I could have done so much more…

I could have saved more

Thanks for the lecture about getting involved and doing my part on YELP!
I am probably not cut out for super YELPdom because I am not going to find addresses to do reviews. I’d post ‘em here or on my other blogs. If the address is there I might bother but with the speed with which restauarants turn over here it is hard to keep a favorite.

#2 Of course she did not read what YELP was about and was obnoxiously self promoting as people in the business often do and a rabid group of YELPers went after her and taught her a lesson.

I did not expect any different, just took the reminder about YELP to look at YELP and pitched in and did my part to post obits for the dead restaurants.

Then after this entry was posted the story was on Inman. Reading Inman I understood that she solicited reports from her clients who were able to go onto YELP and post raves reviews for her instead of her posting her own testimonials from clients. I don’t think I defended her behavior here or said don’t YELP.

I was reminded by her story so I YELPED about other businesses as YELP is intended.

So why is it so different online? Why would you expect any different reaction from yelpers for self-promoting?

I know of a particular individual who sold alarms in NYC that would only go to this groups events and hand out cards, while trying to sell alarms. - He was asked to stop, then when he didn’t, he was banned.

later!

Why should you yelp?

1) you genuinely ate at the restaurant and you liked it or did not like it enough to voice your opinion.

2) you review companies/businesses that you NORMALLY refer out to your clients anyway.

Is it good for business?

Well, let me ask you this - Have you been eating at the same restaurant for years? Do you know the owner? Do you have a stack of business cards sitting by the counter with othe realtors cards? If you said yes to any of these than THIS is why you would Yelp.

It is simply a way to be known in your market, as a local expert. that’s it, will you get a deal from it? Who cares. But you might get that exposure to your name that everyone craves, you may even achieve “top-of-mind” status with local consumers - for WHEN they need a broker.

Why do you network offline? Do you go to the Rotary club? are you in Kiwanis? Do you go to local events, shows so that you can meet new people and make new connections on a NON-real estate level?

If you don’t you should. If you look around at your top-producers, they do these things. But in a world where communities are existing online - furthermore a world where the online world now spills over into real life interactions, being a part of sites like Yelp, purely for the connectivity and community is a must.

It is NOT a daily thing, you don’t need to log-in and check it everyday. You don’t even need to update things. All you do, is as you come along a great restaurant or gardener, or lawyer anything. You write a positive review about it and expand your reach and network.

The biggest thing is: NEVER review yourself COME ON! and do nothing gratuitous, keep it genuine and you will be welcomed!

I said the restauarants were closed. It’s not going to get the closed restauants any more business so I don’t see a reason for a link.

I am not sure about Yelp.