Comments on: Merchants May Opt-Out of Reviews http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/ The Official Blog for CitySquares Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:13:16 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) | Seo Services, LLC - Indiana based search engine optimization consultant http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1336 CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) | Seo Services, LLC - Indiana based search engine optimization consultant Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:12:23 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1336 [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You’ll need to pony up .99 a month to [...] [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You’ll need to pony up .99 a month to [...]

]]> By: CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) » Search Engine Optimization Help http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) » Search Engine Optimization Help Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:42:55 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1308 [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You'll need to pony up $5.99 a month to [...] [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You’ll need to pony up $5.99 a month to [...]

]]> By: CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) | SEO Tips Blog http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 CitySquares Allows Merchants to Opt-Out of Reviews (For a Fee) | SEO Tips Blog Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:25:23 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1307 [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You’ll need to pony up $5.99 a month to [...] [...] is allowing merchants to opt-out of being subject to reviews on their site. The catch? You’ll need to pony up $5.99 a month to [...]

]]> By: Ben Harper http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1303 Ben Harper Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:34:25 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1303 I like the way that Yelp.com has addressed this issue by giving small business owners the ability to respond to negative reviews. I think disabling reviews all together will ultimately hurt the small business more than it will help it. Being able to respond to a negative review allows for equality between both parties. But, I do think it's great that citysquares actually cares about small business owners. I find many of the other review sites to be extremely consumer oriented and they almost hold the small businesses ransom (because they control the consumer voice). I like the way that Yelp.com has addressed this issue by giving small business owners the ability to respond to negative reviews.

I think disabling reviews all together will ultimately hurt the small business more than it will help it.

Being able to respond to a negative review allows for equality between both parties.

But, I do think it’s great that citysquares actually cares about small business owners. I find many of the other review sites to be extremely consumer oriented and they almost hold the small businesses ransom (because they control the consumer voice).

]]> By: CitySquares Allows SMBs to Opt Out « Screenwerk http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1296 CitySquares Allows SMBs to Opt Out « Screenwerk Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:44:29 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1296 [...] CitySquares Allows SMBs to Opt Out By Greg Sterling CitySquares is trying something novel. It’s allowing SMBs that appear on the site to opt out of being reviewed. However to avail yourself of this benefit you have to be a paying customer. Here’s how CEO Ben Saren described it on the CitySquares blog: [...] [...] CitySquares Allows SMBs to Opt Out By Greg Sterling CitySquares is trying something novel. It’s allowing SMBs that appear on the site to opt out of being reviewed. However to avail yourself of this benefit you have to be a paying customer. Here’s how CEO Ben Saren described it on the CitySquares blog: [...]

]]> By: The Praized Blog » Blog Archive » CitySquares Offers Merchants Opt-Out for Reviews http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1287 The Praized Blog » Blog Archive » CitySquares Offers Merchants Opt-Out for Reviews Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:51:13 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1287 [...] from the  CitySquares Blog. So now, if you’re a small business owner you can opt-out of consumer reviews on your CitySquares [...] [...] from the  CitySquares Blog. So now, if you’re a small business owner you can opt-out of consumer reviews on your CitySquares [...]

]]> By: Ben Saren http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1286 Ben Saren Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:27:49 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1286 Hi Tanomsak, Indeed, the small business may very well create an undesired perception for themselves, but they do so at their own risk and they're hands are on the steering wheel, if you will. For example, there may be a marriage counselor who wants to advertise, or even a private detective - both types of service providers may want more confidentiality in their online advertising, but may still want to promote their offerings. No doubt it's, as Mike described above, a double edged sword. Meanwhile, the review cat is out of the box, and I think it has some maturing to do. This is one step towards that, I hope. Hi Tanomsak,

Indeed, the small business may very well create an undesired perception for themselves, but they do so at their own risk and they’re hands are on the steering wheel, if you will. For example, there may be a marriage counselor who wants to advertise, or even a private detective – both types of service providers may want more confidentiality in their online advertising, but may still want to promote their offerings.

No doubt it’s, as Mike described above, a double edged sword.

Meanwhile, the review cat is out of the box, and I think it has some maturing to do. This is one step towards that, I hope.

]]> By: Tanomsak http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1284 Tanomsak Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:48:55 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1284 This is interesting idea. But it could lead to a conclusion that the small business is not good, as the obvious reason, but of course not the only one, the small business opt-out of review is to prevent showing negative review. This is interesting idea. But it could lead to a conclusion that the small business is not good, as the obvious reason, but of course not the only one, the small business opt-out of review is to prevent showing negative review.

]]> By: Mike Chace http://blog.citysquares.com/2009/04/21/merchants-may-opt-out-of-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 Mike Chace Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:11:13 +0000 http://blog.citysquares.com/?p=700#comment-1280 As a small business owner I can honestly say that reviews on sites are a double edged sword. I have had plenty of customers say that they hired us because of our positive user reviews. On the other hand, I have also been burned by someone who decided to place a rogue negative review. It was placed on Yahoo and I was well aware of when it appeared, because I think it's important to monitor what people say about your brand on the Internet. I researched the negative review thoroughly, and the person had never been a customer of mine. However, after numerous attempts to get Yahoo to remove this unsubstantiated negative review, I was told that it wouldn't be removed. Basically, Yahoo puts the users ahead of the small business owners. IMO I like the City Squares approach better. Particularly because of the fact that it helps to prevent a one angry customer (out of hundreds or thousands of happy ones) from damaging a brand. If you have one of these sour grapes customers, you opt out of the reviews. If you don't have someone with a personal vendetta against your company, then it only make sense to have reviews enabled. As a small business owner I can honestly say that reviews on sites are a double edged sword. I have had plenty of customers say that they hired us because of our positive user reviews.

On the other hand, I have also been burned by someone who decided to place a rogue negative review. It was placed on Yahoo and I was well aware of when it appeared, because I think it’s important to monitor what people say about your brand on the Internet.

I researched the negative review thoroughly, and the person had never been a customer of mine. However, after numerous attempts to get Yahoo to remove this unsubstantiated negative review, I was told that it wouldn’t be removed. Basically, Yahoo puts the users ahead of the small business owners.

IMO I like the City Squares approach better. Particularly because of the fact that it helps to prevent a one angry customer (out of hundreds or thousands of happy ones) from damaging a brand. If you have one of these sour grapes customers, you opt out of the reviews. If you don’t have someone with a personal vendetta against your company, then it only make sense to have reviews enabled.

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