Tasting Arcadia

Episode 36 of Season 3 - Yelp

• Karen Mac Nair • Season 3 • Episode 36

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You can taste something amazing once, but the real magic is knowing how to find it again. On Tasting Arcadia, Karen Mac Nair sits down with TD Tran, Yelp Community Director for the San Gabriel Valley, to break down how Yelp helps diners discover great local restaurants and how small business owners can build a stronger presence through accurate info, better photos, and consistent responses to reviews. If Yelp has ever felt overwhelming, this conversation makes it practical, friendly, and useful.

For more information and tickets to the Taste of Arcadia visit TasteOfArcadia.com. 

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Taste Of Arcadia Event Preview

John Villa Announcer

Welcome to Tasting Arcadia, the official podcast of Taste of Arcadia. Taste of Arcadia is an inclusive event featuring food and drinks from the San Garo Valley restaurants, all for one price. Come and sample food, wine, beer, and spirits, check out our brand new cars, visit our business showcase booth, smile in our photo booth, and take it on the dance floor with me, Johnny Via from Dance Syndicate DJ Entertainment. Taste of Arcadia is September 19th at Stantonita Park. The fun goes from 2 to 6 p.m. with a special VIP entrance at 1 p.m. Don't forget, this is a 21 and over event. Get your tickets today at TasteOfArcadia.com. Now let's hear for our host, Karen McNair.

Introducing Yelp SGV And Mission

Karen Mac Nair

Thanks so much, John. It's so good to hear from you again. We are on another podcast for Tasting Arcadia. This podcast is gonna be a little bit different today. I'm excited. Those of you um that have been to Taste of Arcadia before, you know not only do we have wonderful food and drinks that are all included in your ticket price, but we also have great activities and things to do throughout the event. We have a wonderful business showcase where you get to see the businesses that um are in our local San Gabriel Valley area, a big um reach of different kinds of businesses, and we have one sponsor that's here today. It is TD Tran from Yelp. Welcome. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here. TD, what is your official title?

TD Tran

Yeah, so I am the Yelp community director for San Gabriel Valley. Oh wow, that sounds big.

Karen Mac Nair

Yeah, and thank you. You brought tea, so we are officially tasting. We're gonna cheers Scott Tea from um Macha Macha, which is here in downtown Arcadia, right off of Huntington near Claros. We're gonna cheers and start with a little tasting. And they just opened up pretty recently, too. They've joined the chamber, so we're excited. For everyone out there as a reminder, um, we are the Chamber of Commerce who supports and and builds and plans all of the Taste of Arcadia event. So we're glad to still include a tasting but talk about business. It's something that we always do.

How To Use Yelp Smarter

Karen Mac Nair

Okay, now Yelp. Yes. Sounds big, sounds a little overwhelming sometimes. So why don't you tell me what is Yelp? Let's start there. What is Yelp?

TD Tran

Yes, so Yelp is an online website and app that is really there to help connect people with great local businesses. Um, it's an open format, so any user can kind of write reviews, add photos, add those videos in. Um, but it's really meant to be a space where you can find everything from restaurants, bars, even your spa, plumber, wellness, fitness. So we really want it to be like a one-stop shop for any user.

Karen Mac Nair

You know, I think that's one of the things I enjoy. The more I learn about Yelp, and we'll go over a lot quite a few things today, is us as a chamber, our goal is connecting the businesses together. I always say like we like to bridge the gap. You never know which person or which small business or what big business need each other. And just the more I get to know about Yelp, I just see you guys have a similar mission. It's about connecting the community together. Exactly. That's why it's a perfect partnership. It really is. How long has Yelp been around?

TD Tran

Yeah, so Yelp was founded in 2004, so it's been about 22 years, and it's obviously grown exponentially. I think 2025 we had 330 million reviews.

Karen Mac Nair

Oh my goodness, it feels like, and this isn't gonna age me, so everybody out there, it feels like Yelp just got started, like it's a whole new platform, and now to know it's been over 20 years and to see how much um you have evolved as a company, that is amazing. So it's a website and app that you could use both. Okay. Exactly. Um, so I I've downloaded the app, I have it on my phone. What do I do now?

TD Tran

Yeah, there are, I mean, at the core, you can just start searching for whatever you want. Okay, such as any categories like barbecue, tacos, that sort of thing. And what's great is that you can even add filters. So I only want it to be in a walking distance from me or 10 mile radius, that sort of thing. Okay. Um, but we also have other great features now that help you find things because I there's so many businesses out there, right? So um we have a Yelp AI assistant where you can write um exactly what you need, and then they'll chat you some options for you. Um, we also have other things where if you can't even decide, there's a surprise me function where you'll spin the wheel and then they'll help you choose something to eat in your area. Oh my goodness.

Karen Mac Nair

Um, all those foodies out there listening, this is definitely the type of app you want on your phone because if it's a different area, you don't know where to go. Exactly. People have already tasted and able to give you great advice.

TD Tran

Exactly. And we even have Yelp collections and Yelp lists where you can start saving things for you to try later on, know where you've already been. Um so yeah, it's really great to just kind of keep everything in one spot.

Karen Mac Nair

So can I put a can I put a review in as a just a regular person?

TD Tran

Yes. Okay. Definitely take some pictures. Yes. We highly encourage any user as you know, it's helping other people find the spots that you love as well. So you can write a review and add photos. That's so good. Um, we also have a new function called a menu vision. So if you put a caption on your photo and then you take a picture or like cover over a menu, then it'll pop up photos of those items. Oh my goodness. You can kind of see them before you have to order.

Karen Mac Nair

See, that's how I like to use AI.

TD Tran

Yes.

Karen Mac Nair

Then I feel confident. Yes. So let's turn the page and talk about I'm a business owner.

Yelp Page Basics For Owners

Karen Mac Nair

Okay. We're let's gonna start with restaurants. We'll start there and then elaborate to other opportunities with different businesses. But I'm a restaurant owner. I want to kind of have positive things on Yelp, really build up my presence there. What is a great way to be able to do that with you?

TD Tran

Yeah, I help business owners all the time be able to use our free tools and resources to make their page the most appealing it can be. And there's a lot of free options you can do there. And it starts off with making sure you have the right hours, making sure you have the right phone number. Um, it's always great to add a little blurb about your business, when you started, about the owner. Um, because people do really read those things. Um and then as you start getting reviews, um, my number one tip for business owners is respond to everything. There's even just a thank you function that you can do, or if it's a constructive review, then you can respond to them. Right. Um, and I think people always just want to be seen, right? And so they've been seen and heard.

Karen Mac Nair

I think that is so important. And in in our community right now, the quicker we do it, I feel like it it just helps bring business back and make it quicker. We were also talking about almost level two in Yelp is elite Yelpers, is that right?

TD Tran

Yes. So tell me a little bit about that. Yeah, we do have a really great community called the Yelp Elite Squad. Okay. They are nominated to be part of this squad, but anybody can join that's 21 and has a real name and profile photo. Um, and then the only people that can't join are business owners, just for conflict of interest. Yeah. Um, but these Yelp Elites, they are already supporting local businesses, kind of exploring on their own, which is why they were nominated in the first place. Um, I think the stats like 46% of Yelp Elites visit five or more independent independently local businesses a week. Wow.

Karen Mac Nair

So I feel like they include the doors. Yeah, I feel like I love that because it really gets people into the small businesses and businesses like like we're talking about much macha that just open, like those gets the reviews and different things the same way.

TD Tran

And it helps it helps really spread the word, you know, in a very easy, tangible way where people are on their phones all the time already.

Karen Mac Nair

Yeah.

TD Tran

Is there any special events or anything of that sort? Okay. So part of my job, like the bread and butter of my job, is hosting uh Yelp Elite events or Yelp community events for the community and SGV. So I partner with great local businesses around the area to invite those Yelpers in, and majority of the time they're new Yelpers that have never been there, they're ones that live in the area. Um, and we give them that chance to meet the owner, meet the managers, um, to kind of give a personal connection to the business as they're tasting and trying them out. And so it kind of continues to cultivate this really great community.

Karen Mac Nair

No, that's smart.

TD Tran

Yeah.

Karen Mac Nair

So I heard you had an event yesterday. You want to tell us about that?

Yelp Elite Events In SGV

Karen Mac Nair

Yeah, we're another one of our chamber members that will also be at taste.

TD Tran

Where were you? We uh last night we were at Tui's. Okay. Um, and we had 60 Yelp elites uh dine there for um a tasting menu. Their mushroom truffle pasta is incredible. That was I think the star of the night, along with their signature Sunday. Um, so yeah, even though Tui's has been around for like I think over 50 years now, well over 50 years, having that continuous exposure and bringing new people into the fold is something that you know they found important, and our Yelpers had five stars across the board for the event.

Karen Mac Nair

Oh, I do love that. I think you've hit the nail on the head with businesses. We get asked this all the time like how are things going right now? And the world fluctuates and changes, but being comfortable reinventing yourself and letting people in and having conversations, communication is so big. Um, it's nice to see two ees just open their environment, willing to um just share. Share their food. Now, that's a good question. If I want to have an event, who do I reach out to?

TD Tran

Yeah, so you will reach out to me. Okay. Um, so I host all the events in San Gabriel Valley, um, where you can reach out either on our Instagram at Yelp LA or via email with SGV at yelp.com.

Karen Mac Nair

Okay, and then you're able to see um kind of their feedback pretty instantaneously, right?

TD Tran

Yes, yeah. Because our Yelp elites are already organically writing and adding photos for all of our elite events, they're pretty immediate where they'll share their feedback and add all those things that uh the business owner can use for any of their other promotional marketing.

Karen Mac Nair

I love that because definitely encouragement about what is out there and what is going on. Exactly. Um now you mentioned about social media, Instagram. Now I would on my personal Instagram page, I used to follow the Yelp SGB page. You want to update me a little couple changes and things happening there?

Chamber Learning Lab And Social

TD Tran

Yes. So a few years ago we did uh combine the Yelp LA, there's actually five community managers in the LA area. Okay. And so we combined to all uh manage the Yelp LA Instagram handle and Sunseted Yelp SGV. Um because of you know, it's gonna be a greater reach. A lot of people travel to SGV to dine and explore. So we wanted to make sure that we were giving local businesses the greatest reach that they could on our social handles, which is so smart.

Karen Mac Nair

I mean, as LA person, you just get on the freeway and you go where the food's the best. It doesn't necessarily stop just at the end of the city lines. So it is nice to be able to expand that. And when you're running a business, you want people from different communities driving in and coming to see you. Um I'm happy about that. I feel like the reach is gonna be great. Um we've been talking a lot about the different things. It may feel overwhelming sometimes for people. Do you ever get that where people feel a little overwhelmed?

TD Tran

I think I mean there's so many businesses around, there's always new features coming in, a lot of reviews. So yeah, it can definitely feel that overwhelm.

Karen Mac Nair

So I did want to do a little announcement. Our partnerships together with Yelp, even after Taste, um, we're gonna make sure that Chamber hosts a learning lab. Yes. And so everyone listening, make sure you check um Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, look at our website. We'll be announcing a lunchtime learning lab to help people businesses be able to train on how to manage their Yelp page, what to do best, how to have Yelpers respond, how to respond to them, how to do things in a timely manner, help build that community. But sometimes we all need a little education. Yes.

TD Tran

And having me there to just answer direct questions and stuff will definitely be helpful. So I'm excited for that.

Karen Mac Nair

Oh, good. And we are too. We're really excited to have

Taste Booth Giveaway And Wrap

Karen Mac Nair

you. Speaking of excited to have you, you're gonna be at Taste of Arcadia with us. Yay! Round of applause. We will. Oh, if you're driving, don't clap. But if you're just listening, you could clap. Um, now tell us at Taste of Arcadia, you're gonna have us have a special booth. As soon as you walk in the gates, you're gonna be able to see them. What are you gonna have at Taste?

TD Tran

Yeah, so to kind of help capture the memories of this great fest, uh, we are gonna have a photo booth there for all the attendees to kind of take photos, take something home with them. And we'll also have a postcard and some other maybe fun promo items for you to take home. The postcard will have a QR code that will actually have a full collection of all the businesses that are at taste, so you have it very easily accessible to find the business that you loved again, visit them at their brick and mortar, and be able to just kind of continue following all the places that you got to try.

Karen Mac Nair

I I thank you for that, is the first comment. Second, as um the chamber, I love it. And as a regular consumer, I love it because a lot of times you're at the tasting event, there's so many things you like, but you feel like, oh my gosh, it went so quick. How do I get back to the restaurants, the TUIs, the you know, different places, and how can I find their contact info? So we're gonna have it all in one spot for you. Yes, exactly. It's makes it so fun. I know. This is your second year at Taste with us. Last year you were with us. Um can we talk about any of the other contests or things, or is that different? I just thought of that right now.

TD Tran

So we will have a uh Instagram giveaway that will be going on uh I think a few weeks before Taste. Um so look out for that post on at Yelp LA. Um but to enter that giveaway, you just have to follow us at Yelp LA and the Arcadia Chamber Instagram. Um, and then I believe two winners will be chosen. I love that. Yeah, it's like drum roll, please.

Karen Mac Nair

Everyone definitely sign up. Make sure you follow each other on social media. Um, it just there's a little tidbit, it's so important. Yeah. Just to like, comment, share some things. Exactly.

TD Tran

It's one of the easiest ways to really show your support.

Karen Mac Nair

Right. And I guess that leads to my question: what's the best way to support Yelp, Yelpers, businesses in your line of work? What's what can we do to really help?

TD Tran

Yeah, I think the number one thing is just sharing your experiences and feedback on Yelp, writing reviews, adding photos, anyone can do that, not just elites. Every every user is welcome. Um, and yeah, I think that's kind of the first front line. Oh, yeah.

Karen Mac Nair

So good. Yeah. It is there anything we've missed? Anything that you want to make sure that we talk about or cover?

TD Tran

Yeah, I think just honing in that Yelp is really a place to discover and a place to find your favorites. Um, with the Yelp Elite Squad, we bring in that area of being able to connect in person with these people that you meet online or reviewers that you love, businesses that you love. Um, so we just want to make sure that Yelp is the most useful place with real reviews from real people. Yes. Um, and being able to use our new and enhanced um features and stuff to help you find, you know, the best place for you.

Karen Mac Nair

And I have to say that's so refreshing to hear that uh app website based is still finding it so important to have the human connection. Yes. Because uh sometimes I feel like um in uh the world just wants to be in one genre, in person and the other isn't good or online and the other isn't good. It's nice to see the community coming together and understanding that both are important. Yes, because I feel like as a chamber we feel that too, that it's important to be engaging online and following social medias and writing reviews, but it's also important to build relationships. Yes, and um in small businesses it's so important to know your customers. So it's nice to see that Yelp feels that way too. Yes, definitely. It's about building our community. Yes. Well, TD, thank you so much. I'm so happy that you're here with us. I'm super excited about taste. Yes. I want everyone to go home with their beautiful pictures of their happy moments at Taste of Arcadia. So if you want to go, make sure you go to tastefarcadia.com, get your tickets today, drop by the Yelp booth, say hello, um, and then learn a little bit more. Follow your local businesses, start Yelping. Is that is Yelping a word? Okay, yay! See you on Yelp. We will see you on Yelp. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Karen, for having me. John, go ahead, close us out and take it away.

John Villa Announcer

Thank you, Kara, for another great episode. You can hear us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. Don't forget, join us on September 19th at 78 apart for Taste of Arcadia. You can get your tickets now at Tastofarcadia.com. Thanks again for joining us for Tasty Arcadia. We'll see you at the Taste .