- Business review websites collect customer reviews about the companies they do business with, sharing honest feedback.
- Yelp is considered the top review site, particularly for local business marketing, but it isn't the only game in town.
- Google Business Profile, Facebook Page reviews, Angi, the Better Business Bureau, ConsumerAffairs and Foursquare are some Yelp alternatives.
- This article is for small business owners exploring review sites to receive honest feedback and improve their companies.
The modern consumer thrives on information. Before making a buying decision, customers have long sought out the opinions and experiences of others to find out whether or not a company is credible.
Today, this process is quick, easy, and accessible to anyone with a computer or smartphone and an internet connection. There are few better sources of information for consumers than business review websites.
Yelp is considered the top review site for marketing local businesses. However, it is far from the only reputable business review site. Others may even prove more beneficial for niche products or services.
These 14 review websites are worth looking into if you need honest feedback or ways to improve your business.
What are business review websites?
Business review websites collect customer reviews about the companies they do business with. These aren't professional reviews, and they aren't paid – they are from actual customers sharing their honest feedback.
For instance, say you recently hired a local company to install a fence in your backyard. After the service is completed, you can review that company on a business review website.
When you leave a review, you'll often choose a letter or number rating. You'll usually have the option to summarize your thoughts about the service you received.
By sharing your positive or negative experience, you help other potential customers decide whether or not to use that company in the future.
How can business review websites benefit your company?
Many businesses feel nervous at the thought of customers leaving them a review, but customer reviews can be a powerful tool for your company. Here are some of the ways business review websites can benefit you:
- They create social proof. If a customer is on the fence about purchasing from your business, they're more likely to move forward if they receive a positive recommendation from a friend or family member. Positive reviews create social proof and help new customers feel comfortable doing business with you.
- They improve SEO. If you run a local business, you can't afford to ignore business review websites. For example, receiving and responding to Google Business reviews will improve your business's search engine visibility and increase the odds that local customers will find you.
- They help you provide better customer service. Nobody wants to receive a negative review from a customer, but it isn't always a bad thing. If you respond to negative reviews and take steps to remedy the mistake, you could build more customer loyalty over the long run. And you learn valuable information about how to improve your business in the future.
1. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
Google Business Profile, formerly called Google My Business, allows you to list your business on Google Maps and show up in local search results. It's free to list your business and information like your business location, hours, and phone number.
You can also invite your customers to leave you a review on Google.` Collecting Google reviews and responding to them shows that you care about customer feedback; more reviews will help you rank higher in Google searches.
To get started, set up and personalize your Business Profile on Google.
2. Facebook Page reviews
If you use Facebook ads for your business, you probably already have a Facebook Business Page set up. Your Facebook Business Page is a great place to stay in touch with your customers and share helpful information about your business.
It's also an excellent place to collect customer reviews. Take advantage of this feature by turning on the ratings and reviews setting in your Facebook Page settings. From there, invite customers to leave reviews sharing their experiences with your company.
3. Angi (formerly Angie's List)
Angi is a major name in business reviews. As a platform for accurate information about local businesses from vetted users, Angi guarantees that its reviews are legitimate.
Users pay a membership fee to access the site and write reviews, which come in the form of a letter grade. Businesses that sign up for Angi can interact with members, establish a profile, and respond to reviews about their company. The highest-rated businesses can also earn advertising for deals and discounts.
To list your business or claim a business profile created by a consumer, sign up through Angi Ads.
4. Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is one of the most trusted names in business ratings and reviews. The BBB grades businesses from A+ to F based on several factors, including reviews, complaints, and business responses to reviews and complaints.
As the BBB is a trusted organization, its ratings could significantly impact a small business. The accreditation process ensures that a business makes a good-faith effort to resolve customer complaints and respond to inquiries.
This effort makes a business more trustworthy in consumers' eyes. With accreditation (and its fee), a business can receive increased exposure online, access to workshops and webinars, and much more.
Visit the BBB accreditation site to get started.
5. ConsumerAffairs
Collecting reviews for a business is just one service ConsumerAffairs for Brands offers. When a business signs up, it receives access to all kinds of resources.
This includes articles on how reviews and a strong reputation can increase revenue, how to find brand ambassadors, and how to convert negative customer experiences into positive ones.
Sign up for a ConsumerAffairs account using one of your business's social media logins (Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, etc.) or an email address.
6. Foursquare
While Foursquare is best known for its check-in feature, businesses that claim their listings also give customers the ability to leave ratings and tips (reviews) for other customers.
If you sign up for Foursquare for Business, you'll be able to access user analytics, add your own tips, and offer customer rewards.
7. Glassdoor
The unique thing about Glassdoor is that it provides a way for current and past employees to rate the companies they work for. It is a vital tool for job searching, letting job seekers learn as much about a company as possible.
With Glassdoor for Employers, you can read reviews of your company as a workplace and find quality candidates for a position.
8. HomeAdvisor
This site is similar to Angi, helping customers find and review professionals for home improvement projects. All reviews are verified and go through an extensive screening process.
If you are a professional offering home improvement services, HomeAdvisor Pro allows you to connect with other HomeAdviser users in your area in search of a specific service.
9. Judy's Book
While it's not free to add or claim your business on this site, the perks of Judy's Book for Business are worth it. It's free for customers to review your business directly on the site, but if you receive other testimonials through social media, email, letters or other sources, Judy's Book allows you to post them on your business page at no extra charge.
With a membership, business owners also get a free mobile listing, competitor tracking, a higher search engine ranking and much more.
Visit Judy's Book Business Center to sign up and try it free for 30 days.
10. Manta
Manta is a small business directory that helps local American businesses connect with consumers and each other. While customer reviews are not the site's primary function, they are one of the site's features.
11. MerchantCircle
MerchantCircle aims to connect customers with deals, advice and price quotes from local small businesses. Its search functions are structured primarily by city and business category. By default, it ranks the listings from highest-rated and most frequently reviewed, working its way down.
The MerchantCircle Help Center has various links to articles to help new businesses get set up.
12. OpenTable
Although OpenTable was once just for making restaurant reservations, customers can now leave reviews and star ratings. When you search for restaurants, a list based on your search criteria pops up.
One of the first things you'll notice is the star rating under the restaurant name, the number of reviews, and the percentage of reviewers who recommend the restaurant.
If you are starting a restaurant or want to get an established restaurant on OpenTable, sign up on the OpenTable for Restaurants page to start collecting reviews and increasing your reservations.
13. PlanetRate
Unlike most other review sites, PlanetRate isn't tied to a specific category or service. So, whether your business is a restaurant, hotel, boutique or anything else, you can register it and begin collecting reviews.
This site also allows users to write in-depth reviews specific to your business's category, making it easier for potential customers to find the review and, therefore, your business.
14. VendOp
VendOp's goal is to connect people with vendors that best match their needs. A potential customer can search for vendors based on their needs and be presented only with vendors that provide those services, streamlining the search process.
The site also offers a community of real customers who share their experiences with vendors, so potential customers can gain a better understanding of who they're working with while helping other vendors improve their services.
Jamie Johnson and Jennifer Post contributed to the writing and research in this article.