Yelp has earned its reputation as being one of the most prominent review websites on the Internet since 2004. Whether someone eats at a restaurant or gets service from an HVAC contractor, more and more frequently, consumers are turning to Yelp.com to provide a review of their experiences.

You see them all the time. You can’t get away from them. Chances are, you’ve looked at them or even left one. For a business owner, it’s the elephant in the room, the 800-pound gorilla. If you run a business, you are almost undoubtedly aware of online reviews and how they may impact business, both positively and negatively.

Today, we are staring straight down the barrel of the opinion age. Not only does everyone have opinions, but now everyone can share them.

It happens all the time: The hard-working crew at a small business loses customers thanks to the sour grapes of one person. It could be a disgruntled employee, an angry customer, or even a competitor. But as damaging as a bad review can be, positive reviews can be equally constructive.

Are you clued in to the thoughts and remarks your customers may be sharing about your company online?