Update 02/01/2013: Google has since updated their review content guidelines to prohibit review stations and giving customers free gifts or discounts for leaving reviews. This article was written prior to the change and may provide information that is no longer relevant or considered a best practice.
Small businesses are in a unique position to truly benefit from customer reviews. Chains are pretty well locked into their branding and there tends to be very little differentiation city-to-city and state-to-state. They will build reputations for being consistent and predictable, but rarely break through to extraordinary. However, small businesses are unencumbered by these expectations; small businesses have the opportunity to make a name for themselves as some...
By Jorge Cordova · March 02 2010
reviews, yelp, google, ezlocal
Recently, Google added snippets from reviews into the Local Business Center in a way that only Google can do. On the profile, Google chooses amazingly helpful portions of reviews and posts them. Parallel to the moderately recent addition of rich snippets into search results with reviews and other information via microformats, Google has taken the rich review snippets to a new level. Reviews about certain aspects of a business are now grouped together and an overall rating per category is calculated. In the sushi example below, Google broke down reviews by the food and the service. As a user, this information is fantastically useful as most people care more about certain things than others, take a look.
By Derek McKenzie · January 15 2010
google, google maps, rich snippets, reviews
A majority of Americans have the same few resolutions when the new year rolls around: lose weight, eat healthy, spend more time with family and friends. If you are a small business owner, you NEED to have resolutions for your business as well. With high hopes for the economy in 2010, contribute to your small business' hard work for success this year by abiding these three resolutions.1. Push for ProgressA new year brings new beginnings, new policies, new goals and new habits. In 2010, push yourself and your employees for success and progress. For small business owners, this means clearly planning assignments, projects, and objectives. Communicate to your employees what you expect from them before pursuing any project. Also, small business owners should take control of progress by conducting multiple mini reviews throughout the course of the year. Reviews help small business owners communicate to their employees what they are doing right, what they sho...
By Cheryl Sowa · January 13 2010
small business, progress, prioritize, 2010
