Yelp boasts of being the premier website portal where the general public can voice their views on just about any business and service. Until the advent of such sites, airing one's perspective was considered an opinion. Today, however, such judgments are elevated in status and are regarded as reviews.
A quick visit to Yelp will quickly reveal a "Search for" feature where you can effortlessly begin to search out any business in the country. With a couple of quick clicks, you're up and running, reading the wall-to-wall reviews.
Seems like a great idea, right?
For the thousands of businesses that are in good standing with Yelp, I would say it’s highly beneficial; however, for the thousands of businesses that Yelp deems unworthy, the consequences are anything but favorable.
A quick visit to Yelp will quickly reveal a "Search for" feature where you can effortlessly begin to search out any business in the country. With a couple of quick clicks, you're up and running, reading the wall-to-wall reviews.
Seems like a great idea, right?
For the thousands of businesses that are in good standing with Yelp, I would say it’s highly beneficial; however, for the thousands of businesses that Yelp deems unworthy, the consequences are anything but favorable.
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| yelp [yelp] verb - to utter a sharp or high-pitched cry or bark, often indicating pain (esp of a dog) |
Take me, for instance. A quick search for Orange County Photographer, Mark Jordan Photography, shows positive reviews from every site that posts them. Google Reviews posts 31 of them, all 5-star. CitySearch has 18 reviews, all 5 Stars. MerchantCircle with 14 reviews, again all 5-star. The list goes on and on.
So how about Yelp? I have 85 reviews so far, all of which are 5 stars. Yet anyone visiting my site would never know. Why? All but a handful have been removed, or what Yelp euphemistically refers to as "filtered." Why? If I knew the answer to this, there would be no need for my post.
ADDENDUM: 11-29-18
My clients have posted 124 5 Star Reviews – yet only 42 are unfiltered. Just last week, a total of 75 reviews were showing. So, what happened? I inadvertently answered the phone to a Yelp salesperson. After talking with her and sharing my concerns, she insisted that I needed to advertise. When I gently declined, the VERY next morning, 15 reviews were erased. Since then, one to two reviews disappear each day. At this rate, I will have maybe a handful left by the end of the year. The Billion Dollar Bully is in full extortion mode.
So how about Yelp? I have 85 reviews so far, all of which are 5 stars. Yet anyone visiting my site would never know. Why? All but a handful have been removed, or what Yelp euphemistically refers to as "filtered." Why? If I knew the answer to this, there would be no need for my post.
Before I continue, a short look back in the very recent past is in order.
About a year ago, I received a call from a Yelp salesman, Brandon. He highlighted my many 5-Star reviews while delivering a persuasive pitch about how advertising with Yelp would dramatically increase my business. We shared several phone conversations, and though I was impressed, in the end, Yelp's fees were more than I wanted to pay. Were I a restaurant owner or contractor, I'd have signed up for sure. Being a portrait photographer, however, I wasn’t confident that the cost was worth the risk or that Yelp could perform as promised.
Brandon and I parted ways and thought nothing of it - that is, until the following week when I noticed all my reviews had mysteriously disappeared. I called Brandon to ask him what happened, whereupon he assured me that declining Yelp’s offer to advertise had nothing to do with my reviews vanishing: "Even though the reviews had been posted for quite some time, it was just a matter of coincidence that your reviews were filtered subsequent to declining Yelp's offer to advertise."
When I inquired as to how my reviews were filtered, Brandon explained that "Jeremy" (Yelp's CEO) installed a special program that determines which reviews are trustworthy and relevant, and which are not. It seemed that Yelp had simply decided that the reviews that were once deemed worthy, having met all its guidelines, were no longer so.
Okay, seems fair enough. Nothing furtive here. One day, my reviews are relevant for a prolonged period, and then, right after declining to partner with Yelp, they're removed.
Are you buying this?
In the interest of time, suffice it to say, this same scenario has been repeated in the reviews written about my photography studio ever since. Every single one of my reviews is now filtered. I'm not sure about you, but from my perspective, something doesn't seem quite right here.
If you're wondering about an "appeal" process, none exists. Yelp's decision is final. No Yelp for you!
Does it hurt? Sure it does. Not only are the visitors to my
business told that my portrait studio does not merit a review, but the clients who have invested their time are being silenced from sharing their positive experiences. It's enough to make a grown man yelp!
Just so you understand that nothing is peculiar about the reviews written about my studio, here's an example of a typical one:
A quick review of Yelp’s guidelines will show that my client’s assessment fulfills their protocol to the T. In fact, this review, along with all the reviews written about Mark Jordan Photography, could not better define what Yelp is looking for in a trustworthy, relevant review. And yet her voice is "filtered," along with thousands upon thousands of voices like hers - all who simply desire to share their experiences.
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About a year ago, I received a call from a Yelp salesman, Brandon. He highlighted my many 5-Star reviews while delivering a persuasive pitch about how advertising with Yelp would dramatically increase my business. We shared several phone conversations, and though I was impressed, in the end, Yelp's fees were more than I wanted to pay. Were I a restaurant owner or contractor, I'd have signed up for sure. Being a portrait photographer, however, I wasn’t confident that the cost was worth the risk or that Yelp could perform as promised.
Brandon and I parted ways and thought nothing of it - that is, until the following week when I noticed all my reviews had mysteriously disappeared. I called Brandon to ask him what happened, whereupon he assured me that declining Yelp’s offer to advertise had nothing to do with my reviews vanishing: "Even though the reviews had been posted for quite some time, it was just a matter of coincidence that your reviews were filtered subsequent to declining Yelp's offer to advertise."
When I inquired as to how my reviews were filtered, Brandon explained that "Jeremy" (Yelp's CEO) installed a special program that determines which reviews are trustworthy and relevant, and which are not. It seemed that Yelp had simply decided that the reviews that were once deemed worthy, having met all its guidelines, were no longer so.
Okay, seems fair enough. Nothing furtive here. One day, my reviews are relevant for a prolonged period, and then, right after declining to partner with Yelp, they're removed.
Are you buying this?
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| No Yelp for you! Makes a grown man want to, well, yelp! |
In the interest of time, suffice it to say, this same scenario has been repeated in the reviews written about my photography studio ever since. Every single one of my reviews is now filtered. I'm not sure about you, but from my perspective, something doesn't seem quite right here.
If you're wondering about an "appeal" process, none exists. Yelp's decision is final. No Yelp for you!
Does it hurt? Sure it does. Not only are the visitors to my
business told that my portrait studio does not merit a review, but the clients who have invested their time are being silenced from sharing their positive experiences. It's enough to make a grown man yelp!
Just so you understand that nothing is peculiar about the reviews written about my studio, here's an example of a typical one:
"Mark did an exceptional job on my corporate head shots. He has a true talent for bringing out the best in his subjects. My photos were professional AND captured my personality. I highly recommend him."The client who posted the review above included her name (Janet B) and even the headshot I created for her. You can see for yourself (along with the many filtered reviews that have yet to be deleted).
A quick review of Yelp’s guidelines will show that my client’s assessment fulfills their protocol to the T. In fact, this review, along with all the reviews written about Mark Jordan Photography, could not better define what Yelp is looking for in a trustworthy, relevant review. And yet her voice is "filtered," along with thousands upon thousands of voices like hers - all who simply desire to share their experiences.
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So then, is Yelp ethical, or is it extortion?
To be frank, I truly do not know - I can only share my experience.
However, I am convinced that if Yelp does not either develop a more transparent method of filtering its reviews and answering questions to customers like me, it won't be too long before Dictionary.com will not only define Yelp as a high-pitched cry of pain, but also add to the definition of unscrupulous:
To be frank, I truly do not know - I can only share my experience.
However, I am convinced that if Yelp does not either develop a more transparent method of filtering its reviews and answering questions to customers like me, it won't be too long before Dictionary.com will not only define Yelp as a high-pitched cry of pain, but also add to the definition of unscrupulous:
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| Un·scru·pu·lous [uhn-skroo-pyuh-luhs] adjective not scrupulous; unrestrained by scruples; conscienceless; unprincipled - YELP! |
Mark
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ADDENDUM: 7-24-12
One review was restored and is now posted. The one review that was not filtered is now filtered, and four other 5-star reviews were removed altogether. A Yelp representative stated that they were "possible conflicts of interest."
ADDENDUM: 10-10-12
One review remains (from an active Yelper), eleven have now been filtered, with four removed altogether.
ADDENDUM: 02-02-15
Eight reviews remain (all active Yelpers, which appears to be the key to having a review stick), sixteen now actively filtered, with an undetermined number of reviews removed altogether.
ADDENDUM: 01-29-17
I've been very fortunate to have 59 grateful clients express their appreciation with 5 stars since my last post. Unfortunately, only 35 remain unfiltered. The count was 43 a few months back when I carelessly answered the phone from a Yelp ad salesman. After declining and kindly expressing my concerns to the man, the very next day, all but 27 were filtering. Since then, I have been careful to never pick up the phone when I see the area code 415.
One review was restored and is now posted. The one review that was not filtered is now filtered, and four other 5-star reviews were removed altogether. A Yelp representative stated that they were "possible conflicts of interest."
ADDENDUM: 10-10-12
One review remains (from an active Yelper), eleven have now been filtered, with four removed altogether.
ADDENDUM: 02-02-15
Eight reviews remain (all active Yelpers, which appears to be the key to having a review stick), sixteen now actively filtered, with an undetermined number of reviews removed altogether.
ADDENDUM: 01-29-17
I've been very fortunate to have 59 grateful clients express their appreciation with 5 stars since my last post. Unfortunately, only 35 remain unfiltered. The count was 43 a few months back when I carelessly answered the phone from a Yelp ad salesman. After declining and kindly expressing my concerns to the man, the very next day, all but 27 were filtering. Since then, I have been careful to never pick up the phone when I see the area code 415.
ADDENDUM: 11-29-18
My clients have posted 124 5 Star Reviews – yet only 42 are unfiltered. Just last week, a total of 75 reviews were showing. So, what happened? I inadvertently answered the phone to a Yelp salesperson. After talking with her and sharing my concerns, she insisted that I needed to advertise. When I gently declined, the VERY next morning, 15 reviews were erased. Since then, one to two reviews disappear each day. At this rate, I will have maybe a handful left by the end of the year. The Billion Dollar Bully is in full extortion mode.
