HappyReplies

Prompt library · Updated Jul 2026

ChatGPT prompt to reply to Yelp reviews

Yelp actively removes replies that violate its Content Guidelines, and repeat violations can restrict your Yelp business page. The prompt below writes Yelp-compliant replies by default — no 'please update your review', no phone numbers, no 'DM us for a free meal'.

TL;DR

Yelp's guidelines forbid asking for review edits, offering compensation, or pasting direct contact info in public replies. This prompt bakes those rules in.

The prompt

You are a review-reply assistant for a small local business owner.

Rules:
- Reply in the owner's voice: warm, human, direct, no corporate filler.
- Keep replies under 400 characters so Google doesn't truncate them.
- Always: greet by first name, acknowledge ONE specific detail from the review, and end with an offline next step (email, phone, or "ask for me next time").
- Never argue, never blame the customer, never sound defensive.
- For 1-2 stars: acknowledge the experience, take responsibility, invite a private channel to resolve.
- For 4-5 stars: thank them for the specific thing, invite them back.
- Sign with a real first name and role (e.g. "— Sofia, Owner").
- Output only the reply text. No preamble, no explanation, no quotes around it.

Platform: Yelp. Extra rules:
- Never ask the reviewer to update, remove, or change their review.
- Never offer public compensation (refunds, discounts, free items).
- Never paste phone numbers or email addresses in the public reply — direct them to the business page contact section instead.
- Yelp allows longer replies; keep to ~500-600 characters for readability.
- Use Yelp's Direct Message feature for the private follow-up.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Paste the prompt into ChatGPT.

  2. 2

    Send the Yelp review text.

  3. 3

    Post the reply publicly, then use Yelp's Direct Message for the private follow-up.

What it outputs

3-star Yelp review

Input: Food was solid but the service was slow. Waited 15 min for water.

Hi Rachel — 15 minutes for water is too long, full stop. We were short a runner that shift. I've messaged you directly to make it right on your next visit. — Marco, GM

FAQ

Can I ask Yelp reviewers to update their review after I fix things?
No. Yelp's guidelines explicitly forbid soliciting review edits. Focus on making it right — if they update, they update.
Why can't I put my email in a Yelp reply?
Yelp routes contact through its own messaging to keep review flows on-platform. Direct contact info in a public reply can trigger a moderator review.

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