Customer Reviews: A Complex Path to Purchase [Infographic]

Do you have the habit of looking everything up on the internet? Well, we do! In today's world of data overload we can almost find everything in the world wide web. If you need a new dishwasher or have an eye on a fancy digital camera, you simply google it and start examining and comparing. Let's say you already have a brand/type in mind, so you rather opt for customer reviews instead of sticking solely to manufacturer descriptions.

Customer reviews are highly subjective and can help you make objective shopping decisions: reviewers might be our best advisers when it comes to purchasing a certain product or finding the most delicious pizza in the city. We are more likely to choose the service or product we have read reviews about, simply because we rely on real customer feedback. 

You can shape customer experience as well, by sharing your opinion with others, telling everything about the services you have used so far. If you like a company for its professional customer service or you are totally satisfied with the staff of your favorite beauty salon, spread the news! Show your appreciation with a review so that everyone knows about the best businesses in the city! 

Did you have bad experiences with a company? You should write about that too...as long as you remain polite of course. People are not looking for positive reviews and excellent ratings, but real experiences. Moreover, businesses have the opportunity to respond to negative reviews, build their trust and improve their services.

For more information check out the infographic below.

Online Business Directories in 2011

From time to time we get down to see what kind of online business directories are out there, draw a table and analyze statistics a bit. If we take a look at our non-representative list of business directories posted in 2010 , you'll see important changes regarding the numbers.

While in 2010 we listed 28 nationwide and general directories, this year we have analyzed 47 online business directories. The directories presented are ranked according to Alexa and it's not necessarily accurate.

Website	Google PR	Alexa GB	Sites in Google	Unique visitors per month, estimated by Google-ad planner	Alexa GB 2010
www.yell.com	7	105	31.100.000	3.8M	95	-10
www.192.com	7	133	42300000	3.2M	290	157
www.freeindex.co.uk	5	262	1.160.000	570K	229	-33
www.applegate.co.uk	5	351	4920000	270K
www.businessmagnet.co.uk	5	776	220000	110K
www.hotfrog.co.uk	5	781	10200000	420K	335	-446
www.upmystreet.com	5	816	7.130.000	620K	710	-106
www.thebestof.co.uk	4	844	1070000	350K	811	-33
www.thomsonlocal.com	7	850	3450000	350K
www.misterwhat.co.uk	4	963	4170000	620K
www.cylex-uk.co.uk	6	1124	5030000	560K	572	-552
www.mylocalservices.co.uk	3	1558	1.810.000	150K	1999	441
www.touchlocal.com	6	2250	2.500.000	120K	1141	-1109
www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk	5	2270	1060000	53K	1457	-813
www.accessplace.com	5	2541	491000	260K	1168	-1373
www.business-directory-uk.co.uk	5	2637	189	18K
www.cdrex.com	2	2732	6790000.00	430K
www.bizwiki.co.uk	5	3055	949000	180K	1756	-1299
www.wheresbest.co.uk	3	3118	1.190.000	160K	2001	-1117
www.locallife.co.uk	4	3308	3020000	160K	2390	-918
www.inuklocal.co.uk	3	3606	1.180.000	180K	8570	4964
www.1stdirectory.com	4	4726	1780	53K	8924	4198
www.citylocal.co.uk	4	6573	711000	32K
www.city-listings.co.uk	3	7417	1.080.000	57K	7640	223
www.businessnetwork.co.uk	2	7956	2620000	39K	32841	24885
www.uk-local-search.co.uk	5	8290	2.720.000	36K	11730	3440
www.ogbit.com	3	8368	580000	NA
www.wwwi.co.uk	4	9229	10800	11K
www.searchme4.co.uk	4	9895	1160000	32K
www.welovelocal.com	4	10187	291000	84K	2511	-7676
www.approvedbusiness.co.uk	4	10930	292000	20K
www.bizdirbusinessdirectory.co.uk	4	11089	1580	NA
www.b2bindex.co.uk	4	13191	6430	NA
www.b2b-directory-uk.co.uk	3	13374	126	NA
www.wura.co.uk	4	17318	9820	NA
www.toplocallistings.co.uk	4	17427	11000	NA
www.zettai.net	4	18120	160000	44K	2873	-15247
www.townpages.com	4	20076	152000	29K	8404	-11672
www.yalwa.co.uk	4	21199	103000	8.4K
www.businessdirectory-uk.com	5	21247	615	NA
Www.business.website-directory-uk.com	2	32018	3490	NA
www.kyotee.co.uk	4	32983	131000	NA

New features for increasing your income

We are working hard to develop as many features as possible to help companies get more clients and to be more successful. Of course all these new features are also free of charge. Don’t forget more clients means 

more income! Activate the new features and leave your competitors behind.

Upload useful files

Due to the request of our clients we have developed some new features which can help you increase your income and make new potential clients. With the new features you will be able to share useful information with your clients. You can upload different kind of documents such as: instruction sheets, spreadsheets, price lists, etc. You cannot upload more than five documents.

Respond to reviews

We are not only a business directory, but a community portal as well, where users can share their experiences about companies and their products/services. Now, you have the possibility to respond to your customers’ reviews directly on your presentation page. If you find unpleasant criticisms, try to respond calmly, 'thank you for your comment', and somehow try to bring of the contentious matter a head. We reckon that a calm response can make miracles and also increase your company's credibility.

Social Media

We know how important the social media pages for companies and customers are. If your company has a Facebook Page and/or Twitter ID, share them on your company presentation page. In this way the users can like your Facebook Page and view your latest tweets directly on your presentation page. Furthermore you can also share your presentation page on these social media networks.

Related Innovations

Now you have the possibility to share reviews and special offers on the above mentioned community sites, furthermore you can login to CYLEX using your Google Account.