Comments on: How Yelp and TripAdvisor Help Business Thrive http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/ Strategies and tips on social media and online marketing Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:20:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Claire Wadlington http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-6620 Claire Wadlington Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:22:49 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-6620 I am a big user of both Yelp and TripAdvisor - although I probably read the reviews more often than I post them (testimony to more planning than doing?). Several times I have gone on trips and reviewed restaurants on TripAdvisor afterwards to try and "make it more complete" (i.e. useful to me and my fellow travelers). I experienced the same thing as Ari (limited number of reviews). I reviewed several locally popular New Orleans restaurants after a trip and was surprised to see how differently they were ranked even though many had the same number of reviews (which was one or two) - weird. One thing that Yelp does "right" is allow URL's and other info to be put in on a business. That is a huge time-saver for me the consumer/user/content creator. Trip Advisor drives me crazy because of the lack of URLs (which I presume is due to their business model - I am guessing that businesses have to pay and many choose not to do so). To Ari's point, it would be good for the businesses to recognize the value of Trip Advisor. It would also be good for Trip Advisor to recognize how it fails the consumers on whom it depends for growth of the site by making it hard for them to get this info. I routinely have multiple browser windows open to go check out the website of boutique hotels or the boutique dogsled vendor in Iceland. (I think that is the problem - TripAdvisor works well for the big chains - for the boutique and smaller hotels and guesthouses, it may work for the savvy business, but not the others). I have found great info in the TripAdvisor Forums that has sent me off site to do more research. In terms of businesses being able to comment on reviews, that is a feature that TripAdvisor uses that I find helpful. It will be good for Yelp businesses to be able to comment. I am a big user of both Yelp and TripAdvisor – although I probably read the reviews more often than I post them (testimony to more planning than doing?). Several times I have gone on trips and reviewed restaurants on TripAdvisor afterwards to try and “make it more complete” (i.e. useful to me and my fellow travelers). I experienced the same thing as Ari (limited number of reviews). I reviewed several locally popular New Orleans restaurants after a trip and was surprised to see how differently they were ranked even though many had the same number of reviews (which was one or two) – weird. One thing that Yelp does “right” is allow URL’s and other info to be put in on a business. That is a huge time-saver for me the consumer/user/content creator. Trip Advisor drives me crazy because of the lack of URLs (which I presume is due to their business model – I am guessing that businesses have to pay and many choose not to do so). To Ari’s point, it would be good for the businesses to recognize the value of Trip Advisor. It would also be good for Trip Advisor to recognize how it fails the consumers on whom it depends for growth of the site by making it hard for them to get this info. I routinely have multiple browser windows open to go check out the website of boutique hotels or the boutique dogsled vendor in Iceland. (I think that is the problem – TripAdvisor works well for the big chains – for the boutique and smaller hotels and guesthouses, it may work for the savvy business, but not the others). I have found great info in the TripAdvisor Forums that has sent me off site to do more research. In terms of businesses being able to comment on reviews, that is a feature that TripAdvisor uses that I find helpful. It will be good for Yelp businesses to be able to comment.

]]> By: Rachel Kay http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-5043 Rachel Kay Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:41:52 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-5043 While I have only posted a couple of reviews, I always consult Yelp before visiting a new retaurant, and rely significantly on the recomendations. I think Yelp is a great tool to remind restaurant owners of critical things like customer service, and to get valuable feedback that will in turn help them stay profitable. An example - There is a restaurant near me with incredible food, but the service was horrendous. The owner acted as though patrons should be grateful he was serving them. His 30+ Yelp reviews reflected that. I can't say for sure if that was the eye-opener, but recently the servers have been incredibly nice and friendly - customer service is now much better. While I have only posted a couple of reviews, I always consult Yelp before visiting a new retaurant, and rely significantly on the recomendations. I think Yelp is a great tool to remind restaurant owners of critical things like customer service, and to get valuable feedback that will in turn help them stay profitable.

An example – There is a restaurant near me with incredible food, but the service was horrendous. The owner acted as though patrons should be grateful he was serving them. His 30+ Yelp reviews reflected that. I can’t say for sure if that was the eye-opener, but recently the servers have been incredibly nice and friendly – customer service is now much better.

]]> By: Craig http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-5042 Craig Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:26:16 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-5042 Yelp may be the best or worst thing to happen to local restaurants depending on their quality. People like basic reviews, and while zagat and other forms will always be huge with PR, yelp is great for more local joints. That's so cool the owner recognized you and offered a free side. Really cool on his part and smart as well, keeps you going back. Restaurants owners should be active with yelp, can help a lot. May not have a huge boost, but a little affect that can help is always good. Yelp may be the best or worst thing to happen to local restaurants depending on their quality. People like basic reviews, and while zagat and other forms will always be huge with PR, yelp is great for more local joints. That’s so cool the owner recognized you and offered a free side. Really cool on his part and smart as well, keeps you going back. Restaurants owners should be active with yelp, can help a lot. May not have a huge boost, but a little affect that can help is always good.

]]> By: Apolinaras "Apollo" SInkevicius http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-5039 Apolinaras "Apollo" SInkevicius Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:22:31 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-5039 I have almost similar experience with Yelp (I also use Yelp every time before I visit a new restaurant). I review (almost) every restaurant, store, and other businesses I patronize. I give great reviews, where they are due, but I also leave fiery detailed ones for places that fail to do a good job. I know for a fact that some restaurants make changes to their service based on those reviews. Tripadvisor is the place my wife frequents a lot. In my opinion, organizations should pay great attention to those kind of sites, because it is one of the cheapest ways for them to see what their customers really think. I have almost similar experience with Yelp (I also use Yelp every time before I visit a new restaurant). I review (almost) every restaurant, store, and other businesses I patronize. I give great reviews, where they are due, but I also leave fiery detailed ones for places that fail to do a good job. I know for a fact that some restaurants make changes to their service based on those reviews.
Tripadvisor is the place my wife frequents a lot.

In my opinion, organizations should pay great attention to those kind of sites, because it is one of the cheapest ways for them to see what their customers really think.

]]> By: Jen Wilbur http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-5033 Jen Wilbur Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:20:39 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-5033 Love both of these sites. People aren't eating out as often right now, which means the restaurant/bar industry (like many others) is taking a hit. It's always been a competitive business, and now more than ever. As always, the businesses with strong, loyal (and now vocal and social online) customers will reign. <abbr><em>Jen Wilbur´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.sandiegodogbeach.com/2009/02/pig-pile-on-lily.html">pig pile on lily</a></abbr></em> Love both of these sites. People aren’t eating out as often right now, which means the restaurant/bar industry (like many others) is taking a hit. It’s always been a competitive business, and now more than ever. As always, the businesses with strong, loyal (and now vocal and social online) customers will reign.

Jen Wilbur´s last blog post..pig pile on lily

]]> By: Becky McCray http://ariwriter.com/how-yelp-and-tripadvisor-help-business-thrive/comment-page-1/#comment-5020 Becky McCray Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:57:44 +0000 http://ariwriter.com/?p=1761#comment-5020 Ari, excellent article! I'm proud that my little bit provided some inspiration. Ari, excellent article! I’m proud that my little bit provided some inspiration.

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