In the last post we discussed ways in which companies can encourage satisfied customers to post positive reviews (along with some tips on how to make sure they are satisfied customers).

Now we come to the difficult task of dealing with negative reviews. In a recent post Chris Linnett says that companies have three alternatives for dealing with negative reviews: flame the publishers, simply let it play out or get directly involved, to which I have added a fourth option below.

Bizwiki is a user generated business directory. This means that YOU can write on this site. As a business owner or manager the ability to submit your company, free of charge, and add to and update your Bizwiki business record gives you the opportunity to go far beyond the standard directory style listing or phone book entry.

We want Bizwiki users to be able to find out all about your company and so we are offering companies the opportunity to add a wide range of information about their company’s products, brands, specialities, areas of expertise, geographic locations they serve, awards they’ve won, associations they belong to, special mentions and so on.

Bizwiki has added new features that allow our users to review companies and services, as well as adding information about them. Allowing users to submit reviews of businesses, restaurants, clubs, schools, venues and just about anything is becoming more popular on the web, and I’m sure most business owners and managers have seen reviews of their own or another company online. Sometimes they’re positive, sometimes neutral and sometimes a customer is so unhappy with the service or product that they feel compelled to write a negative review.

This is the first post, so perhaps the best start would be to offer an introduction. This is the official blog for Bizwiki, a user edited site for businesses, companies and organisations that we hope will grow into one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive business directories on the web.

That is quite a challenge, and in order to accomplish it we are inviting users, business owners, company managers, consumers, clients and customers to get involved and increase the information available for everyone to use.