Where can I write a review about a company?

There are many places where you can write and share reviews about companies and businesses these days. Writing honest and thoughtful reviews can help other customers make informed decisions about whether to use a company’s products or services. Here are some of the main options for where to write a company review:

Review Websites

Dedicated review websites like Yelp, Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, and Angie’s List allow customers to write reviews about all kinds of businesses. These sites are very popular, so your review will likely be seen by many people searching for information on the company. On Yelp alone there are over 192 million reviews, so it’s a great platform for sharing your thoughts.

Social Media

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have also become places where people can give reviews and ratings of businesses. You can write a review on the company’s social media page or mention them in your own posts with your feedback. This can be a quick and easy way to get your opinion seen.

Store/Service Review Sections

Many ecommerce platforms and booking sites now include options to leave a review right on the business’s page after purchasing a product or service. For example, after ordering on Amazon you can leave a product review, and after staying at a hotel you can write a review on sites like Booking.com.

Company Website

If the business has their own website, they may have a reviews section or the ability to leave online feedback there. Reviewing directly on their site makes it very visible to the company. However, these reviews can sometimes be filtered, so third-party review sites reach a wider audience.

Industry Review Sites

For certain industries like healthcare, financial services, home services, and more, there are specialized review websites to evaluate those types of businesses. For example, RateMDs for medical professionals and LendingTree for financial institutions. These niche sites attract engaged audiences.

Product Seller Sites

If you purchased a physical product, reviewing it on the retailer’s website like Walmart or directly on the brand’s site can help inform others about the item. These product reviews are influential in buyers’ selection process.

Choosing Where to Review

When deciding which site to use to write your review of a company, here are some factors to consider:

• Visibility – Choose sites that are widely visited so your review will have maximum impact.
• Relevance – Pick platforms where people are likely to be searching for info on that type of business.
• Objectivity – Third-party review platforms tend to be more unbiased vs. the company’s own site.
• Ease of Use – Look for sites that make it simple to create and post reviews.

It’s also helpful to write on multiple sites to share your perspective in different places online. Just be sure your reviews abide by the site’s guidelines.

How to Write a Useful Company Review

Follow these tips when sitting down to write your business review to help make it as helpful as possible for others:

• Give specific details about your experience with factual information and examples.
• Explain pros and cons to give a balanced perspective.
• Compare to competitors or your expectations when applicable.
• Note any stand-out positives or negatives in service and products.
• Mention pricing and value for money.
• Clarify which location you used for chain businesses.
• Describe any issues and how they were resolved.
• Add photos, ratings, or tags where applicable.

Keep your tone polite and fair in your criticism. Use clear organization with sections covering your overall thoughts, the specifics of your experience, and your recommendations. Proofread before posting.

Questions to Answer in Your Review

These questions can guide you in what details to include in your company review:

• How did you find out about and select the business?
• When did you use them and what services or products did you use?
• How would you describe their offerings’ quality and value?
• How did their services, prices, and products meet or fail your expectations?
• Were the employees knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful or not?
• Were any issues or problems resolved satisfactorily?
• Would you recommend the company to friends and family?
• What are the biggest pros and cons you would highlight?
• Do you plan to use them again in the future?

Answering these questions will ensure you give all the relevant specifics that will be most useful for other consumers researching the business.

Review Site Usage Statistics

Here is some data on the popularity of different review platforms that illustrates where your company review can have the most impact:

Google Reviews, Amazon, Facebook, and Yelp are clearly very widely used, so posting on one or more of these top sites will give your review maximum visibility. Niche sites like TripAdvisor for travel or Trustpilot for general services also reach very large engaged audiences.

Impact of Reviews on Buying Decisions

Here are some statistics that show the power reviews have on consumers’ choices:

• 93% of customers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions.
• 92% read at least 4 reviews before trusting a business.
• 88% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• 1- and 5-star reviews influence buyers the most.
• Reviews with more text are more trusted than those with minimal text.

Given the huge sway reviews hold, sharing your thoughtful insights can really help guide others in whether to use a business. Especially on popular sites like Yelp, detailed reviews with pros, cons, imagery, and context perform best.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning a Review

Before writing, ask yourself these questions to gather your thoughts and ensure your review will be fair, helpful, and complete:

• What was your objective in using this company?
• Did they deliver what you wanted and needed?
• What worked well or impressed you about the business?
• What areas or elements were unsatisfactory or could be improved?
• Would you recommend them without reservations?
• If recommending them, who would benefit most from their services or products?
• Would you use them again?
• How did the value for the price measure up to your expectations?

Thinking through these points will give you clarity on the key details to emphasize and help you give a review that provides a true representation.

The Importance of Honest, Fair Reviews

It’s critical that your company review honestly reflects your real experience as a customer. Biased or dishonest reviews undermine the value of these platforms. Here are a few factors to avoid:

• Exaggerating issues because of one bad occurrence
• Being overly harsh out of malicious intent
• Focusing only on the negatives and ignoring any positives
• Letting a personal grudge influence your objectivity
• Fabricating false claims about poor service
• Giving an overly glowing review to try and manipulate reputation

Stick to facts, context, examples, and specifics to provide a fair and authentic review. Both negative and positive reviews play a key role in presenting a complete picture of a business.

Creating Your Account to Write Reviews

Most review platforms require you to set up a user account before you can post your thoughts on a company. Here are some tips for the sign-up process:

• Use an email you check frequently in case of notifications.
• Pick a unique username not attached to other accounts.
• Use a strong password and update it periodically.
• You may need to verify via email confirmation.
• Some sites require a profile picture and bio info.
• Read the site’s posting community guidelines.

Having an established user account lends more credibility versus anonymous reviews. But don’t use personal details like address or birthday in your public profile.

Quality Standards for Useful Reviews

To ensure your company review provides real value, aim for these quality markers:

• At least 2-3 concise paragraphs of text
• A detailed headline summarizing your thoughts
• Honesty without exaggeration or manipulation
• A fair assessment of both positives and negatives
• Mention of specific experiences, products, or employees
• Useful recommendations for others considering the company
• Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Compliance with the review site’s content policies

Higher quality reviews have more influence on consumer opinions, so take the time to get your details and tone right.

Responding to Reviews of Your Business

If you represent a business that receives reviews, it’s important to monitor your review sites and thoughtfully respond when appropriate. Here are some tips:

• Thank customers for taking the time to provide feedback.
• Address any criticisms constructively without getting defensive.
• Explain how you will improve issues mentioned in the future.
• Highlight positive mentions of staff and service where applicable.
• Remain professional in tone even with negative remarks.
• Apologize for unacceptable lapses and offer to make amends if relevant.
• Stick to the facts and do not argue opinions.
• Reply privately if needed for sensitive account details.

Responsiveness to reviews shows customers you value their perspectives. But always follow site rules regarding review responses.

Conclusion

Writing an insightful, honest review of a company you’ve interacted with provides useful guidance to other consumers and businesses alike. By picking popular platforms where relevant audiences will see your review, you can maximize its impact. And following best practices for fair, detailed, factual reviews helps ensure your perspectives will be trusted. So don’t hesitate to share your thoughts – your reviews make a difference.