Comments on: Yelp’s Trust Problem http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/ Because not everyone can throw thousands of dollars at the 'How do we market ourselves online?' question... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:57:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: Matt McGee http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-307933 Matt McGee Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:52:56 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-307933 James - I'm not a big fan of how Yelp deals with reviews, and I've shared my thoughts on that many times on this blog. BUT ... you're not correct when you say that Yelp "selects to filter positive reviews." Yelp's algorithm is biased against 1st-time reviews/reviewers -- people who've never written a review before. Doesn't matter if it's a good or bad review, it only matters how many reviews you've written, how long you've had a Yelp account, etc. Those are signs of trust. If you come to Yelp, setup a new account and leave your first review, that review is probably not gonna make the grade. And, the reality of the situation is that, in most cases, people who do that are leaving positive reviews. It's not that Yelp selects to filter positive reviews, it's that the more common behavior is that people leaving their first review will be writing a positive one -- often at the request of the business itself, which is also frowned upon. James – I’m not a big fan of how Yelp deals with reviews, and I’ve shared my thoughts on that many times on this blog. BUT … you’re not correct when you say that Yelp “selects to filter positive reviews.”

Yelp’s algorithm is biased against 1st-time reviews/reviewers — people who’ve never written a review before. Doesn’t matter if it’s a good or bad review, it only matters how many reviews you’ve written, how long you’ve had a Yelp account, etc. Those are signs of trust. If you come to Yelp, setup a new account and leave your first review, that review is probably not gonna make the grade. And, the reality of the situation is that, in most cases, people who do that are leaving positive reviews.

It’s not that Yelp selects to filter positive reviews, it’s that the more common behavior is that people leaving their first review will be writing a positive one — often at the request of the business itself, which is also frowned upon.

]]> By: James Chun http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-307445 James Chun Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:21:21 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-307445 If it were an issue of filtering fake reviews. It would be fine so long as it was accurate. However the issue is that Yelp selects to filter positive reviews while promoting the negative reviews. It just destroys all credibility. However, the average consumer is completely unaware of this filtering system. Even if yelp offers consumers to view the filtered reviews, it is both inconspicuous and inconvenient to get to them. If it were an issue of filtering fake reviews. It would be fine so long as it was accurate. However the issue is that Yelp selects to filter positive reviews while promoting the negative reviews. It just destroys all credibility. However, the average consumer is completely unaware of this filtering system. Even if yelp offers consumers to view the filtered reviews, it is both inconspicuous and inconvenient to get to them.

]]> By: Michelle B. http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-225650 Michelle B. Tue, 02 Nov 2010 05:17:22 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-225650 I am a member of the Yelp Elite Squad. The "Elite Squad" is for active members who continually write good, informative reviews. I am 100% truthful and no one pays me. Trust me, I wish they did, I can certainly use the money! Even if I was paid I would STILL write truthful reviews. No one benefits from a lie. If I go to a restaurant and I see a cockroach, you bet I am going to write about it! The health department makes it too easy for some of these restaurant owners to just skirt by when truthfully they should not even be operating in the first place! I know first hand from a former employer. I have not and will not write a review for that place because of a confidentiality agreement I signed my first day of work there. Still, I will make sure that I share my info so that other people do not have to suffer. Most of my reviews are very positive. Business owners have nothing to worry about if they provide good service, and a good product. My negative reviews have always been counted, and so have my positive reviews. I know nothing about a "filter" system. There is a fine line as far as what is acceptable. Some people can be down right vicious! Yelp encouranges its members to write informative and uplifting reviews. If you read the requirements of "Elite Status" you can find that information. I am a member of the Yelp Elite Squad. The “Elite Squad” is for active members who continually write good, informative reviews. I am 100% truthful and no one pays me. Trust me, I wish they did, I can certainly use the money! Even if I was paid I would STILL write truthful reviews. No one benefits from a lie. If I go to a restaurant and I see a cockroach, you bet I am going to write about it! The health department makes it too easy for some of these restaurant owners to just skirt by when truthfully they should not even be operating in the first place! I know first hand from a former employer. I have not and will not write a review for that place because of a confidentiality agreement I signed my first day of work there. Still, I will make sure that I share my info so that other people do not have to suffer. Most of my reviews are very positive. Business owners have nothing to worry about if they provide good service, and a good product. My negative reviews have always been counted, and so have my positive reviews. I know nothing about a “filter” system. There is a fine line as far as what is acceptable. Some people can be down right vicious! Yelp encouranges its members to write informative and uplifting reviews. If you read the requirements of “Elite Status” you can find that information.

]]> By: Bluecat http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-224809 Bluecat Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:58:51 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-224809 First hand experience. Yelp removed many of my reviews then sent me some sort of notice after. But those reviews took me a lot of time to do so I will never place a review there again if they can pick and choose what is published and remove what they desire. I suspect they are not open or honest in what they do. First hand experience. Yelp removed many of my reviews then sent me some sort of notice after. But those reviews took me a lot of time to do so I will never place a review there again if they can pick and choose what is published and remove what they desire. I suspect they are not open or honest in what they do.

]]> By: John Russo http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-218779 John Russo Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:27:35 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-218779 I DO NOT trust YELP. I recently learned about their "filter" rule and then found all the negative reviews of a restaurant on a hidden page. Also learned all these hidden reviews are not considered in the overall review-based rating given to the business. I DO NOT trust YELP. I recently learned about their “filter” rule and then found all the negative reviews of a restaurant on a hidden page. Also learned all these hidden reviews are not considered in the overall review-based rating given to the business.

]]> By: irina http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/yelps-trust-problem/2911/#comment-198368 irina Sun, 16 May 2010 14:49:08 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=2911#comment-198368 Yelp can no longer be trusted. The reviews in yelp.com are manipulated to business owners to buy adwertising Yelp can no longer be trusted. The reviews in yelp.com are manipulated to business owners to buy adwertising

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