Yelp now lets users post reviews straight from the app

Users can also include any pictures they have taken in their reviews

My girlfriend has recently been on my case a bit about how often I use my phone, especially when we go out to eat. And, yes, it is true that I occasionally do check my mail during the meal, but it's not like I sit there playing Words With Friends or anything like that! So... you're on my side with this one, right? Right??? Yeah, I didn't think so.

So it's probably a good thing I don't have the Yelp app on my phone, now that the company has decided to bring debut a new feature that will definitely have people everywhere whipping out their phones in the middle of all kinds of establishments: the ability to post reviews right from the mobile device.

"Mobile phone usage has come a long way since the days of the hunt-and-peck, shorthand 'C U L8R' texts. Nowadays, people are more mobile savvy and are becoming used to contributing long-form content directly from their device," Yelp wrote in the blog post announcing the feature.

"These days, many people are interacting with Yelp solely through their mobile device. Which is why we’re introducing the ability to write and publish reviews on mobile!" 

Like I said before, I don't have the Yelp app on my phone, so I was honestly a little shocked that it took the company so long to introduce this feature. I imagine that it would have been one that many, many users would have been requesting. But, before today, all users were able to were to do from the mobile device were to leave "tips," or small short-hand notes that they could then go expand upon later.

Users can still leave tips, and Yelp also says that it  "may post any reviews that are too short as a Tip as we experiment with rolling out this feature."

But, as the company noted, "mobile reviews are a better option for people looking to go into detail about the factors that contribute to a business’ star rating." 

Yelp also noted that users can add any photos they have taken, and include them in their reviews. Yelp introduced this feature for its Web version back in June.

Allowing users to review directly from the mobile app will only bolster Yelp's already robust mobile strategy.

In its most recent earnings report, Yelp revealed that around 40% of local ads were shown on mobile devices, and approximately 59% of searches were on mobile, including mobile web and app.  Yelp's mobile applications were used on approximately 10.4 million unique mobile devices on a monthly average basis during the second quarter 2013.

In Q2, Yelp launched a number of mobile upgrades, including the Nearby feature, which suggests local businesses and activities based on location, behavior, friends’ activities, and other data.

Yelp's stock rose 0.99% in Tuesday trading, ending the day up 50 cents to $51.25 a share.

(Image source: https://officialblog.yelp.com)