Back in January, Yelp announced a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration to launch Success With Online Reviews, a series of events to take place in different cities around the country. That has now concluded, and according to Yelp it was successful.

The series was meant to educate businesses about “what it takes to have success in a world where more consumers are using online reviews to make purchasing decisions.”

Yelp writes on its blog:

We concluded our Success With Online Reviews tour last week in Miami, where we were joined by partners from the Small Business Development Center, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and 880 AM the Biz radio host, Pete De La Torre, who broadcasted live from the event. Our panelists included Vic Ruiz, owner of Sweet Dogs, the highest rated hot dog joint on Yelp in Miami, and Julio F. of the Miami Yelp Elite squad. Vic told the audience he built his online reputation by focusing on solid customer service and a great product. As he puts it, “I don’t ask for reviews, I let my food speak for itself.” Julio (who has written over 200 reviews) says he’s motivated to write reviews for the same reason many other Yelpers get involved on our site — a desire to share his experiences with the community in the hopes it helps them find great local businesses.

From Portland, OR to Atlanta, GA, the Success With Online Reviews tour hit seven major cities and featured two nationally webcasted events. Several thousand small businesses registered for these workshops and attendees walked away with some valuable insights.

While this particular series has concluded, Yelp notes that it will still be conducting regular webinars, which you can sign up for here.

Yelp is often criticized by business owners, who complain to organizations like the FTC and the Better Business Bureau, but according to a report this week, the BBB has gone on the record defending the company. Yelp currently has an A+ rating.

Image via Yelp