Monday, August 9, 2010 4:28pm Written by Carlos Gutierrez

Many people have strong opinions of businesses and restuarants and want their opinion to be heard. Sources like Zagat and magazines tend to be exclusive and don't allow the general public to write reviews.

Yelp! has emerged as a popular outlet to review and rate restaurants for the everyday diner. However, there are several steps that need to be taken to ensure that you come across as credible and your reviews have impact.

Here's how to get YOUR voice heard on Yelp..

1. Be as fair and objective as possible in your reviews. Many Yelp members are fickle and emotional in their reviews and their opinion is ignored. Try to focus on the entire experience and don't dwell on one minor detail that really bothered you.
2. Compare the business to similar ones you've used. This helps build your credibility because viewers will see that you have some experience on what kind of service or product is expected and you know what to look for.
3. Be sure to write in proper English. Nothing destroys the credibility of an author more than spelling and grammatical mistakes. Don't fret though if you don't write frequently. A spelling check can be used to catch your spelling errors. An initial draft takes some patience but can be well worth it. Wait a few hours to double-check your review and you will probably find some mistakes or a way to reword an awkward sentence.
4. Build out your profile. Add a profile picture, write about your background, join groups and add friends. This is another way to build credibility. People like putting a face to a voice. It also shows that you are an active user and not some anonymous person posting a rant.

Tips & Warnings

• Be persistent and keep posting reviews. You will start to build a following.
• Be careful about giving the dreaded 1 star. Could someone possibly fail in every possible way? If you do have to give a restaurant the worst possible score be sure to extensively document why you feel this way.

Read more: How to Write a Restaurant Review on Yelp | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4838808_write-restaurant-review-yelp.html#ixzz0w9wrOJxg