One of the major changes online has been for customer reviews. These can come from any number of sources:
Facebook
Yelp!
Search engines now cull these into their search results, particularly on Google Places (used to be Google Maps), Bing and Yahoo Local listings. These help drive your website.  Think of it as a “buzz” – someone is talking about your business. Even the negative can be a positive.

There are reviews services which charge a monthly fee to get reviews for your business. As a business owner you supply your clients’ email address or phone numbers and the company will contact them. (You can also put this review info on a note attached to each invoice you give to a client.) Once your client reviews your business the reviewing service contacts you and you can approve or disapprove allowing the review to be posted.

That can be the pitfall: if you never have any negative feedback – the believability factors in: are you screening your reviews? IF you have negative feedback and you address it – which most open source (Yelp!, Google, Yahoo! etc.) are now allowing you bring legitimacy to your business.

Everyone knows not every customer will be happy, but the way you engage an unhappy client speaks much about your effort in customer service. Thus the negative: becomes positive.

At this time of year I am reflecting on my business.  I am looking to improve my business and offer more to my clients.  I invite my clients to review my services online – on Facebook, wherever you are comfortable. Thank you to all this past year and your continued trust in me to help you make choices for your online business presence.

Merry Christmas!