Review sites have exploded in popularity over the past few years, as consumers seek to share their experiences - good and bad - with others and to research everything from landscapers to restaurants. Establishing and maintaining a presence on review sites can help raise your businesses digital standing and could increase your search engine rank. Good reviews are worth soliciting from satisfied customers. Bad reviews, on the other hand, can harm your business, especially if you have relatively few overall reviews to help raise your average rating.
You probably know that people are more likely to share their experience if they have something negative to say. This is why it is so important to actively ask customers for reviews. You'll need to monitor review sites to know what kind of feedback, if any, that you're receiving, and respond to any reviews you may receive in a timely manner. You especially want to respond to negative reviews. Reviews will give you an unfiltered view of what your customers like and dislike about your business so you can adjust accordingly.
Your company should be watching the following five review sites:
1. Yelp 
Perhaps the most well known of review sites, Yelp, has 83 million average monthly mobile unique visitors a month. It also has accumulated 83 million reviews since its inception in 2005. Chances are, your business is listed on Yelp even if your business has not yet been reviewed.
Reviewers can rank businesses on a five-star scale and comment accordingly.
Visitors to the site can search by location for a variety of categories, including shopping, restaurants and home services. They have the ability to sort with the highest-ranked businesses showing up first; having multiple positive reviews can help increase your business' exposure and reputation.
The vast majority of Internet searches are done using Google. Google has its own algorithm for which businesses you see above the fold. You may notice that businesses have a five star ranking system; Google My Business calculates the rating. Google My Business puts your business info on Search, Maps and Google+ so that customers can find you, no matter what device they are using.
According to a press release from Google “the percentage of local searches is “20%” of all internet searches. And, to put it all in perspective there are 2.8 billion (yes, that’s billion) local queries on Google each month.
If a potential customer searches for your business using Google, a link to your company, as well as pertinent information such as your address and contact information, appears. If you have any Google+Local ratings, your average will appear, as well as a link to the specific reviews.
3. Angie's List
Angie's List is a bit different from many other review sites, because its reviewers pay a subscription fee to the site. More than three million households nationwide check Angie's List reviews to find the best local service providers, like roofers, plumbers, handymen, mechanics, doctors and dentists. They collect ratings and reviews on more than 720 different services. The reviews include details about how the project went (including cost), and grade the company's response time, price, professionalism and quality of work -- good or bad -- on an A to F scale. Also a feature that sets Angie's List apart is, reviews aren't anonymous, and the site verifies each review.
4. City Search 
City Search users rate everything from restaurants to stores with a thumbs up/down approach along with a scorecard for each business. This score is intended to show you how they rate each business. It takes into consideration the percentage of Citysearch users and/or expert scouts who've recommended the business. Recently recommended businesses in the user's search area are featured on City Search's home page. Citysearch users in your area prefer browsing Best of Citysearch.
5. Yahoo Local
About 10 percent of online searches are done through Yahoo rather than Google or another search engine. This isn't a huge percentage, but Yahoo reviews have a substantial audience in terms of sheer numbers. They're listed just below your business' name on the search page, and you're given a star and decimal rating.
ADTACK Integrated Marketing can help create a comprehensive marketing plan for your business that utilizes social media and review sites to help your company. Call us today at 702-270-8772 to find out more about what we can do for your business.
