Yelp to Add User-Generated Videos to Its App

Yelpers will soon be able to supplement their reviews with short video clips when using Yelp's mobile app.

Videos will be between three and 12 seconds long and are meant to complement reviews, not be act as their own standalone assessments.

[seealso slug= "yelp-heat-map/"]

The company says it imagines the feature being particularly useful in situations when words and pictures aren't descriptive enough, such as when trying to convey the noise level or ambiance of an establishment.

Yelpers will be able to record short, 3-12 second videos and upload them to the app. Credit: Yelp

A spokesperson for Yelp told Mashable that the site's "elite" users -- power users whom the company has identified as especially helpful or influential in their communities -- will be the first to be able to use the new video feature, though all of the app's users will be able to view the videos right away.

Initially, users will be only able to record short video clips from within the Yelp app itself, but eventually the company plans to allow anyone to upload videos from their device's camera roll, similar to the way photo uploads within the app work now.

Videos will appear in the Yelp app along with user-uploaded photos. Credit: Yelp

Videos will appear in a gallery, along with user-generated photos, for each establishment. As with Yelp's existing photos and reviews, the app will surface the videos that users deem the best and most helpful first.

The company will begin rolling out video to its iOS and Android app early next month.