Google takes aim at Get Satisfaction with new Google Places feature.

Back when Google introduced “Places”, the buzz was pretty huge. Was Google looking to take over the spot previously held by Yelp? What information were businesses going to be able to provide? As time has gone on, Places has grown pretty quickly and Google realizes that with that success comes some responsibility to the businesses.

As of today, if you’re a verified Google Places business owner, you can respond to customer reviews.

From the Google Lat Long Blog:

Engaging with the people who have shared their thoughts about your business is a great way to get to know your customers and find out more. By responding, you can build stronger relationships with existing and prospective customers.

So now it appears that Google is not only giving Yelp, but also Get Satisfaction, a run for its money. Make sure to check out the new Places features in Google Maps for Mobile.