Bview

BView is a User generated local search directory that allows reviewing and rating of all businesses in the UK. The site combines social networking, user generated content (descriptions, reviews, photos, videos) and a search engine.

Details

Users of BView can search for businesses from a data base of 2.3 million businesses in 1,800 categories. Users can add text reviews, ratings and media (photos, videos) and additional tiers of information (e.g. opening hours) on each business in the directory. Ratings of each business are captured across 3 different scales: quality, reliability and value.

Equifax provides financial information such as turnover, profit and a representative financial stability score for around a half of all businesses listed.

Each BView registered member has a series of profile pages detailing their reviews and activity on the site.

Functionality

BView Users can use the following site functionality:

1. Search
* "By review score" A search for businesses ranked in order of their review score contributed by the rest of the BView community.
* "By financial stability" A search for businesses ranked in order of their financial stability.

2. Business reviews
* "Title" A summary title of the review.
* "Pros" A description of pros of dealing with the business.
* "Cons" A description of cons of dealing with the business i.e. detail on what the business could do better.
* "Quality" A measure of how good was the product or service was.
* "Reliability" A measure of how well the business delivered what was expected.
* "Value" A measure of how good the quality compared to price.
* "Recommendation" Indication of whether the User would deal with the business again i.e. would they recommend them or not.
* "Photographs" Photographs that support or illustrate the review being given.

3. Business data additions
* "Photographs"
* "Videos" (Embedded from YouTube
* "Description" An in depth review of the business and the service they offer.
* "Opening times" Details of when the business is open.
* "Payment methods" Details of the types of payment accepted
* "Employee profiles"

4. Activity feeds
* "Reviews" Updates on all reviews written by other Users that are being followed.
* "Messaging" Updates on User communication.

In addition to following other users with whom they share interests, BView Users can also choose to follow businesses listed on the site.

History

BView was founded in 2007 and was incubated within [http://www.xbridge.co.uk/ Xbridge] . The site went live in a Beta phase in March 2008 and was launched in April 2008 and first profiled by [http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/05/12/bview-mashes-up-yelp-yell-and-facebook-to-keep-businesses-honest/ Techcrunch UK] in May 2007. In July 2008 TrustedPlaces and BView announced a [http://www.netimperative.com/news/2008/july/2/trustedplaces-and-bview-strike-local-sales sales partnership] to offer a joint product to business owners.

BView is lead by Brad Liebmann. Liebmann was the founder of Xbridge, Europe's largest online small business insurer, after leaving Lehmann Brothers where he was VP of acquisitions and mergers in the IT sector. Liebmann co-founded the business with Colin Bruce, also of Xbridge, and Adam Baker who was Managing Director of [http://www.cateringpages.com/ Catering Pages] prior to selling the business.

The board of directors includes Cesar Mascaraque, currently Managing Director of [http://www.ask.com Ask] Europe, having Left Google which he joined in 2002 and Mike Brown, Managing Director and founder of [http://www.boltblue.com Bolt Blue] .

The company was bought out of Xbridge by the management however they still share offices. BView is currently privately funded.

ee also

*Yellow Pages
*Yelp

References and notes

* [http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/05/12/bview-mashes-up-yelp-yell-and-facebook-to-keep-businesses-honest/ BView mashes up Yelp, Yell and Facebook to keep businesses honest] . Techcrunch UK.
* [http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/06959143451268101332/bview-ltd.html Business Catalysts: Bview Ltd.] Growing Business.
* [http://www.recruiter.co.uk/Articles/336890/Bview+gives+companies+honest+customer+ratings.html Bview gives companies honest customer ratings] Recruiter.

External links

* [http://www.bview.co.uk Official site]
* [http://blog.bview.co.uk Official blog]
* [http://www.crunchbase.com/company/bview CrunchBase Company Profile for BView]