out. Or maybe the image looks perfect on desktop, but on mobile it’s completely cut off.
Don’t let this happen to you! Use this guide to ensure your Yelp ads are displayed exactly how you want it.
Table of Contents
Why Ad Specs Matter
Ad specifications refer to the technical requirements and guidelines set by a platform for displaying Yelp ads. These specifications are important because they affect how your ad will look, load, and perform on the platform.
With Yelp’s large audience, following the platform’s creative Yelp ads specs can boost the visibility and impact of great local businesses.
This guide is here to help familiarize you with Yelp’s guidelines to run Yelp ads that meet the website’s standards, making sure your business shines in a busy marketplace.
Showcase Ads
Showcase for Yelp ads is a premium, immersive format in the Yelp ads program that appears on desktop and mobile. These Yelp ads are designed to grab attention and showcase your business account in a visually appealing way.
Showcase ads consist of four components: cover image, description text, a URL, and the option to add a video.
Image
Your image is the centerpiece of the showcase ad. It should increase Yelp user clicks towards your page and entice them to learn more about your own business. When creating your image, keep in mind it will be displayed at different sizes on desktop and mobile. Here are some important notes:
- File type can be a JPG or PNG with at most 2MB
- One photo needs to be 1200 x 1200 pixels at a 1:1 ratio
- Business page photo for mobile: 1920 x 1440 pixels at 4:3 ratio
- Business page photo for desktop: 1920 x 1440 pixels at 16:11 ratio
When your image is complete, keep it mind the image will automatically crop to the correct aspect ratio towards the center of your image.
Copy
When crafting copy for your Yelp ads, remember to be concise and clear. Showcase ads have character limits for both the headline and description, so make each word count. Here are some important notes:
- Title: 23 characters max
- Description: 44 characters max
Call To Action Button
Your Call to Action button should be clear and easy to understand, directing viewers to take action. Keep in mind that this button will appear as a pop-up on mobile devices.
Here are some examples of Call to Action copy:
- See Offer
- Learn More
- Order Online
- Order Ahead
- Order Pickup
- Call to Order
- Get Directions
URL
After writing your copy, it’s crucial to include a relevant URL that directs viewers to your business’ website or landing page. Here are some guidelines for URLs:
- Must begin with either http:// or https://
- Can only use letters, numbers, hyphens (-) and underscores (_) in the URL
Optional Video
Adding your own video to your showcase ads can greatly enhance its visual appeal and help tell your story more effectively. This high quality video option will show in place of your image on your business account page.
Although adding a video is an optional feature, it’s a powerful tool to consider when promoting your business. Here are some guidelines for the video:
- 15 to 90 seconds
- 1440 x 720 pixels
- Must be under 100 MB
- Supports most major video technical formats
Search Ads
Search ads appear at the top or bottom of the Yelp search bar results on desktop and mobile. These ads are great for promoting a specific product, service, or deal to users who are actively searching for businesses like yours. Search ads consist of a cover image and optional copy.
Images
The showcase ad’s image guidelines also apply to search ads. However, there are a few additional things to keep in mind when creating images for search ads:
- JPG or PNG with at most 2MB
- Size minimum: 1200 x 1200 pixels at a 1:1 ratio
- Ad images will appear in the image slideshow on business pages
Optional Copy
Although not required, adding copy can help reach nearby consumers searching your product and increase engagement through phone calls or web visits. Here are some guidelines for the optional copy:
- Web Description: 192 characters max
- Mobile Description: 96 characters max
If you decide not to write any copy for your search ads, Yelp will automatically optimize the copy for you to review.
Call to Action Button
Similar to the showcase ads, including a clear and relevant Call to Action button is important for search ads. Here are some examples of Call to Action copy:
- Call Now
- Get Directions
- Visit Website (URL must be included)
Photo Slideshow Ads
Photo Slideshow ads are displayed on desktop and mobile, showcasing multiple images of your business. These ads appear in the image slideshow section on your business page. Photo Slideshow ads consist of up to five images.
Images
For photo slideshow ads, you can use JPG or PNG files with a maximum size of 2MB per photo. Here are some other important features to note:
- Web and mobile photos are cropped at 4:3 ratio
- Each photo must be 1200 x 1200 pixels at 1:1 ratio
Similar to how images work for showcase ads, each picture will automatically crop to the correct aspect ratio towards the center of your image. Make sure to accommodate for this when designing your images!
Business Highlights
Your business highlights appear on desktop and mobile devices and allows your page to stand out amongst other competitor businesses. Highlights appear in your Showcase Ads, Yelp search results, and your business page.
This feature lets you add up to six custom highlights about your business. Here are some examples of features to choose from:
- Luxury
- Eco-Friendly
- Speaks Spanish
- Walk-Ins Welcome
- {Years} in Business
- Established in {Years}
- Available by Appointment
If you’d like to see the entire list of features, you can reach out to a Yelp representative for a full list to choose from.
Additional Information
While this feature is engaging and can significantly enhance your page’s appeal, you are not able to write in any copy besides the customizable text provided for each highlight.
When choosing your highlights, you are also not allowed to repeat highlights. For example, you can’t include both “Results Guaranteed” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed” on your page; you must choose one to showcase.
Themed Ads
Themed Ads are a unique tool used to promote your business profile during special holidays, events, or Yelp deals. These ads allow you to customize the look and feel of your Yelp ads, making it stand out from any other Yelp business account and competitors ads.
Image
The image guidelines for themed ads are the same as showcase ads. However, when creating Yelp ads for a specific holiday or event, it’s essential to keep the theme in mind and make sure your image reflects that.
- File can be either JPG or PNG
- Size must be 1440 x 920 pixels at a 3:2 ratio
- For mobile: images should be 264 x 176 pixels
- For web: images should be 168 x 228 to 265 pixels
Optional Copy
Including copy on your themed ad must reflect an active deal or promotion. This can be a great way to reach customers during specific holidays or events. Here are some examples of copy for themed ads:
- Free Estimate
- Free Consultation
- Discounts Available
Logos
Incorporating a professionally designed logo into your business page and advertisements can serve as a powerful tool to enhance brand recognition, making your business memorable and distinctive in the eyes of your target audience.
Stand out from competitor pages and make a lasting impression with a cool logo that captures the essence of your brand!
Image
Here are some guidelines for adding a logo to your Yelp page:
- JPG or PNG
- Size should be 1200 x 1200 pixels at 1:1 ratio
- Business page will crop your image to a circular shape
- Direct search will display your image as a square with rounded corners
Remember, your logo will appear on your business page and all advertisements, so it’s essential to make sure it looks clean and professional.
Formatting
While formatting a logo for your Yelp ads and page might seem like a demanding task, it’s crucial to remember two key points:
- Use circular logos with a white background if you want your logo to remain circular
- Keep the design simple to guarantee it’s recognizable even when resized.
These considerations will significantly impact how potential customers perceive your brand.
Portfolios
Lastly, portfolios are an excellent way to showcase your work on your Yelp page. Not only can you include images, but you can also add captions and tags to help potential customers easily find what they’re looking for.
Each profile can have up to four portfolios showcased on your page per advertiser. Here are some guidelines when creating a portfolio:
Images
- Can have 50 photos max
- Use high-quality JPG or PNG files
- Can add an optional “Before” and “After” labels
Copy
When adding copy to your portfolio, it should be used to provide additional information or context about the images. This can include details such as the type of service provided, special techniques used, or customer reviews and testimonials.
Make sure to keep this content concise and relevant. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Title can be 140 characters max
- Description can be 5,000 characters max
- Call to Action button like “Message the Business”, “Call”, or “Visit Website” is recommended
Services
Portfolios allow you to showcase specific services your business offers. This feature can be used for highlighting unique or popular services that may attract potential customers. For example, a plumbing company can have their portfolio showcase their types of plumbing services they offer.
When uploading your portfolio, Yelp will ask you about the cost of the project, the date completed, and the duration of the project.
Summary
The range of services for Yelp ads can enhance your business page and entice consumers. From showcasing highlights to creating themed ads and portfolios, there are many ways to make your Yelp business owner account stand out.
Now that you know all of the creative ad specifications for your Yelp business page, utilize these features to leave a lasting impression on potential customers. Boost your online presence by taking advantage of Yelp advertising tools today!
