How To Get Elite Status On Yelp

UPDATE: YELP ELITE MEMBERSHIP STATUS

As of Feb 2020, I've officially been accepted into the eliteness that is Yelp Elite. This article was originally posted in October 2019, but I've updated it a ton to reflect all of the lessons that I've learned, as well as steps that I took to make it onto the Yelp Elite Squad. It works y'all, trust me!

What is the Yelp Elite Squad?

As the title suggests, I was on a mission to become a member of the Yelp Elite Squad. And since you're here, you probably are looking to join the Yelp Elite Squad too. But what is that? It's just the ultimate Yelp distinction that any real foodie could ever want. This members-only community is dedicated to providing exclusive experiences for active Yelp members.

There are numerous influencers and bloggers who have boasted about their exclusive experiences and adventures. I mean come on, who doesn't want that?

What Are The Yelp Elite Squad Requirements?

So you want to know how to become yelp elite? These are the bare minimum requirements that you must meet, according to the official Yelp website:

Use your real name on your Yelp profile.
Have a clear photo of yourself as your primary photo.
Be of legal drinking age in your country.
Be active, send compliments, post food & restaurant photos, vote on reviews, and be helpful on Talk.
Don't be a business owner or do not manage a business account.

The requirements above are clearly posted on the website and are extremely easy to knock out. The next few steps take a bit more work. To stand out in your community, you must also:

Check-in: Check-ins are extremely easy. When you're onsite at a restaurant or a local business, go ahead and click the check-in button in your Yelp app. Don't limit your check-ins to restaurants either, Yelp spans everything from your local shoe store to your car wash.
Write Helpful Reviews: Try to write insightful reviews for each of your check-ins! A quick little paragraph won't do, and you need to put some thought into it. I often break my reviews down into 3 key sections. I talk about the parking, the atmosphere & service, and of course, the food & prices. If you get stuck, keep these sections in mind! Also, y'all, take some bomb food pictures! Find the light in the restaurant, and use your flash! (scroll down to see a few examples!)
Diversify Your Buds: Step outside of your comfort zone a bit, and diversify your tastebuds while you're at it! If you do a bit of research, you'll see that the Yelp Elite Squad is comprised of people who are eating at and visiting local spots in the community. So next time someone suggests Chipotle or McDonald's why not pull out your Yelp app and support a local business instead!
Engage With The Yelp Community: Start networking within the Yelp Community! Add friends, like reviews, and leave comments whenever you can. You never know who you'll meet.

🌟 You're the GOAT!

Get excited!! You have successfully joined the Breakroom Buddha community!

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How to Request Yelp Elite Status?

So, once you've done all of the above, it becomes evident to the Yelp Elite Community Council that you're serious about supporting your community. You'll know that you're on your Community Manager's radar because she/he may even reach out to you! If they do happen to reach out, this means that you are definitely on the right track and are providing value in your community! Once you feel like you've gotten the hang of Yelp and a good sense of what your community has to offer you have 2 options:

OPTION 1: Nominate Yourself for the Yelp Elite Squad at yelp.com/elite. Craft a thoughtful paragraph about why you would be a bomb AF Yelp Elite Squad member. If you're stuck, think about the 5 W's, and use them as your foundation.

Who are you?
When did you start using Yelp?
Why Yelp, and not one of the competitors?
Where do you like to go to eat, drink and play in your city? Are these businesses local/native to your area?
What type of reviews do you focus on / What do you hope to gain from & contribute to the Yelp Elite Squad?

OPTION 2: Phone a Friend! If you've done a decent job networking, you've probably come into contact with someone who's currently a Yelp Eliter in your city! This is a good thing. If you believe that you're close enough to the Eliter, then you can nicely ask them to nominate you! They will still have to write a pretty convincing paragraph as to why they think you'd make an excellent addition to the Yelp Elite Squad in your city. Give them a headstart by at least providing them a few reasons why you want to join, and what you'd like to contribute to the Yelp Elite Squad!

What Are the Pre-Yelp Elite Squad Perks?

This is all cool, but I bet you're wondering what kind of perks non-Yelp Elite members receive. Despite getting the side-eye from my eating companions, because of my overdramatic way of announcing my Yelp "Check-Ins" and capturing my steaming hot plates of food, as they hit the table, I was able to successfully clock in my fair share of reviews.

Because of this tenacity, during my journey to Elite Status, I was able to also collect a few cool little perks. This included free appetizers, extra toppings, free dessert offerings, and even a free t-shirt from my local car dealership! You can reap the same rewards just by simply checking in, and being active!

What Are the Yelp Elite Squad Perks?

Before joining, I ~~dreamt~~ read about secret members-only events, like beauty bashes featuring free samples, masquerade balls, rooftop dinners, concert invites, festivals, and FREE fitness classes. Now after officially being admitted onto the Yelp Elite Squad, I SEE the proof. Lol. There will be upcoming and past events listed in your community's page. So, these cool events that I've read about indeed DO happen.

Of course once your in, your experience will vary depending on your community's activity level. I assume the city that you live in (big/small/the amount of diversity, etc.) all contribute to the types of experiences that are offered as well, BUT, I will say that you can never argue with a FREE event! Right? With that being said, I'm going to keep an open mind, and I encourage you to do the same if you're invited to join the Yelp Elite Squad. RSVP to everything that you can, even if you don't think the event is up your alley.

I can't forget about the community aspect! A lot of people have praised the selective Yelp Elite Squad process because they're able to meet other like-minded foodies as well. I'm all about that! I'm so excited to start meeting my crew!

THE BOUJEE PALATE: FOOD FINDS

I've decided that I shouldn't be feeding my phone (aka taking food pics, haha) in vain, so here's a snapshot of some of the hot spots that I've run into during (and after) my quest for Yelp Elite status! Check them out below, and follow my food Instagram (@deja_eats) for more

I'll continue to update this post, as I start to engage more with the Yelp Elite Squad Community. Fellow Yelpers, don't be afraid to connect with me on Yelp. Happy eating & exploring!

WHAT'S NEXT?

1) Put in some PTO, and plan a trip to somewhere new!

2) Add a few new items to your bucket list

2) Love cooking as much as you love eating? Check out these recipes

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