Typically, when we are looking for a local service or business, we often turn to friends to recommend the right place for our needs. Today the Internet provides us with the opportunity to read millions of customer opinions and recommendations for products and services we are looking for through review websites. Yelp has become famously successful in attracting customer reviews, but it’s not just them – in general local business reviews websites are growing in popularity with consumers and together these sites represent another great online tool to market your small business and help you gain more customers.

As with all good ideas on the Internet, there is a plethora of websites out there to add your business to, but who has the time to monitor them all? Some of the main ones out there to focus your energies on are Yelp, Angie’s List and Insiderpages. These three are a good start for any business owner looking to monitor their reputation and attract new customers through local business reviews. Here’s how to get started:

Yelp: The first step to get started with Yelp is to set up an account as a business owner and claim your business if it is already listed. Search for your company on Yelp.com, click on the “Is this your business?” link and follow the step-by-step signup process. By claiming your business you will be able to view general statistics about visits to your page, add more detail to your business profile, and most importantly, contact customers either privately or publicly. Claiming your business will also enable you to address good and bad reviews that are posted on the site and to resolve any issues that may deter new customers from patronizing your business.

Angie’s List: This website is a place for local business reviews specifically for local service companies, and in turn search for service providers in their area. Your business gets added to the list only when a customer has written a review about you. All businesses are graded on a scale from A-F, and only the top-graded companies are shown. So, it is to your benefit to signup with the site so you can resolve any bad reviews with the customers that have written them. Signing up is free and will only take moments of your time.

Insiderpages: This website operates similarly to Yelp. Search for your business, click on the “Are you the owner?” link, and create a profile. By creating a profile, you can personalize the business listing a little more and even add a little note to your customers.

Signing up for local business reviews websites may seem intimidating, but doing so is easy and by monitoring them regularly and responding to any negative customer discussions you can protect your reputation and grow your business. By showing you care about your customer feedback and the quality of your products and services, you not only can reclaim a potentially lost customer, but you will make a positive impression on potential customers searching on the site, leading to new business.