Money When deciding where to go to spend your $$, what business review sites do you use?

chris · 03-18-2010, 07:48 PM

Doing informal market research for an idea which is buzzing in my head......

With the growth of consumer review sites of local and national businesses, which ones do you use?

Different ones for shopping? Restaurants?

Yelp.com? Yahoo? etc?

Much importance do you place on the reviews? Lots of good reviews? Lots of bad reviews?

Thanks

**cdcox** · 03-18-2010, 08:25 PM

The most important thing is a statistically significant number of reviews from people who are passionate about the item being reviewed. I want a rating system for quick browsing and detailed comments to see specifically what makes something so special.

I use:

Amazon for general consumer goods.

Zagat for restaurants. (Preferred, but don't anymore since it's not free and I wasn't going out enough to justify the subscription.)

Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB for movies.

damaticous · 03-18-2010, 08:27 PM

I had this same idea about 7-8 years ago. I had started a site and was going to get the domain name YouReview.com. I wanted it to be a free for all review site for anything. But I got lazy...

stlchiefs · 03-18-2010, 08:28 PM

Austin is this you?

chris · 03-18-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

The most important thing is a statistically significant number of reviews from people who are passionate about the item being reviewed. I want a rating system for quick browsing and detailed comments to see specifically what makes something so special.

I use:

Amazon for general consumer goods.

Zagat for restaurants. (Preferred, but don't anymore since it's not free and I wasn't going out enough to justify the subscription.)

Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB for movies.

Cool. Thanks!

Hammock Parties · 03-18-2010, 08:39 PM

Houston has a great restaurant site called b4-u-eat.com.

http://b4-u-eat.com/

If I'm ordering something online a lot of times I'll go over to the Something Awful forums and ask for recommendations. That's how I picked my last video card. Before that I was using Sharky Forums but it died. SA has a shit ton of members, though.

**Rain Man** · 03-18-2010, 08:43 PM

merchantcircle is run by crooks and liars. whatever merchantcircle does, do the opposite if you want to have a business you can be proud of.
Posted via Mobile Device

teedubya · 03-18-2010, 11:05 PM

I'm in the process of writing a book on how consumer reviews effect business. It's a very intriguing topic, and many small businesses are due for a shit tsunami if they don't pay attention.

Google Maps is the aggregate site of most all review sites... and it's the most important for a small business to claim. Period.

You need to make sure all of your business data is consistent on ALL local directory sites, which there are about 15 main ones... and if you are in a specialty niche, you need to focus on vertical directories.

**cdcox** · 03-18-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

I'm in the process of writing a book on how consumer reviews effect business. It's a very intriguing topic, and many small businesses are due for a shit tsunami if they don't pay attention.

Google Maps is the aggregate site of most all review sites... and it's the most important for a small business to claim. Period.

You need to make sure all of your business data is consistent on ALL local directory sites, which there are about 15 main ones... and if you are in a specialty niche, you need to focus on vertical directories.

I find google maps to be somewhat unreliable. I went looking for a BBQ joint on a recent road trip. Out of three places I tried to find, one was an operating business but closed on Saturday, one was no where to be seen, and the third I found the building but it had obviously been closed for a number of years. I drove up the road a piece and tried again and found a great place.

teedubya · 03-18-2010, 11:16 PM

Well, they are working on it. But the thing about Google Maps, is how they have populated the search engine result pages with a "7-Pack"... so if you are in a city and you type in BBQ restaurant... you are going to get a lot of traffic from the front page.

It's why it's crucial for business owners.

Now, yes, there is some data variations, but only 3% or so of business owners have actually CLAIMED their business listing. If it is out of business, I report it as such.

Now, with smartphones becoming so prevalent... Google Maps and local review sites are going to gain immense importance.

WoodDraw · 03-18-2010, 11:20 PM

I use TripAdvisor a lot. Amazon too.

**noa** · 03-18-2010, 11:23 PM

I go to Yelp a lot, although I realize its not always that helpful.

I also go to menupages.com a lot for restaurants, amazon and CNET for products reviews, tripadvisor for travel, rottentomatoes for movies.

chris · 03-19-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Well, they are working on it. But the thing about Google Maps, is how they have populated the search engine result pages with a "7-Pack"... so if you are in a city and you type in BBQ restaurant... you are going to get a lot of traffic from the front page.

It's why it's crucial for business owners.

Now, yes, there is some data variations, but only 3% or so of business owners have actually CLAIMED their business listing. If it is out of business, I report it as such.

Now, with smartphones becoming so prevalent... Google Maps and local review sites are going to gain immense importance.

Exactly!

So please share with us more about your book. Very cool. How will businesses be impact?

Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 03-19-2010, 07:19 AM

savchief · 03-19-2010, 07:22 AM

Amazon, consumersearch, and Consumer Reports (subscription) for products.

Trip Advisor for travel

03-18-2010, 07:48 PM
chris Always Ask "Why" Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Park City; Two Rivers Casino cash: $10004900	When deciding where to go to spend your $$, what business review sites do you use? Doing informal market research for an idea which is buzzing in my head...... With the growth of consumer review sites of local and national businesses, which ones do you use? Different ones for shopping? Restaurants? Yelp.com? Yahoo? etc? Much importance do you place on the reviews? Lots of good reviews? Lots of bad reviews? Thanks
Posts: 1,340

03-18-2010, 08:25 PM	#2
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2261769	The most important thing is a statistically significant number of reviews from people who are passionate about the item being reviewed. I want a rating system for quick browsing and detailed comments to see specifically what makes something so special. I use: Amazon for general consumer goods. Zagat for restaurants. (Preferred, but don't anymore since it's not free and I wasn't going out enough to justify the subscription.) Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB for movies.
Posts: 45,543

03-18-2010, 08:27 PM	#3
damaticous lurker Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: home Casino cash: $9979900	I had this same idea about 7-8 years ago. I had started a site and was going to get the domain name YouReview.com. I wanted it to be a free for all review site for anything. But I got lazy...
Posts: 1,356

03-18-2010, 08:28 PM	#4
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Austin is this you?
Posts: 4,160

03-18-2010, 08:39 PM	#6
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4560478	Houston has a great restaurant site called b4-u-eat.com. http://b4-u-eat.com/ If I'm ordering something online a lot of times I'll go over to the Something Awful forums and ask for recommendations. That's how I picked my last video card. Before that I was using Sharky Forums but it died. SA has a shit ton of members, though. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,369

03-18-2010, 08:43 PM	#7
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3168491 VARSITY	merchantcircle is run by crooks and liars. whatever merchantcircle does, do the opposite if you want to have a business you can be proud of. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 141,577

03-18-2010, 11:05 PM	#8
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	I'm in the process of writing a book on how consumer reviews effect business. It's a very intriguing topic, and many small businesses are due for a shit tsunami if they don't pay attention. Google Maps is the aggregate site of most all review sites... and it's the most important for a small business to claim. Period. You need to make sure all of your business data is consistent on ALL local directory sites, which there are about 15 main ones... and if you are in a specialty niche, you need to focus on vertical directories.
Posts: 36,652

03-18-2010, 11:16 PM	#10
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Well, they are working on it. But the thing about Google Maps, is how they have populated the search engine result pages with a "7-Pack"... so if you are in a city and you type in BBQ restaurant... you are going to get a lot of traffic from the front page. It's why it's crucial for business owners. Now, yes, there is some data variations, but only 3% or so of business owners have actually CLAIMED their business listing. If it is out of business, I report it as such. Now, with smartphones becoming so prevalent... Google Maps and local review sites are going to gain immense importance.
Posts: 36,652

03-18-2010, 11:20 PM	#11
WoodDraw Veteran Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $10005059	I use TripAdvisor a lot. Amazon too.
Posts: 3,785

03-18-2010, 11:23 PM	#12
noa Band Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $1445453	I go to Yelp a lot, although I realize its not always that helpful. I also go to menupages.com a lot for restaurants, amazon and CNET for products reviews, tripadvisor for travel, rottentomatoes for movies. __________________ Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes, well, he eats you.
Posts: 8,302

03-19-2010, 07:19 AM	#14
Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan I am Number Six Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Columbia, MD, USA Casino cash: $1779000	None __________________ One of the lowest PPD of any of the original members of the Planet . . . and proud of it. My web site My writer's page
Posts: 6,569

03-19-2010, 07:22 AM	#15
savchief Lefty Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Savannah Casino cash: $9556237	Amazon, consumersearch, and Consumer Reports (subscription) for products. Trip Advisor for travel
Posts: 123