Duplicate Yelp listings can affect SEO just like any duplicate directory listing or review platform profile can affect SEO by diluting the effectiveness one single listing can have.
First, having multiple Yelp listings – especially if multiple listings have reviews – means that both users and search engines only see part of your reviews at a time instead of having a holistic overview of what users say about your business.
Having multiple Yelp listings is OK if you have multiple physical locations that you want reviewed independently, in which case you want to have one listing per location the same way in which you would create a Google Business Profile for every distinct location you operate.
Contact Fire&Spark to discuss the best way to create, remove, or merge your online directory listings & profiles.