Small business have always valued the power of referrals. Many successful businesses have greatly benefited from referrals and word-of-mouth marketing. The Internet allows that word of mouth to travel across landscape barriers. After all, people, whether customers or just readers, rely on the Internet to provide them with most of the vital information that they need regarding a product or service. Instead of reading newspapers, browsing through magazines or opening the phone book, they turn to popular search engines online. Aside from just seeing websites and directories for businesses, they can view ratings and reviews on products and services. These popular rating sites are essential to most businesses. In fact, studies show that more than 60% of customers searching for consumer electronics refer to product reviews and ratings before making a purchase. They tend to buy products with the highest ratings and the greatest reviews.

Almost everything can now be rated online. There are some sites rating apartments all over. Others allow patients to rate their doctors and some let clients rate their lawyers. Some bars, nightclubs and restaurants are also being reviewed online. Almost all of these rating sites feature reviews by various customers and experts. These varied perspective provide useful information to potential clients.

A good business might want to be aware of this type of site. Try to see if your business has already been rated. If it is, then make sure that all the necessary data, such as business address, business name or the URL of your website, are correct. You might want to contact the site operator in case of wrong information. If your site has not yet been rated, you might want to try and look for a way to add your listing. Remember, though that most of these rating sites are independent and are not supported by the businesses being reviewed. Once you get listed, check these sites regularly. This will help you asses how clients see your business or your site. This, in turn, allows you to make the necessary improvements to your products and services. Try and encourage your clients to give reviews. Satisfied clients often give good reviews, but disgruntled ones also like to vent. With the emergence of numerous rating sites all over the Web, a business can rely on the good old successful method of referrals or word-of-mouth through a wider audience.