Ratings & Reviews are the digital equivalent of “word of mouth” referrals.  And probably one of the most important local search citation; controlling the destiny of how often the search engines display your local listing or your brands’ locations.  They are to local search what “backlinks” are to SEO.  Creating credibility and authority for you business locations.

Over 50% of consumers mention that ratings and reviews are an important criteria in picking businesses, yet only 6% of all consumers regularly write this important information.

In my recent Clickz column “3 Tips To Leverage Ratings and Reviews” I covered some of the basics on how to increase the number of reviews for businesses.  Additionally, 15miles has developed a proprietary technology suite and process for better managing Ratings & Reviews.  Drop me a note at gregg.stewart@15miles.com if you would like to learn more.

Finally, if you are at Search Engines Strategies this week in Chicago, stop by our session on Local/Social on Wednesday.  Sorry for the short post this week, I have to run to go teach the Local Search session as part of the Clickz Academy.