I wonder what Yelp will do about this

[Barry-QDCC]

I got a notice this morning that I had another Yelp review. And they were right, I now have 23 - 5 star reviews. Unfortunately this last review, while posted for my business, was not reviewing my company. The job is out of my area, I don't do restoration work that was mentioned and I'm not "Mike."

I private messaged the reviewer and said thanks for the review but they reviewed the wrong company.

So I don't know if the reviewer will contact Yelp and try to get it corrected or not do a thing and the review will remain on my page. What I am interested in is if YELP does make some sort of correction and takes it away that seems to be in direct opposition of what all the Yelp salespeople have told me in the past that they can NOT do anything about changing posted reviews. I've got filtered reviews that I've notified Yelp SHOULD show up as a regular review and again, "there's nothing we can do because it's all based on a algorithm."

I'll add to this post if anything happens if anyone is interested.

 

[Todd Millar]

I hate yelp, they won't fix their algorithm but they want my hard earned $$$, Thanks but no thanks !!

 

[Mikey P]

Please post the review, I think it's for me..

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Please post the review, I think it's for me..

You expanded your service area all the way down to Pasadena?

 

[Papa John]

We had a similar incedent last year where about 25 reviews, many of them positive where posted on the same day! This caused confusion for the yelp algorithm, which then proceeded to filter those reviews as well as about 50 others.. we went from 180+ reviews to 130.
Yelp has been trying to get me to advertise with them again. I told them I won't support a company that has incorrect info about my company.
I think Yelp is on its way out... there are only about 3 carpet cleaning companies paying Yelp in SF. And I think there are about 80 companies here.
Instead of paying yelp, I decided to reward my current customers with discount cards sent in Service Monster "Fill My Schedule" reminder cards.

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Yelp still seems to be pretty strong here, at least for people using it to look up services, food, etc. Now I'm not sure how many businesses are paying to be on Yelp. That might be another story.

Is there a way to tell if a business is paying versus one that is not paying? I mean other than looking at each profile to see they don't have competitors ads on their page. No body got time for dat!

 

[Papa John]

Yelp still seems to be pretty strong here, at least for people using it to look up services, food, etc. Now I'm not sure how many businesses are paying to be on Yelp. That might be another story.

Is there a way to tell if a business is paying versus one that is not paying? I mean other than looking at each profile to see they don't have competitors ads on their page. No body got time for dat!

I got the info from a Yelp salesman who was trying to show me how many more CC companies are in my area as opposed to when I started on yelp... This was his attempt to explain WHY yelp isn't working as well for me as in the past. It also showed the paid advertisers to imply why they are doing better on yelp then me...

I think yelp has lost clout, because of all the bad press. Some have gotten great service from poorly rated companies and others ripped off by highly rated companies.

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Your explanation could certainly be correct. I know when I first posted my business profile it worked well. In fact at one time I thought "man, this is the golden goose!" It was really bringing it a whole lot of business daily. Then, all of a sudden, the job spigot got reduced by 75%. It has never recovered.

But I know when my wife and I are looking for something to do, or go out to eat, unless we specifically know where we want to go, my wife is on Yelp looking things up. Everytime.

 

[SamIam]

Yelp is over selling searchs, putting you in areas you don't serve. Like google theres a couple business that show up now instead of Your ad exclusively.

 

[Mikey P]

Papa how did you go about soliciting 25 reviews in one day?

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Actually in my case I think it's almost the opposite. There's at least 15-20+ cities that I could service yet I only show up in ONE on the first page (#2). The rest I'm buried down on page 3 or so. Yet on all the possible search pages I see companies that are based 50+ miles out of the area showing up on page #1.

I don't even show up on the first page if you search for "carpet cleaning" in "Chino Hills" - but I do in "Chino" which right next to one another. And again, those out of area companies do show up.

It's screwed up and another reason why I'll never pay Yelp a penny.

Edited to say: The sad thing is, if Yelp got it together and fixed it so crap like this didn't happen I'd be more than happy to be paying them a monthly fee and then it would be a win-win for everyone.

 

[Papa John]

Papa how did you go about soliciting 25 reviews in one day?

I didn't. and Never do ask for reviews.
the reviews aren't for my company, mentioned names of people who don't work for me and from towns across the nation. most were positive. I think Yelp got hacked.

 

[Mikey P]

Oh...damn!

 

[Papa John]

Yelp is over selling searchs, putting you in areas you don't serve. Like google theres a couple business that show up now instead of Your ad exclusively.

I agree and why I resist using Yelp as a search engine.. google or for restaurants I'll use "OpenTable".
Using Yelp in any way gives them marketing/income earning power.

 

[SamIam]

If your paying like me your ad comes up.

Now it comes up in areas I dont serve a lot.

And there more competitions ads at the top of the page with my ad.

Fortunately I listened to Mike when he said claim your five cities get on Yelp.

I was early and have more reviews then all my local competition.

Yelp is working for me.


I'm wondering you guys who don't pay anything, what's your monthly earnings from a source that cost you nothing?

 

[Barry-QDCC]

I'm wondering you guys who don't pay anything, what's your monthly earnings from a source that cost you nothing?

This year so far I've done 24 jobs from Yelp.

Remember when I said a couple of years ago I was getting a whole bunch of jobs from Yelp and then all of a sudden it stopped? For the same period (Jan 1st thru Sept 22) in 2013 I had gotten 82 jobs from Yelp.

Edit: I know your point is ya shouldn't be bitchin about ANY amount of jobs from a free source.