Write a review

Give a little love to the small businesses in your life

Given how prevalent online reviews are these days, it’s hard to believe that thirty years ago they just weren’t a thing. If you wanted to find a good pizza place near you, you had to ask people, read reviews in local newspapers or magazines if you could find them, or look in the phone book to see the advertisements and just guess based on the menus what you would think.

Now, of course, anyone under the sun can review anything. This is great in some ways, but it also gives the cranky folks among us quite a lot of power. That’s because most people don’t bother to write reviews.

So, today, resolve to change that. Write a review for at least one small business (or independently operated part of a chain) that you’ve enjoyed lately. You can make a huge difference to that business and possibly even boost their bottom line.

We’re all busy

Writing online reviews is easy, but it does take some time, which is the problem. Even if you really liked a restaurant, or a hair salon, or a retail store, you’re unlikely to sit down at your computer and formulate a review. If the experience was fine — not the best ever but not the worst — you’re definitely not going to bother writing a review like that.

That’s just the way life works. But the fact that most people don’t write reviews can wind up being an issue, given that nothing moves people to action like anger. So if a really great local pizza place has an off night, running short on certain items, or if too many staff members called out sick, you can wind up with a one-star review staying as the most prominent one on Yelp or other places for a long time. For months when people look for a pizza place, they’re going to see that one-star review.

Now, I’m not saying the restaurant didn’t deserve a one-star review for that person’s experience. The problem is context. That is far from the only experience people have at the restaurant. It’s just that the vast majority of people don’t write reviews.

One way to make a difference

But if anyone can write reviews, then you can become the sort of person who writes reviews. So why not take a few minutes to write a positive review for a small businesses in your life?

If you eat somewhere frequently, you obviously like it enough to be a repeat customer. So take three minutes and write a review saying that. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be something like “I order from here every Tuesday. I especially love the lasagna and the minestrone soup is great.” Or, if you shop at a local boutique, write “Great selection, and the owner, Amanda is always helpful. Highly recommended when you’re looking for a special occasion outfit.”

Just write it and post it. That’s all there is to it. Then, when people are looking for an Italian restaurant, or a special occasion boutique, your review will appear alongside whatever random or cranky person got inspired to write by something going wrong. You just might get someone else to try out one of your favorite spots. Lots of small businesses could use more business. This is a great way to support them.