Google Hotpot is the new location-based rating system for helping users discover and rate nearby businesses. The system is based on either your history of spots that you have searched and reviewed on Google Places, or new searches you have done from Hotpot.
Hotpot not only tracks your search history, but it also keeps track of the reviews that you have written and the ratings you have given, while also allowing them to be public. Hotpot results are personalized based on previous ratings and, with each user, get their own modified recommendations according to the individual’s tastes.
With Hotpot, writing a review or giving a rating is made easy. All you have to do is click on the business to go to your Google place listing. Then, when you scroll down, you are given a field to provide your rating and write your review. But you must be sure to be logged into your Google account in order to do this.
Hotpot also lets you create a profile so that you can add friends and comment on their reviews and ratings. This gives users a chance to see what kind of restaurants or types of foods their friends enjoy when they go out to dinner. That way, if your friend leaves you in charge of picking a place for dinner, you can see what kind of places your friend enjoys so that you can pick something you’ll both want to eat.
Hotpot also gives the option to choose “Save For Later” or “Not Interested” for businesses that you’ve looked for in searches. That way, if you aren’t interested, the same places won’t keep popping up in new searches.
This is a great way for businesses to monitor what the public thinks about their establishment by checking their business ratings. The review might make suggestions or describe problems in areas that need improvement, which could in turn help each business improve their own ratings and reviews on Google Hotpot.
Both Google Hotpot and Places are making it easy for users to have their opinions heard, not only in to regard to their area but also even when out traveling. For those users who are traveling, Hotpot will help in making decisions about where to eat based on type of food and rating as well as on location. Thus, instead of driving around a town that you don’t know trying to find something that looks good to you, you can choose something nearby that’s highly rated.
Recently, Google released an app for the iPhone – an upgrade from the Places App experience – with a native app that includes the new Hotpot recommendation engine. This allows you do exactly the same thing on your mobile phone, making it even easier to find spots like restaurants, ATMs, and gas stations while on the go.