You cannot avoid competition on the Internet

Last week, CityVoter rolled out a new feature on our website that allows us to suggest that people who are looking at one business consider other businesses on our website that are similar and have been recommended by other consumers. This feature is designed to continue to help consumers understand that CityVoter is a place where you can get great recommendations so you can make better decisions. After all, if we only showed consumers one salon or one museum, how would we be helping them compare and be more informed?

Needless to say, the feature is working very well with consumers who visit the site. Immediately, we noticed that consumers were eager to see other similar businesses, and they're staying on the website longer -- helping all businesses get better free promotion.

Unfortunately, some business owners are not happy with CityVoter listing their competition on their profile page. "Why would we want to promote our competitors?"

This response is understandable, but not really consistent with how consumers shop or behave on the Internet. Most consumers find our website because they've searched for a local product or service using Google or another search engine. They're already in shop and compare mode. It is a huge benefit to the business owners on our site that we give them so much control to promote what makes them different and great. The fact that we allow consumers to compare you side by side with your competitors should allow you to stand out. If you need help standing out from the crowd, let us know. The answer isn't "buy advertising" (although that helps), it can be free and as simple as uploading new photos, highlighting some of your customer reviews, and providing an insider deal (a special offer).