Yelp Elite Squad

What is the Yelp Elite Squad?

We created the Yelp Elite Squad as a way of recognising the most passionate Yelpers that makes our community so funny, useful and cool! Yelp Elites get a nifty annual badge on their Yelp profiles, and have the opportunity to get invited to exclusive local events and parties hosted by Yelp, where you can meet fellow Yelpers.

How Do I Become a Member of the Yelp Elite Squad?

Are you the kind of person who always knows about the newest pubs and restaurants? Do your friends always turn to you for advice on where to shop or where to find that perfect gift for someone? Do you love to spread the word about the things you love or hate in your city? Well, if you answered YES to any of these questions, then you may just have what it takes to be a part of the Yelp Elite Squad!

For those of you taking notes, here are some of the qualities that make a stellar Elite member:

• Applicants always have lots of reviews of great local businesses and services, but more importantly the Yelp members who get in are known for having reviews that are insightful, engaging and personal (aka useful, funny and cool!).
• Profiles that really sing! Not literally of course, but we are looking for Yelpers that have personality. Yelp's not just a city guide, it's a community and the more people can relate to you, the more your reviews and opinions start to matter.
• Pictures people, pictures! In order to apply for Elite status you have to put a real photo of yourself on your profile! The beauty of Yelp is that it's made up of Real People writing Real Reviews, and by having an actual photo up, your words carry more weight!
• Yelp Eliters are expected to use their real name! We know nicknames and secret identities are fun and all, but if you want to make it into the Elite, we need to know that you are legit, and will stand by your opinionated opinions.
• Personal pizazz! Even after all this, we look for a certain je ne sais quoi—we call it Yelpitude. To paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart when defining pornography in a case about obscenity, "Yelp Elite is hard to define, but we 'know it when we see it.'"

So what do you think? Do you have what it takes to rock the cradle of Yelp Eliteness? Then what are you waiting for? Sidle up to the velvet rope and be sure to wink at the doorman!

We currently have squads active in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, East Bay Area, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orange County, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Toronto, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Vancouver and Washington DC.

If you think you or someone you know fits the bill, then go ahead and send an email with subject line "Yelp Elite Squad" to your city's email address at the bottom of this page, along with a link to your Personalised Yelp URL. Reside in a city that's still getting off the ground? You too can be Elite! Just email yes[at]yelp[dot]com for consideration. In your message, please include a quick sentence or three about why you think you have what it takes to be Elite! Two bonus points for following directions.

Please note, you must be of legal drinking age to be part of the Elite squad.

Due to inherent conflict of interest, Elites may not be business owners or affiliated with a local business (spouse, general manager, partner, etc.). Fear not, business owners can still get in on the conversation and voice their opinions by claiming their business page and creating a free business owner's account - for details check out: http://www.yelp.ie/business

Past Yelp Event Snapshots