Five-star reviews help you stand out against competitors. And when potential customers are searching for a business online, the more websites you’re reviewed on, the easier you are to find.

Business review sites let customers share their experiences with companies online. These platforms help people make informed choices while giving businesses valuable feedback.

Which sites you list your business on depends on your industry, but earning good ratings across the web helps more customers learn how great your business is.

This guide explores some of the most popular online review sites. You’ll get the scoop on their main features and pros and cons from a small business owner’s point of view.

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What Are Business Review Sites?

Business review sites are online platforms where customers share their real experiences with companies. Customers rate businesses and write reviews about what they liked—and what they didn’t. From restaurants on Yelp to hotels on TripAdvisor, these sites help people decide where to spend their money.

Many online review websites let customers add photos or reply to other customer reviews. As a small business owner, you usually get a chance to respond too. This lets you work out problems when users leave reviews about bad experiences. Quick, solution-oriented replies to negative online reviews can turn angry customers into happy ones.

The power of customer review sites comes from authentic customer feedback. Unlike paid ads or marketing copy, online reviews come from actual buyers sharing honest opinions. Sites like Tripadvisor and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) work hard to spot and remove fake customer reviews. That said, the process isn’t perfect. Some fake reviews will always slip through, so keep that in mind.

If you do see fake reviews, you can contact support for the site to let them know. Unfortunately, you can’t delete or modify reviews. That means that, beyond flagging the review as fake, there isn’t much that you can do. But know that focusing on collecting positive reviews from real customers can help offset any poor ratings. 

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10 of the Best Business Review Sites

Review sites come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s what you need to know about the biggest platforms for boosting your business reputation:

1. Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google Business Profile is a free tool that gets your business in front of local customers. When people search online, your business shows up in the search results with your hours, location, and customer reviews right there at the top of the page. With Google processing nearly 90% of online searches, these reviews really make a difference to how users view your business.

Setting up your profile is simple. You can share photos, respond to customer reviews, and track how many people are finding your business.

One downside is that customer ratings aren’t required to include written feedback. This doesn’t give you much to work with in terms of finding areas for improvement. And it makes it harder to address complaints from unsatisfied customers.

2. Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) helps customers find businesses they can trust. Unlike most online review sites, the BBB is a nonprofit. It gathers customer feedback and complaints to give insight into how well businesses treat consumers. And it’s influential: 88% of customers say they prefer businesses with high BBB ratings.

The BBB never takes money for ads. They also don’t promote specific companies. This makes their reviews more trustworthy. But there’s a catch: Businesses have to pay a fee to become BBB-accredited. That said, it’s likely worth it to win over the 88% who prefer a high rating. 

3. Facebook Reviews

With more than 3 billion monthly users, Facebook is the biggest social network in the world. The site’s review system works differently from other platforms. Instead of star ratings, customers simply recommend your business, or they don’t.

Setting up a free business page is easy. Customers can leave reviews and start conversations about their experiences. But watch out: These conversations sometimes turn into very public arguments. Monitoring and managing discussions is critical so they don’t get out of hand.

4. Amazon Reviews

Last year, businesses sold more than half a trillion dollars of products on Amazon. That makes it the biggest e-commerce website in the world. Their product review system goes beyond simple feedback. Customers can both show and tell by uploading photos and even videos. And the “Verified Purchase” badge shows which reviews come from real buyers.

Amazon reviews have some limits. They’re only for products, not services. And some sellers offer incentives for positive reviews, which can make the feedback less trustworthy. Reviews are also usually by product, not business.

5. Yelp

Yelp is the go-to review site for local shoppers. It helps users find everything from coffee shops to car repairs. With 265 million customer reviews, tapping into this huge network can really elevate your online reputation.

Some local customers love to get seriously involved. These users tend to leave reviews with lots of details about their experiences. This is a goldmine of information for learning what customers love about your business and what they’re not so excited about.

But watch out! Yelp’s local focus cuts both ways. One bad customer review can spread quickly through the community if it comes from a well-respected reviewer.

6. Trustpilot

Trustpilot lets customers leave online reviews for businesses all over the world. It’s a growing platform, with 54 million reviews added just last year.

It’s important to note that Trustpilot has faced claims that they miss too many fake reviews and don’t crack down hard enough on businesses flagging negative reviews to improve their rating.

That said, the online review site has taken major steps to address these concerns. In 2023 alone, their system caught and removed 3.3 million fake online reviews.

7. TripAdvisor

Running a hotel, restaurant, or tourist attraction? TripAdvisor is the review site for you. With over a billion customer reviews, TripAdvisor helps travelers find the best places to eat, sleep, and play worldwide.

TripAdvisor takes extra precautions to make sure reviews are authentic. Real people look through millions of them to spot the fakes.

Setting up your business profile is free and simple. But be ready to stay on top of your reviews. On TripAdvisor, one bad review can send travelers running to your competitors.

8. Angi

Angi (formerly Angie’s List) is the review site for home service pros like plumbers and contractors. Instead of stars, they grade businesses from A to F, just like the BBB. They even look into the background of businesses that advertise with them.

If you end up having a problem with a contractor, Angi’s team will help solve the dispute. But they’re picky about who can join. Only home service companies can set up profiles. No restaurants, hotels, or lawyers allowed.

9. Foursquare

Foursquare helps 50 million people find local spots like restaurants and shops. What makes it special? Their rating system looks at more than just customer reviews. They use a 1-10 scale that considers on-site customer feedback as well as sentiment and engagement on other social media platforms. That means a bad review on Foursquare won’t tank your rating if you have solid reviews on other sites.

Foursquare isn’t as popular as competitors like Yelp, so your reach is relatively limited. And you’re out of luck if your business doesn’t have a physical address.

10. TrustRadius

TrustRadius focuses on software product reviews. Its standout feature is that every review comes from a real person with a verified LinkedIn account. These aren’t quick star ratings either. The average review is over 300 words long. Plus, a research team checks each one for quality and detail.

TrustRadius doesn’t sell ads, so marketing options are limited. At the same time, this keeps reviews fair and unbiased.

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4 Benefits of Business Review Websites

Review websites pack a real punch for small businesses. Here are some of the main benefits that can help your company grow:

1. Building Trust. Good reviews show potential customers they can count on you. Think of each positive review as a friend recommending your business to someone new.
2. Boosting Your Search Rankings. Online reviews help your business show up higher in search results. More reviews mean more chances for getting noticed online.
3. Improving Your Services. Customer reviews point out what you’re doing right and what could use some work. This feedback lets you fix problems before they chase away other customers.
4. Free Marketing. Every review contributes to telling your business story. Happy customers become your best advertisers, bringing in new customers by sharing their experiences.

4 Tips for Improving Your Online Reputation

Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind to build a strong online reputation across platforms:

• Claim All Your Profiles. Start with the most popular review websites like your Google Business Profile and Yelp business page. Then expand to industry-specific sites. It might be TripAdvisor if you’re a restaurateur or TrustRadius if you sell software products.
• Show Your Best Side. Visual content helps you stand out. Upload quality photos to Facebook and Yelp and share videos on TripAdvisor.
• Get More Engaged. Join in community discussions on review websites like Foursquare. Help solve problems on BBB. The more you interact effectively, the more positive exposure your business gets.
• Create Helpful Content. Share tips, answer questions, and solve problems. This keeps you looking good on every platform.

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Stay On Brand, Look Professional

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