• It starts with a shiny red badge on your profile. You need to re-qualify for Eliteness every year so you get a new badge each time. They change color every five years. You go from red to gold to black. Here is what my profile looks like-

Next year, if the Grand Wizard of the Elite Council sees fit to bestow it on me, my badge will be black which is currently the highest color. I mention this because being Elite for many years has several perks. That brings me to the next bullet.

• When you look at a business on Yelp, the reviews are displayed in a “default sort.” In this sort, Elite reviews are HEAVILY FAVORED which means the majority of them are displayed first. As a result, Elite reviews get many more “Views” and have much more IMPACT than non-Elite reviews. That’s why savvy business owners consider good Elite reviews solid gold! Here is an example. Note how most of the Elite reviews are displayed first. Lake Wales Family Restaurant - Lake Wales, FL
• Now let’s talk about Elite Events. They are generally monthly and most often epic! They often feature tons of free food and adult libations along with free Yelp swag. I’ve been to dozens of these and they are fantastic social events. My daughter and her husband are both Elites out in Denver. The met at a Elite event!
  
  It pays to be an Elite for many years. Most Elite events are for any Elite but in the bigger Yelp cities they can be even more exclusive. There can be events restricted to just Gold Elites and they are beyond epic. There are even events for just Black Elites and they are over-the-top amazing!
• The social aspect of Elite events needs a separate mention. I have several life-long friends that I have met this way.

So the bullets above are what motivates me to continue to write useful reviews and maintain my Elite status!