How a Good Review is Good for your Business

In today’s day and age, all business owners know the importance of reviews when it comes to their businesses. Whenever you walk into a coffee shop, restaurant or salon, you can see a Yelp sticker proudly displayed in their windows. Whenever I travel to other cities with my family, I use Yelp when looking for places to eat or things to do and go off of reviews. Just as Yelp does for these business owners, it is imperative to my businesses that people also review me.

As a real estate agent, one of the things we always tell our clients is that referrals are the best thing they can give to us. If I did a stand up job for them, and they appreciated my work and dedication to helping them buy or sell their house, that they please remember when they hear someone discuss looking for a realtor to give them my name. In the real estate industry, a lot of our business comes from referrals while the other comes from our own circle plus going out and meeting new clients. I also ask my clients, if they would recommend me and think I did a great job for them if they would write a review about me on either my LinkedIn page, Facebook Page or my personal website. These three are the best places to write reviews reaching a large audience and also are a type of a digital word-of-mouth. It’s imperative to have these reviews for any business owner because –

 

·      These reviews allow your business to reach new audiences

·      They enable your business to build up a positive reputation

·      They can help your business be found through an online search

A study a couple years back stated that 92% of consumers read reviews, 92%! Basically everyone out there is going to try and find a review about the good or service they need and will make a decision based on the reviews they read. Of those 92%, 68% said that when they read positive reviews about a company or a person, it made they trust the business more. In the real estate industry, I know how imperative it is to have trust with my clients. While it is important to have all the real estate knowledge I have, when I first meet with new clients I know that the two things that will be the biggest factor in their decision if I am the right realtor for them or not is if they trust me and if they like me as a person. So building a portfolio of positive reviews from previous clients always is a helpful place to point new clients to before we sign any contracts together.

That being said, I know how important reviews are to my business and that is why I make it a priority to write reviews for the people I do work with as well. I take time every week to go through the people I have worked with the week before and find a place to write a review about them so that they too can grow their business because of the positive reviews. We are all here to help one another grow in our businesses, so make sure to take time to post good reviews when you can!

A little history on a favorite of mine, LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver)

The history of the city of Denver can be traced back through many years and through many stories. It used to be quite the Wild West back in the day (and I am not talking about that long ago!) and the city still boasts a certain Western culture flair to it. As the city grew and developed through the years, it became sectioned off into different areas that we still refer to today such as Capitol Hill or Washington Park or the Highlands. One of my favorite areas of Denver, and where I happen to do a lot of business, is LoDo or Lower Downtown Denver. Everyone knows where LoDo is when referenced to and it was and continues to be a growing area with amazing living spaces as well as incredible restaurants and entertainment facilities.

 

LoDo was actually known was the Union Station neighborhood until 1983 when a Denver Post reporter referred to the area as “LoDo” (which he took from Manhattan’s SoHo). During that time, LoDo was not a well-developed area. Downtown Denver is not what it used to be, back then, it was a pretty rough area and very underdeveloped, not a spot you would be out on a weekend evening. LoDo has become a national model of how a decaying city neighborhood can be converted to a flourishing retail, residential and recreational area that continues to grow and develop today. The Union Station building, which recently got its own face-lift and renovation, remains the main building in the area that arose from predominantly rail-related enterprises such as Market Street bordellos, Wynkoop Street warehouses and Larimer Street saloons.

 

South Platte River, Cherry Creek, Larimer Street and 20th Street bound the official neighborhood. Early on, LoDo was the core commercial and rail hub of Denver but unfortunately it descended into skid row in the 1930’s. In 1988, Denver designated parts of LoDo as historical districts that helped provide incentives for preservation. In the 1990’s, LoDo became the hot area of the city attracting young late-night crowds. The success of the area also inspired Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies to build their home, Coors Field, on the northeast edge of Blake and 20th Street in 1995. To this day, LoDo continues to be a developing neighborhood attracting a diverse crowd of people looking to live and play in the heart of the city.

 

There are many amazing spots in LoDo from Larimer Square, Flour Mill lofts, the Oxford Hotel and Denver Untion Station that would not have happened without the visionary dreams of Dana Crawford (whom the Crawford Hotel is named after). Dana Crawford was a young mother during the summer of 1963 looking for a plot of buildings with the potential to become a place for people to gather, shop and dine. Crawford had fallen in love with such areas growing up in Kansas and attending graduate school in Boston and wanted to bring the same to Denver. She found herself in he 1400 block of Larimer amongst bands of drunks and homeless people, but it was here that she saw what potential the area had and it is said that was her greatest gift for years to come.

 

LoDo has and will continue to be a staple neighborhood in Denver offering up amazing living places and so much life. As I said, it is an area I have come to know and love and if you think it is an area you could see yourself living, give me a call today and let’s go grab a coffee at one of the many amazing coffee shops down there.

Denver Restaurant Week

Denver is known for many wonderful things, from our closeness to the mountains, work life balance, great companies to work for, incredible weather and great music and art venues. One thing we are constantly also being put on the map for is the food that this city is turning out. More and more chefs and restaurants are setting their sights on the Mile High City as a place to bring cuisine because this is a city that welcomes all flavors and types of food. Denver has always been a city that flourishes in many cultures of food, from Asian to Mexican to American, this city is enriched with restaurant owners and chefs who aren’t afraid to try new things knowing Denver is city they can do that in.

 

It is almost time for Denver Restaurant week, running ten days from February 24th – March 5th, with hundreds of local restaurant participating this year. There are a few changes when it comes to pricing this year though that are leaving many people happy. In the past nine years, it has been $52.80 per couple which Visit Denver is raising this year to $60 per couple. But, there is now price points starting as low as $25 for a multi-curse meal, which is the lowest ever. From $25, $35 and $45 for a selection of great meals, you are sure to find something to make your taste buds happy. Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Denver recently said in an interview with Denver Business Journal, “"We wanted the pricing structure to reflect the entire culinary scene," Scharf said. "The low-, mid- and higher-range options allowed the flexibility for even more restaurants to participate, and the prices make it easy for diners to experience more of everything that Denver has to offer."

 

With over 245 restaurants to choose from, you can go a few nights for some great deals and some delicious bites. I know my husband and I like to take a few date nights during Denver Restaurant Week because we get to try out so many restaurants that we may not try otherwise. Or we like to get into one of the new hot spots and see what all the praise is about. But we also have classics that we like to go back to every year if we can, either way, it is a great week to spend time with your loved ones or even take some clients out to experience some of the great food we have here in Denver!

 

Below is a link to all of the restaurants and menus being offered this year. Make sure to buy your tickets early and get reservations as soon as possible for some places!

 

http://www.denver.org/denver-restaurant-week/menus/

How to Spend Valentine’s Day in Denver this Year

Truth be told, I still really like Valentine’s Day even as an adult. When you are a kid, it is really a fun holiday, making card boxes and passing out cards and candies to kids in you class. As we grow older, the holiday takes on a different meaning for people, it is a special day throughout the year that we can remind those special loved ones in our lives just how much we care about them. I know many people do not like the holiday because they see it as a “Hallmark holiday” and why should we have one day specified to telling and showing people how much we love them when we have 364 other days to do that. But, I think, Valentine’s Day is a day, out of the whole year, when we can take an extra minute to write a card, or call a loved one, or take our special someone somewhere special, just because that day is reserved for such special things.

 

If you are looking for some romantic or fun or family activities to do this Valentine’s Day in Colorado, peek at the list below for some ideas of what to do with your loved ones to show them a little extra love this year:

 

Romantic –

 

Couples massage at the Ritz-Carlton – 1881 Curtis St – Sometimes the best way to unwind is with your loved one. Check out the beautiful Ritz-Carlton in downtown Denver and their amazing spa packages that is sure to please both of you.

 

Ice skating at the Southwest Rink- corner of Arapahoe and 16th St – This is a sweet and fairly inexpensive thing to do with your loved on Valentine’s Day. The rink is free and skate rentals are only $2 so grab your significant other and take them for a little skate in the heart of downtown Denver.

 

Cooking with Cupid at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts – 1927 Market St – Feb. 9th – If you have a loved one who likes to cook, while sipping on some bubbly, this is the perfect thing to take them to. Learn to whip up some delectable dishes while having drinks with your person in this small, intimate class setting.

 

Fun –

 

Valentine’s Day 5k – Washington Park – Feb. 12th – Prepare to run your heart out at this yearly Valentine’s Day run. Runners are encouraged to come in costume, such as their favorite couple from a television show, to get more in the Valentine’s Day spirit.

 

Malas & Mimosas – 2372 Central Park Blvd. – Feb. 12th – If you have someone who is a bit of a yogi but also loves a good cocktail, head to this fun event where you will string together your own mala (meditation necklace) while sipping on a delicious drink.

 

Family –

 

Learn to bake at My Make Studio - 6460 E Yale Ave – Feb 8th & 14th – What is better than finding a place to test your baking skills with the family? Each class will start with a lesson in professional decorating and then you will get to decorate a heart-shaped cake or cupcakes. Don’t worry parents; you will also get a glass of beer or wine for this fun event.

 

Take a carriage ride through downtown Denver – Feb. 7th or 21st – We’ve all seen the beautiful carriages and horses that ride around down 16th street mall area during the holidays. But during Valentine’s Day, Irish Rose Drafts’ offers a romantic deluxe package that includes capturing all the sights like the Big Blue Bear, the lights of Larimer Square and the historic Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower. 

There are so many great events to participate in this Valentine's Day, but remember, the day is about showing and telling others just how much they mean to you. So spread the love!