Yelp integration
Yelp Auto Responder: be the first business to reply.
InstantResponse.AI replies to Yelp Requests in under 5 seconds, 24/7 - nights and weekends covered - so you reply while the customer is still choosing. It answers from the services, service area and hours you configure, asks only the questions you've approved, can quote a flat service-call fee, give an estimate by type of service, or give no prices at all, follows up until the customer books or opts out, and hands the conversation to your team when a person is needed.
If a Yelp lead arrives during your demo, we handle it live in your account · From $99/month · Unlimited leads · 14-day free trial · No contracts
Yelp Advertising Platinum PartnerInstantResponse.AI is a product by Cohen Marketing, a Yelp Advertising Platinum Partner.
Last updated: · Reviewed by Eliad Cohen
The InstantResponse.AI Yelp Auto Responder replies to Yelp Requests in under 5 seconds, 24/7, asks only the questions you've approved and follows up until the customer books or opts out. Plans start at $99/month with a 14-day free trial, and setup takes about 10 minutes. Compare →
Trusted by service businesses across the US
On Yelp, customers can send a Request to several businesses at once and compare the quotes they get back. A reply while the customer is still choosing keeps that conversation moving. InstantResponse.AI replies in under 5 seconds, with answers drawn from your business details and the questions your team needs to decide the next step.
Account workflow example
Downtown L.A 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith uses InstantResponse.AI to answer Yelp lockout requests. The AI replies in seconds, collects the location and lock type, then hands the job to the team.
A description of the account's workflow, not a customer quote or a measured booking result.
Definition
What is a Yelp auto responder?
A Yelp auto responder sends an automated reply to a private Yelp message or Request a Quote lead in your connected Yelp Business account. InstantResponse.AI replies from the business information you configure, asks your qualification questions, and hands the conversation to your team when a person is needed.
Compare
How InstantResponse.AI compares
| What matters | InstantResponse.AI | LeadTruffle |
|---|---|---|
| Yelp connection | Authorized Yelp Business connection | Via Zapier |
| Yelp reply speed | Under 5 seconds | Advertised as typically under 60 seconds (not guaranteed, per their FAQ) |
| Follow-ups | AI follow-ups at intervals you set (seconds to days) | SMS follow-ups for lead aggregators listed under the Growth plan |
| Price published? | Yes, from $99/month | Not published (demo required) |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial | Not mentioned |
| Contracts | No contracts, cancel anytime | Month-to-month, no long-term contracts |
| Other lead sources | Google LSA, Yelp, Thumbtack, Website Chat Widget | Website texting widget and AI voice answering (per pricing page) |
Sources (checked Oct 19, 2026): instantresponse.ai/integrations/yelp · leadtruffle.co/yelp-auto-responder · instantresponse.ai/features/ai-customization · leadtruffle.co/pricing · instantresponse.ai/pricing · instantresponse.ai/integrations
Based on each company's public website, checked Oct 19, 2026. Tell us if something changed: contact us.
Setup
How to set up the Yelp auto responder
- Step 1
Connect your Yelp Business account
Confirm the account and the location that receives Requests, with messaging and Request a Quote enabled.
- Step 2
Set your services and questions
Add your services, service area, hours, optional pricing, qualification questions and who receives handoffs.
- Step 3
Test a few conversations
Try an in-area job, an out-of-area request and a question that needs a person, then review them.
- Step 4
Go live
Turn on your chosen schedule, for example AI replies at night and on weekends.
Yelp reply quality
What Yelp looks for in your replies
Yelp introduced AI-powered response quality badges that spotlight pros who consistently give helpful, informative replies. Yelp's AI checks whether a reply provides a quote or availability, acknowledges the project details, asks relevant follow-up questions, and goes beyond a generic "call us" reply. A minimum number of responses is needed for a score, and owners can see their score in Yelp for Business.
InstantResponse.AI replies to what the customer wrote, asks the qualification questions you set, and can share the pricing you configure: a flat service-call fee, an estimate by type of service, or no prices at all.
Sources (checked Oct 19, 2026): blog.yelp.com/news/spring-product-release-2025
Speed
Yelp response time and why it matters
A Yelp Request is sent by a customer who wants the job done and is comparing businesses right now. The first business to send a useful reply sets the conversation; a reply hours later often arrives after the customer has already moved on.
Yelp rewards the quality of that reply, too. Its response quality badges spotlight pros who consistently give helpful, informative replies: replies that provide a quote or availability, acknowledge the project details and ask relevant follow-up questions instead of a generic "call us".
InstantResponse.AI gives you both. It replies to every Yelp Request in under 5 seconds, 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays, and the reply is written from your services, pricing and qualifying questions, not a fixed template. For wording ideas, browse these auto reply message examples, including four written for Yelp requests.
Sources (checked Oct 19, 2026): blog.yelp.com/news/spring-product-release-2025 · instantresponse.ai/integrations/yelp
What happens when a Request lands
A configured conversation, not a fixed template.
A fixed acknowledgement sends predefined text. InstantResponse.AI replies in under 5 seconds from the business information you configure. Every step is customizable: it can greet the customer by name, ask your qualifying questions, request job details or photos, quote a flat service-call fee or an estimate by service type (or give no prices), follow up until the customer books or opts out, and hand off when the customer asks for a person or the job matches a handoff rule. Spam is recognized, left unanswered and kept out of your team inbox. Qualified leads go straight to ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber, Workiz or GoHighLevel through Zapier or webhooks.
What it does
Everything a great front desk does, on your Yelp Requests.
First reply in under 5 seconds
Yelp Requests get a reply in under 5 seconds, 24/7 - nights and weekends covered.
Configurable pricing
Quote a flat service-call fee, give an estimate by type of service, or give no prices at all and let your team quote.
Automatic follow-ups
Follows up until the customer books or opts out. You customize the timing, coverage and when follow-ups stop.
Yelp campaign reporting
The AI analyzes each conversation, so you see qualified leads per Yelp campaign, not just message counts.
Spots unhappy customers
Flags negative or complaint messages early so an owner can step in.
Spam filtered out
Spam is recognized, left unanswered, and kept out of your team inbox.
Clean handoff
Complex quotes go straight to your team in one inbox, with the full conversation in view.
Yelp reporting
See which Yelp ads bring in qualified leads.
Product screenshot of the Yelp reporting view; it is not a customer performance case study.
How the connection works
Yelp Auto Responder onboarding checklist.
We connect, configure and activate the auto responder with you during the demo call, and most customers see their first AI-handled Request the same day. Replies go out through an authorized connection under your own Yelp Business account, with no scraping or workarounds. These are the checks we work through together.
- Confirm the Yelp Business account and the location that receives Requests
- Verify messaging and Request a Quote are enabled, and that a sample Request arrives
- Configure services, service area, hours, optional pricing, and who receives handoffs
- Test an in-area job, an out-of-area request, and a question that needs a person
- Review the test conversations before turning on your chosen schedule
Sends qualified Yelp leads into
Your existing CRM and dispatch.
Compare the options
InstantResponse.AI vs replying by hand.
InstantResponse.AI holds a configurable conversation from first reply to handoff. Replying by hand depends on who is free to answer.
| What matters | InstantResponse.AI | Replying by hand |
|---|---|---|
| First reply | Under 5 seconds, 24/7 | Depends on staff coverage |
| Content of the reply | A configurable conversation with your questions | Business information available to your team |
| Pricing | Flat service-call fee, estimate by service type, or no prices | Quoted by your team |
| Follow-up | Customizable, until the customer books or opts out | Depends on your process |
| Handoff to a person | Rule based, with the full conversation | Already a person |
What your team sees
A qualified Yelp thread lands where your crew already works.
Once a Yelp Request is qualified, the job details and the full conversation go out by WhatsApp, SMS, or email so whoever is dispatching can act without opening another app.
WhatsApp1:08 PMNew lead from Yelp
Business: Sunrise Lock & Key
Customer: Jordan M.
Phone: +1 (555) 014-2288
Address: 90004
Service requested: Installing or replacing locks
View lead: app.instantresponse.ai/leads
Sunrise Lock & Key - lead qualified
Customer: Jordan M.
Phone: +1 (555) 014-2288
Notes: Customer wants help with a front door lock and magnetic latch adjustment. Residential property, standard lock installation or replacement.
Please contact the lead as soon as possible.
New lead from Yelp
Business: Bright Carpet Care
Customer: Alex R.
Phone: +1 (555) 018-7340
Service requested: Clean upholstery
View lead: app.instantresponse.ai/leads
Bright Carpet Care - lead qualified
Notes: Upholstery cleaning for a two-person recliner, an office chair, a mattress, and patio cushions. Primary reason: odor and allergen reduction.
Please contact the lead as soon as possible.
Northside Remodeling - lead qualified
Source: Yelp
Customer: Casey T.
Phone: +1 (555) 012-6906
Service requested: General contracting
Notes: Remodeling project involving a permanent roof over an existing patio, extended paver patio, and added posts for roof support.
Message sent to the customer
Sample alerts. Business names, customer names, and phone numbers are fictional.
Buyer checklist
What to look for in the best Yelp auto responder
| What matters | What to check | How InstantResponse.AI fits |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | A first reply within seconds, at any hour | Under 5 seconds on every Yelp Request, 24/7 |
| Qualifying | Asks the questions you need before quoting | Asks your own questions: ZIP code, urgency, job details, photos, best phone number |
| Follow-ups | Follows up when the customer goes quiet, and stops on opt-out | AI follow-ups at intervals you set, from seconds to days, until the customer books or opts out |
| Human handoff | Hands complex jobs to a person with the full thread | Handoff rules by job type, keyword or customer request, with the full conversation |
| Alerts | Tells your team the moment a lead needs them | WhatsApp groups, SMS, and email to up to 10 addresses for new leads, goals achieved, handoffs and leads not replying |
| Reports | Shows which leads qualified, not just message counts | Lead reports by hour, weekday, status, service, source and ZIP, plus phone collection rate |
| Yelp Ads reporting | Ties Yelp ad spend to qualified leads | Yelp ad metrics refreshed daily, next to the leads each campaign produced |
Comparing this against an answering service or plain voicemail? Read AI Front Desk vs Answering Service vs Voicemail, or see how the same workflow runs on Google Local Services Ads and Thumbtack.
Troubleshooting
Common Yelp setup issues and what to check.
No incoming messages
Confirm messaging is enabled and that the correct account and location are connected. Yelp lists reasons customers may not be able to message a business.
Wrong service, area or price
Review the configured playbook: services, service area, hours and, the pricing behavior you chose (flat service-call fee, estimate by service type, or no prices). See the anatomy of a perfect auto-reply.
Complex or sensitive jobs
Set a handoff rule for that job type and confirm where the notification goes. See connecting Yelp leads to your CRM.
Who it is for
Built for home service pros who buy Yelp leads every month.
Plumbing and HVAC
Collect the problem, urgency and service area so your team can assess the enquiry.
Cleaning and home services
High volume Requests that need a price anchor before the customer moves on.
Locksmiths and garage doors
Collect the location and job details while your technicians are on another call.
Multi location operators
Route each Yelp Request to the right branch, manage campaigns from several Yelp accounts in one place, and see results per location.
FAQ
Yelp auto responder questions
- A Yelp auto responder sends an automated reply to a private Yelp message or Request a Quote lead in your connected Yelp Business account. InstantResponse.AI replies from the business information you configure, asks your qualification questions, and hands the conversation to your team when a person is needed.
- No. The auto responder works on private lead conversations, such as Request a Quote messages. Public review replies are a separate part of Yelp and are not what this page describes.
- The best Yelp auto responder replies within seconds at any hour, asks your qualifying questions, follows up when the customer goes quiet, hands complex jobs to a person, alerts your team, and reports results by Yelp campaign. InstantResponse.AI does all of that, replying to every Yelp Request in under 5 seconds, 24/7, from plans starting at $99/mo with a 14-day free trial.
- People use both terms for the same thing: an automatic reply to a new Yelp message or Request a Quote. The difference that matters is whether it sends one fixed message or holds a real conversation. InstantResponse.AI replies to what the customer wrote, asks your questions and follows up until the customer books or opts out.
- Yes. Connect your Yelp Business account, add your services, service area, hours, pricing mode and qualifying questions, and InstantResponse.AI responds to Yelp leads automatically in under 5 seconds, 24/7, then alerts your team by WhatsApp, SMS or email when a lead qualifies or needs a person.
- As fast as possible, with a reply that is actually helpful. Yelp's response quality badges spotlight pros who consistently give helpful, informative replies that acknowledge the project details and ask relevant follow-up questions. InstantResponse.AI replies to Yelp Requests in under 5 seconds, 24/7, with your own qualifying questions.
- In under 5 seconds, 24/7, including nights and weekends, so you can be one of the first businesses to reply.
- Yelp's response quality badges spotlight pros who consistently give helpful, informative replies. Yelp's AI checks whether a reply provides a quote or availability, acknowledges the project details, asks relevant follow-up questions and goes beyond a generic "call us" reply. A minimum number of responses is needed for a score, and owners can see it in Yelp for Business.
- Keep it short and build on what the customer already wrote. Acknowledge the job, ask one useful question first, such as the address or the problem, and share pricing only the way you configured it. Avoid promising a time your team has not confirmed; the AI collects preferred times for your team to confirm instead.
- Automate the first reply, qualification and follow-ups, and set handoff rules for the rest. Complaints, unusual jobs, large projects or a customer asking for a person can go straight to your team with the full conversation, so automation never argues with a customer.
- Speed only helps if every Request is covered. Choose the hours the AI replies, for example nights and weekends, and have your team alerted by email, SMS or WhatsApp when a lead qualifies or needs a person. Spam and solicitation are left unanswered and kept out of your inbox.
- Connect your Yelp Business account, add your services, service area, hours, optional pricing and qualification questions, test a few conversations, then turn on your chosen schedule. Setup takes about 10 minutes.
- Based on each company's public website, checked Oct 19, 2026: InstantResponse.AI replies to Yelp Requests in under 5 seconds and publishes pricing from $99/month with a 14-day free trial. LeadTruffle connects to Yelp via Zapier, with replies advertised as typically under 60 seconds (not guaranteed, per their FAQ), and LeadTruffle's pricing is not published (demo required).
- InstantResponse.AI is a product by Cohen Marketing, which holds Yelp Advertising Platinum Partner status.
- Yes. Request a Quote messages that arrive in the connected account are handled the same way, whether they came from your ads or from organic Yelp traffic.
- You choose the pricing behavior: quote a flat service-call fee, give an estimate based on the type of service, or give no prices at all. When pricing is off, it can collect the job details for your team.
- It follows up until the customer books or opts out. You customize the timing, the hours it covers and when follow-ups stop.
- You set the rules. Job size, complexity, specific keywords, or a customer asking for a person can all trigger a handoff, and your team receives the full conversation.
- Yes. You choose the schedule, for example AI replies at night and on weekends, and manual replies during office hours.
- It can collect a customer's preferred appointment times for your team to confirm. Full calendar booking is in Beta; confirm availability during your demo.
- Leads that look like spam are recognized, left unanswered, and marked so they do not reach your team's inbox.
- We connect, configure and activate it with you during the demo call, and most customers see their first AI-handled Request the same day. Replies go out through an authorized connection under your own Yelp Business account, with no scraping or workarounds. Use a Yelp Business account for the location that receives Requests, with messaging and Request a Quote enabled. Confirm the connected location, add your business information and qualification questions, and test conversations before enabling your chosen coverage.
- Starter is $99/mo for one location, Growth is $199/mo for up to three locations, and Scale starts at $499/mo. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial, unlimited leads, and no per-message fees.
Related
Keep exploring
How the two channels differ on lead intent, calls vs messages, costs and response.
How to route qualified Yelp leads into Zapier, webhooks, email, spreadsheets, and your existing workflow.
Account checks, business information, qualification and handoff planning.
How this compares with a traditional contractor answering service.
How automated lead response works across Yelp, Google LSA, and Thumbtack.
The same instant replies on Thumbtack requests.
Message replies, LSA call recordings and summaries, plus qualified-lead reporting by campaign.
A top channel for cleaning leads.
Where local discovery still starts.
Track Yelp results down to the lead.
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