How Yelp can help your local business generate business!

As Groupon and other Bulk-Buy sites lose favour with merchants, business owners are going back to basics to generate traffic and new business.
Yelp.com is a reviews website that allows members to post reviews (good and bad) about different types of business. The site is structured into geographical areas which is beneficial for both users of the site and for businesses.
Yelp.com provides an easy way to see what people are saying about a specific business of interest. Recent surveys report that review sites are very popular among consumers (especially 35 and under) who will frequently use these kinds of sites to search for a business, then decide whether or not to use a service or business.
--> Benefits for the Consumer
Search for businesses by category or key words, in your specific area for hours, contact information, or website address.
Yelp allows you to find smaller businesses that might not yet be indexed on Google Maps
Browse what people are saying about a specific business or service, or add your own review.
The "talk" element of the site allows for more detailed specifics on a business or service.
Easily share your reviews on Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
--> Benefits for the Business
63 million people have visited yelp in the last 30 days - that is some kind of MASSIVE - FREE exposure for your local business. People who may never otherwise have heard of your business or perhaps forgotten about you can  get acquainted with you.
Any local business with a physical presence can benefit from being listed at Yelp.
Business owners can add their own business listing (if not already listed) to ensure that their contact information is accurate. They can also add photos and message customers.
Business owners (or Managers) can reply publicly to reviews or comments posted about their business.
Business owners can pay for premium advertising, called Yelp Ads.
Business owners can see what people are saying about their business and pinpoint for correction, problem or services issues in their operation.
Recently Yelp has added Events listings as well. So if you are organizing an event, submit it and get instant exposure.  Visitors to Yelp, in your location will see your listing as Yelp will scan the geographical location of the member logging in, so events in their area show up.
Yelp has integrated several social media sites (FaceBook, Twitter etc) into the site so when users access these, or refer friends to the site, business owners get the benefits of even more promotion.
- Review of Yelp
For the most part, review sites like Yelp.com are GOOD for local business.   The exposure for a business, is tremendous and difficult to not be seen as valuable. You get free exposure by reviews being posted, new customers are introduced to what you offer, former customers are reminded that you are still there. You as the owner or manager get come control over content, by adding your own business, then commenting often, posting pictures etc.  Social media allows businesses to engage with their customers in a positive way.
Yes, there are some possible disadvantages. People can write negative reviews about your business.   But if you run a solid operation these will be overshadowed by the good comments that people post. Some businesses have been known to pay people to write good reviews or offer other perks.   Statistical averages will most often work in your favour if you are an honest business, doing your best to provide a quality service for your customers. Remember, negative reviews can be responded to by the business owner, or manager.   Customers understand that no business is perfect. False, or off-the-wall reviews stand out as such and are often filtered, removed or rated lower in terms of helpfulness.  What matters to consumers is that a business owner makes an effort to resolve problems.
For more details visit Yelp.com
What do you think of Review Sites? Helpful or not helpful? What Review sites do you like? 

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www.moneymarketmasters.com

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How to Create Blog Titles that DEMAND attention!

If you are going to spend the time it requires to blog then you want to make certain your time is for the maximum return.
You want readers right? You want your blog to be shared in social media right? You want more  traffic so  you  earn more money right? 
Smart bloggers who earn considerable revenue from their blogs, know it's critical to have well-thought blog titles.  
Here I share some critical points about writing blog titles so you get noticed among the millions of blogs out there.
For effective blog titles do this:
A great blog title gets the readers attention then draws them in so they actually read your blog. Remember, some web sites, readers and devices like cell phones and iPad aps, show only the title of your blog. Your introduction or summary of what the blog is about may not even appear so your title better be instantly eye-popping and interesting. If readers see only your title, and your title is lame, you are less likely to get readership. Instead make your title catchy, one that immediately conveys what the blog is about so readers think you are click-worthy. Be sure that your title is not word-heavy but is clear and obvious. Readers what to know right away what you have to offer and if its worthy of their precious time to read. When you read my examples below you will get a better understanding of what goes into a Blog Title that DEMANDS readership.
Creating blog titles that will get indexed by search engines, and read by people. 
When creating your titles you want to use as many key words related to your blog content as you can. Before you even start your blog post, think about who you want to read this post and what key words are relevant to your purposes and to your audience. If your blog is targeting a specific audience, try to work that into the title so your title speaks and says to the individual - HEY READ ME! If you want people to read your blog who are looking for specific key words related to what you offer, work those key words into the title.
Consider that people are busy, often they prefer short, easy to read blog posts. Ensure if you can that your blog title relays this by summarizing what you blog includes.
Don't compromise the value of your key words by being too creative in your title, make sure they are included in your title. With Google recently announcing that fresh content contributes to higher page ranking,  you want to make sure if your blog is about a trending topic, a news event, or breaking news, that it gets scanned first. You can help this happen by integrating the most obvious key words in your title so your blog gets scanned by Google and other search engine bots.
Finally, an important reason to give some thought to use of key words within your Blog title is this.  If you have any type of monetization on your blog, such as Google's Ad Sense, the key words you use will trigger specific related topic ads to appear on your site. This is beneficial to you, as ads that appear on your blog are more closely matched to your Ad Sense ads which offers you somewhat of an advantage for potential earning through clicks on the ads that appear on your blog.
Convey what your Blog is about with a smart title.
In your Blog title, say exactly what your content is in an enticing way. If you can find a clever way to shock, or make someone take notice within your Blog title, do so. For example, offer 7 Tips, or 10 Strategies, or 10 Ways to Drop 10 Pounds.  This style of titling is a good way to convey that your blog is brief but includes valuable information. For some blog titles you may find it helpful to convey a sense of urgency so readers gets the feeling they will miss out on some really good, juicy or helpful information if they don't read it. Celebrity gossip and Hollywood bloggers are particularly good at dangling carrots (celebrity names with a hint of scandal) within their blog titles to attract readership.
You may be thinking to yourself, WHOA! She is asking for a lot to be incorporated into a simple blog title! Yes, I am but it is easy if you know how to do it, you will get better at it as you go and your results will reward and motivate you. It's for your own good - really. To help you get started, I've included 6 examples of effective and less effective blog titles below. 
Example 1
Strong : How to grow roses that make your neighbours green with envy.
Weak:    How to grow roses.
Example 2
Strong: 7 Sure-Fire Ways to get rid of allergies for good!
Weak:   Allergies: a problem experienced by 30% of Americans
Example 3
Strong:  The TOP 10 BEST Hotels in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Weak:    Going to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan? Here's our picks for the best hotels.
Example 4
Strong: 5 Strategies That Will Triple Your Sales Today!
Weak: Looking for ways to increase your sales? We have what you need to know.
Example 5
Strong: Why Herman Cain can kiss the Presidency good-bye!
Weak:  US Presidential candidates, a look at who's running, the favourites and the predicted losers.
Example 6
Strong: 10 PROVEN Ways to Shed Weight FAST! Hollywood Celebrities do this, you can too!
Weak:  If you really do want to lose weight, we can help you.
See, it's not so hard. Spending a few extra minutes to think and tweak your Blog Titles will get you more readers, more traffic and more revenue!
**** What do you think? Do you use catchy titles for your blogs? What is your experience?

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http://www.kingstablenetworking.com

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