Why you should ignore Yelp, Urban Spoon, Google et al.

So I've been on this forum a long time, and one of my long time soapboxes has been internet reviews. As much as I like to empower people, I think it's safe to say, looking at our country that the majority of folks around just don't have amazing taste. That's not to say that we all can't appreciate a good meal, but I've always hated how public reviews on internet sites tell you almost nothing about the person reviewing it, whether they have any idea what they're talking about, and usually tend to be either 5 stars or 1 star...at all times.

Now we've all had that debate ad nauseum, but I've also made my point that in addition to being reviews by God knows who, that these internet sites also basically operate as a scam- whether perpetrated by the site itself or just jerks diluting the real reviews is debatable, but- whenever I've been in a management situation, I've seen my restaurant get 3-4 bad internet reviews and like clockwork, I get a phone call in the next few days offering to help "manage my social media" and police the online review sites...well I just got this email, putting it all out there, so anyone who thinks I'm a crackpot, well, you're probably right, but I was right about this!

Need "Positive Reviews" to Get Higher Yelp Ratings?


How Are We Different?
We are not like other reputation marketing firms. We do not waste time posting articles all over the Internet. We go to the "heart" of the problem on the actual review site, such as Yelp, and post positive reviews in an effort to dilute your negative reviews. We also work to strengthen your existing positive reviews so they don't wind up in Yelp's filter, as well as strengthening those reviews that are caught up in the filtration system - so eventually those reviews will be permanently displayed on Yelp.

How Do We Get You Positive Reviews?
We provide incentives to people all over the nation to write positive things about your business with a personalized incentive program. Our incentive program alone provides you positive reviews on Yelp, Google, CitySearch, TripAdvisor and other review sites that will usher in new clients - by diluting the negative things people have said in the past.

Monitor Your Reviews for a Full 12 Months
After we increase your ratings in the first several weeks, if someone later posts a bad review, or your ratings drop for any reason, we will work diligently to get your rating back up again and keep them there. We monitor your reviews for a full twelve (12) months for a one-time payment of $495.

How your reviews affect your future business:
Harvard Business School just completed a study on business reviews. For every 1/2 star increase in Yelp, it relates to 5-9% increase in business at a minimum. With a 1-2 star increase, you'll usher in 20-40% more business, which is significant.

Already Have Good Reviews?
That's great news. If you already have good reviews, and a higher Yelp rating, we will be happy to monitor your reviews and if any negative reviews arise to decrease your overall rating, we will go to bat for you. We will send reviewers to your business to post positive reviews until your ratings are increased again. If you only want us to monitor your review sites, we are happy to do that for you for a reduced fee.

How Do We Increase Your Bottom-Line?
As you know, bad reviews will have a negative impact on your offline business. Yelp, Google, CitySearch, TripAdvisor, and other review sites can permanently take its toll on your reputation and reduce the in-flow of new customers. According to Harvard's study (above), in order to increase your business's bottomline, you need to increase your status on the review sites.

When people search in your area for restaurants, for example, they look at Yelp reviews to get tips from others. If someone has said something negative about your business, people want to know about it. If your rating is 2 or 3 stars, we can help you to increase your rating to 4.0 to 4.5 stars and your bottomline by 20-40% at a minimum.
Receive 50% Off our Annual Fee
For a limited time only, receive 50% off our annual fee of $995 -- for only $495 for an entire twelve (12) months of monitoring your reviews and ushering in new clients and customers. AND.... For this week ONLY, get an additional 25% off for a total of 75% or more off the listed price - discount EXTENDED through this week only.***

Click Here for Detailed Pricing Information
Your Satisfaction is Our #1 Priority - If you are not happy with our services or the results, we will provide your money back within 30 days with no questions asked. Otherwise, our services will monitor your reviews for a full 12 months. Contact me directly for details at the number below.

Contact me directly by email or telephone to discuss how we can turn this situation around for you, without obligation.

I'll look forward to helping you grow your business.

Sincerely,

Tim Burke
Reputation Marketing
Review Monitoring Services
(877) 786-9576

If you'd like to see the email in the flesh there's a website here:
http://199.192.229.64/mailer/display.php?M=63404&C=1f686ae775104b720a99a46f082ac3cb&S=6&L=5&N=3

So there you go. I'm not making this crap up...hmmm I wonder just where all those negative reviews CAME from???

In conclusion- NEVER TRUST THE INTERWEBS.

You are so bad ass for posting this, Jeremy - thank you! I feel very enlightened - and disheartened. I don't follow that garbage, though, so thankfully I can say that I've never been swindled by fake reviews. I do have a couple of besties that have hefty trip advisor badges, though, so I'll be sharing this with them and tapping my foot for some answers.

Thanks Jackie...it's not often that someone just puts it all right in your lap like that. Felt a duty to post it.

And that's also why people should come here:

Real names, real reviews, from people who really care.



EDIT: And Dana's Gayot project- I'm gonna be putting my coppers in on that too, quite soon...

You are right to be concerned about this. But I don't think the problem is as big as you think. Anyone who is a savvy web user, is always on the lookout for fake reviews, good or bad.

You have my sympathy though, it's hard for restaurant operators to rebut bad reviews without looking self serving. I don't think there's a perfect solution. We can all agree about how scummy the scammers are!

A conversation between my bestie and I about this topic:


Emily Sansbury I TOTALLY agree with this statement: "that the majority of folks around just don't have amazing taste." If I read a negative review, I immediately check out their profile...if they've reviewed a major chain/franchise, I disregard. Sometimes they totally give themselves away and say stupid crap like: I didn't like the noise the salsa machine made.
about an hour ago via mobile · Like
Jackie Rozier You're an educated and diligent user. My problem with these sites is the influence they have over people that just don't have time or background to discern the bullshit. But of course, that can be said for every media outlet.
about an hour ago · Like
Emily Sansbury Your friends point is very valid, especially from the stance of an owner. The reviews are very subjective. I contribute, because I eat out and travel more than the average person. Trip Advisor is a good jumping off point for going into an unknown territory, where you dont know anyone or maybe you don't trust their taste. I like to report my experience with the food, service, atmosphere, etc. I also love to take the top rated ones down a notch when I have a lousy experience. I give very few "excellents."
about an hour ago via mobile · Like
Emily Sansbury Feel free to quote me...it would take too freakin long for me to get a hot bytes account.

I feel pretty comfortable with my ability to filter the signal to noise. But I think it's a lot easier in Europe where you don't have as many people just out to slag off on a place because they didn't get something comped. I've found some truly awesome places via Qype and tripadvisor just by tracking users who I think are clever and have good taste.

[Robin Garr]

Emily Sansbury Feel free to quote me...it would take too freakin long for me to get a hot bytes account.

Er, no it wouldn't. Jackie, please tell Emily that we'd love to have her in the HotBytes posse, and for any friend of Jackie, we pledge expedited service.

Again- the point about whether people are qualified is a separate event. I'm just trying to point out that there is a cottage industry of people who pay people to post fake reviews about restaurants they haven't been to.

During my time at the Blind Pig there were numerous examples of this, the most egregious of which was posting in detail about dishes we had never ever served.

My point was not about weeding out the crazies, it was that frequently the reviews on these sites are literally fraudulent. I know owners who fire people on these reviews and gather high blood pressure obsessing about them. If you take the time to parse, yeah there is some discernible value to these sites, but we need to really be taking them with a big grain of salt, and I believe that discussion needs to be more widespread.

Coincidentally, an article on this issue was linked on Slashdot this morning. It's not just restaurants being scammed.

From that article:

Here's part of the problem: There are legitimate reputation improvement companies out there. If you run into a "real" negative online review, you have options. Online expert Matthew Hunt with smallbusinessonlinecoach.com says:

Look at it as a positive - If it's a real review, use it as a learning experience.
Contact the reviewer - Thank them for their feedback, ask how you can make it right and if they wouldn't mind amending their review.
Be on the offensive - Counteract that bad review with a bunch of good ones.

How is this legitimate? If you are posting manufactured positive reviews why is anyone taking these sites even remotely seriously? The model is seriously flawed and is a great example of why there is no substitute for legitimate journalism.

Also- the fact that these shakedowns are occurring so frequently is pretty disturbing to me.

I utterly ignore TripAdvisor, Yelp, etc. when considering dining options locally. This forum is where I go for education, as well as writeups in publications like Louisville Magazine.

When traveling, I do use TripAdvisor as a jumping off point, but here's a tip - instead of looking at the reviews and ratings for restaurants and hotels, jump into that location's travel forum, and actually ask for recommendations based on neighborhoods, types of food, price point, etc. Most of the responses in the forums are either from real people that live in that location or from real people who are familar with the location, and with one or two exceptions, I've been pointed to some great places.

So I've been on this forum a long time, and one of my long time soapboxes has been internet reviews. As much as I like to empower people, I think it's safe to say, looking at our country that the majority of folks around just don't have amazing taste. That's not to say that we all can't appreciate a good meal, but I've always hated how public reviews on internet sites tell you almost nothing about the person reviewing it, whether they have any idea what they're talking about, and usually tend to be either 5 stars or 1 star...at all times.

Word. Thanks for posting this.

As I have stated on here any number of times before I don't believe Yelp or Urbanspoon or other reviews and posts about restaurants on Apps, either suck up positive or totally sucks as a business, nor those in between. I am not surprised at this kind of scam. I've heard about it before. But, amazingly, It broke internationally on October 4th on /. org. (Slash Dot Org).

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/10/04/ ... ne-reviews

And a story on KSL in Salt Lake City on October 3rd.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=224006 ... d=queue-16

I recommend filing a criminal complaint with the US Attorney or invite the company executive to come visit you for tipping you off to such dastardly bad reviews. You'll give him a check and a free meal.

Right After You Cut Off His Fingers So He Can NEVER Type Again.

Scum suckers.

I would say most of the people who post on this board are of above average intelligence. It's good you can filter the bad reviews, especially when there are many to sort through.

However I would not say the general population is so savvy ESPECIALLY when there are only a couple of reviews period and they are bad. We just started a new business and I've done a lot of SEO work to get our website up in the rankings, but somehow Yelp surpasses it in multiple searches. So Yelp is the first thing many potential customers are seeing about us.

Needless to say I've been scared to death that a competitor would write a couple of fake reviews to slam us. Or one person has a bad experience and takes it to the internet without even contacting us. How many people would see those couple of reviews and just click the next link? There's no telling.

I don't know if this company is a scam or not but I can certainly sympathize with someone who would try and use them, especially if it was to balance out dishonest negative reviews against them. As a new business you almost have to be proactive to get a couple of initial reviews because you can't wait a year for them to just happen and leave yourself open to being slammed in the meantime. It could literally destroy your business.