The Truth about Reviews
Photo Courtesy of: Search Engine Land
People, nowadays, use smartphone to browse the Internet. They use the gadget to pay their bills, book an airline flight, rent a condo and purchase the latest product for their LEGO collection. For this reason, it’s a smart idea to put your business right in front of them rather than they look for you.
Question is how. Answer: Build your review channels.
The Benefits of Reviews
1. Search engines immediately recognize your local business once it’s registered and listed in quality review sites.
2. Your review channels will appear in the first page once your targeted customers search for your contact information.
3. These review sites serve as your extended area for social networking. It also provides a free blog and unlimited storage for your photos. Most importantly, your customers can rate and write a review about your products and services.
4. These review sites improve your online reputation. People will trust your company once it receives five-star ratings with positive reviews.
5. Negative reviews give your channel a shade of balance. Keep in mind, your customers still need to see and read them.
6. It’s easy to embed the review widget on your homepage and blog. This way, people can immediately read your reviews once they click on these widgets.
Do’s & Dont’s for Reviews
1. Before registration, be aware of the site’s guidelines. Read it, understand it and keep it in mind.
2. Make sure you only registered one account in each review site. Multiple accounts mean the site will ban you in their listing. Search engines will remove you in their index too.
3. All review channels need to have similar business name, address, phone number and website.
4. Verify your business information either by phone, email or by wait for the arrival of a postcard.
5. It’s helpful to see other review channels and get some great ideas. This will help you improve your channel.
How to Choose a Review Site
It isn’t recommended to register to all review sites and aim a higher rank in search engine. It isn’t a guarantee that if you’re going to put your business in these sites, people will come and call you.The business game doesn’t work that way. It’s still about why and how you’re going to invite people to your channel.
Remember: Reviews play a role in local SEO. It talks something about you.
Yes. It’s allowed to register to any review site as long as it provides an easy navigation for people. The site also needs to ignore illegal practices. Most importantly, the site is trusted and popular.
Simply choose the best five for your business such as Yelp, Google+ Local, Facebook page, Yahoo! Local and Amazon.
Leads Ahoy 
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