Yext literally helps drive customers to stores with ‘Ride with Uber’ integration

Yext, which offers a portfolio of location data and presence management services, has added a novel option for customers: a “Ride With Uber” button. It literally helps drive foot traffic to business locations.

Retailers and marketers can integrate the button into any of their digital assets, such as their websites or email. There’s also the option to include customized content or messages to customers during the ride (e.g., offers, menus, product information/sales). Yext has integrated the Uber API into its “Location Cloud.”

Another useful feature allows the business to provide a specific drop-off location so the customer arrives at the desired entrance, not nearby. There are also B2B uses: one of the examples in the press materials is a health-care firm using it for  job interviewees.

Yext sees this as a marketing vehicle for its customers. It’s also a marketing vehicle for Yext, which competes with a range of other firms in the presence and location data management arena.

If the customer doesn’t have the Uber app, he or she will be redirected to an Uber splash page or to the iOS App Store or Google Play to download the app. Yext is not charging its customers for the capability.

Postscript: Previously, SIM Partners also announced integration of this capability:

Through the integration, SIM Partners’ Velocity clients will be able to add “Ride there with Uber” buttons to their mobile-optimized location pages. The integration creates a seamless online-to-offline experience for consumers, as well as an opportunity for businesses to close the last mile by delivering customers to their door.

About The Author

Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog, Screenwerk, about connecting the dots between digital media and real-world consumer behavior. He is also VP of Strategy and Insights for the Local Search Association. Follow him on Twitter or find him at Google+.