What Are the Top Review Sites Local Businesses Should Be Targeting?
Checking reviews has become integral to the online shopping experience. For a local business, reviews can make the difference between consumers choosing you or your competitors. Simply hoping customers leave positive reviews is not a good strategy, though, with a focused approach required. Asking customers to leave a review is the simplest method, but you need to know the best sites to target. The following sites all offer the ability to leave reviews, with audiences large enough that they can make a difference to your fortunes.
A collection of positive reviews can make a business stand out in the local search results. Before making a purchase, consumers are likely to perform a search, so there is a high chance your reviews will be seen. Also, most people already have Google accounts, making the process quick and easy. People who have been to a business address can be tracked on a mobile device, with a review request being sent directly to their account.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is one of the most popular reviews sites online. While it is commonly used for restaurant and hotel reviews, it also covers a wide range of attractions for visitors. Shops, bars, landmarks, and various other attractions can be reviewed, with a focus on tourists visiting a location. The reputation of the site means a number of positive reviews will be taken seriously.
Facebook makes it easy to leave reviews, with the ability to create quick testimonials that actually get read. Many local businesses promote their Facebook page heavily, so reviews help to add additional substance to the standard business information. While some review sites might not be familiar to customers, most people will have a Facebook page and be willing to contribute to your profile.
Yelp
Yelp is a directory that covers a broad range of businesses. Users can leave reviews for restaurants, stores, plumbers, dentists, bars, and many other companies. A business page will typically include open times, location, contact details, and rough prices along with user reviews and star ratings. To encourage positive reviews and counteract any negativity, it is a good idea to be an active participant on your own Yelp page.
Foursquare
Foursquare offers many of the same facilities of Yelp, providing detailed information across a broad range of businesses. Foursquare will track your location and provide information on local businesses within the vicinity. There is an active Foursquare community that is happy to give their opinions and recommendations, so it is again worth engaging with your page by answering questions and responding to feedback.
The bulk of reviews your customers see will be published on one or more of these sites. There are countless alternatives, but most will not get any significant traffic. If you can earn a number of positive reviews on these sites, you can ensure your site improves visibility and gains trust from consumers. Customers are also more likely to have existing accounts on these popular platforms. Reviews can make or break your local business, so it is essential you follow a consistent approach to earning the highest marks from the most popular sites.
