Here at Brighton Securities, we try to keep our interactions with clients as painless as possible. But every now and then, we want them to Yelp!

For the uninitiated, Yelp! is a popular business review site that started in San Francisco and now covers local business in cities around the world . Customers are increasingly turning to their computers as they seek peer assistance in making decisions about where to bring their business, so having an online presence is a must. In fact, as recently as October a Harvard Business School professor determined that earning even a one-star increase in Yelp ratings leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue.

We've been on Yelp! for three years now, and we've encouraged many of our business-owning clients to establish their own profiles on the site. If you have a business, consider registering for the (free) site. If you're looking for feedback on a new restaurant in town (Rochester or a vacation destination), try visiting the site for help. And if you're one of our clients, consider describing your experience on our page!

We promise - it won't hurt a bit!

Alexandra Conboy

(This article contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Brighton Securities Corp. The author's opinions are subject to change without notice. This blog post is for informational purposes only. Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities).