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<p>Up until now, it has been difficult for business owners to respond to complaints aired publicly in bad reviews. But that changed this week as Yelp <a href="http://officialblog.yelp.com/2009/04/public-comments-for-business-owners.html">launched public commenting</a> for all businesses.</p>
<p>The new functionality, which is free, gives business owners who claim their page on Yelp the ability to leave comments in response to reviews that Yelp users leave. Now, if a reviewer writes something that the business owner disputes or would like to address, it is possible to do so without, perhaps, having to <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/07/MNN81559L2.DTL&type=business&tsp=1">file a lawsuit</a>.</p>
<p>This is good news and public commenting for business owners was long overdue. Review sites <em>should</em> be a two-way street; <strong>users deserve to know when a business owner disputes a claim that was made or has made amends</strong> for a mistake. In many cases, <strong>reading what a business owner has to say can be just as valuable</strong> to making a decision as reading a customer review.</p>
<p>Yelp has provided a Business Owner's Guide <a href="http://www.yelp.com/business/public_comments">which contains</a> best practices that are useful reminders to all businesses addressing customer feedback and complaints online.</p>
<p><em>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwalsh_/">jwalsh</a> via Flickr.</em></p>
<p>Up until now, it has been difficult for business owners to respond to complaints aired publicly in bad reviews. But that changed this week as Yelp <a href="http://officialblog.yelp.com/2009/04/public-comments-for-business-owners.html">launched public commenting</a> for all businesses.</p>
<p>The new functionality, which is free, gives business owners who claim their page on Yelp the ability to leave comments in response to reviews that Yelp users leave. Now, if a reviewer writes something that the business owner disputes or would like to address, it is possible to do so without, perhaps, having to <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/07/MNN81559L2.DTL&type=business&tsp=1">file a lawsuit</a>.</p>
<p>This is good news and public commenting for business owners was long overdue. Review sites <em>should</em> be a two-way street; <strong>users deserve to know when a business owner disputes a claim that was made or has made amends</strong> for a mistake. In many cases, <strong>reading what a business owner has to say can be just as valuable</strong> to making a decision as reading a customer review.</p>
<p>Yelp has provided a Business Owner's Guide <a href="http://www.yelp.com/business/public_comments">which contains</a> best practices that are useful reminders to all businesses addressing customer feedback and complaints online.</p>
<p><em>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwalsh_/">jwalsh</a> via Flickr.</em></p>
2009-04-24T05:51:17+01:00
1
1
html
<p><strong><img alt="" height="84" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/500066274_eaa52213cd_m.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" width="168" />Yelp, the popular online review website that has a strong following in major US cities and <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/3104-site-review-yelp-com">launched in the UK</a> earlier this year, has seen its <a href="http://cbs5.com/wrapper_consumer/seenon/yelp.business.complaints.2.820867.html">fair share of</a> controversy.</strong></p>
<p>One of the biggest complaints amongst business owners: <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-03-11/news/faux-star-reviews/">that reviews can</a> "<em>become a shakedown by emboldened customers or Internet trolls</em>".</p>
<p><strong><img style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/500066274_eaa52213cd_m.jpg" alt="" width="168" height="84" />Yelp, the popular online review website that has a strong following in major US cities and <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/3104-site-review-yelp-com">launched in the UK</a> earlier this year, has seen its <a href="http://cbs5.com/wrapper_consumer/seenon/yelp.business.complaints.2.820867.html">fair share of</a> controversy.</strong></p>
<p>One of the biggest complaints amongst business owners: <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-03-11/news/faux-star-reviews/">that reviews can</a> "<em>become a shakedown by emboldened customers or Internet trolls</em>".</p>
false
3725
Yelp gives businesses a voice
false
2009-04-24T12:30:00+01:00
yelp-gives-businesses-a-voice
2009-04-30T05:17:30+01:00
2009-04-30T05:17:30+01:00
1426