It's always been confusing to me why Google couldn't come up with a better ratings and review system for local businesses. Google Maps is great on the web and mobile, and they've got millions of users. But still Yelp beats them with reviews, and Yelp isn't that great anyway. But Google buying Zagat means that they're getting more serious about the space.
Yelp's unique value and innovation has been in finding ways to psychologically reward users for submitting reviews.
They work hard to make the user feel like they kick ass at reviewing places. More recently, they also work hard at crooked schemes to blackmail hard-working business owners if you believe those reports, which I certainly don't. But they started with finding every way to make their review writers feel valued.
These days, people who seek to engage users like Yelp has done for years do it in the name of "gamification". It should be done just to give people proper feedback for having written a 500-word review for no money.
I absolutely believe the reports of yelps blackmailing actions. I've personally met 2 business owners that have been contacted by yelp. Both accounts were very similar. They threaten to remove the businesses current exposure level if some arbitrary fee isn't paid monthly and they offer to remove any negative reviews for an additional fee.
Comments
It's always been confusing to me why Google couldn't come up with a better ratings and review system for local businesses. Google Maps is great on the web and mobile, and they've got millions of users. But still Yelp beats them with reviews, and Yelp isn't that great anyway. But Google buying Zagat means that they're getting more serious about the space.
Yelp's unique value and innovation has been in finding ways to psychologically reward users for submitting reviews.
They work hard to make the user feel like they kick ass at reviewing places. More recently, they also work hard at crooked schemes to blackmail hard-working business owners if you believe those reports, which I certainly don't. But they started with finding every way to make their review writers feel valued.
These days, people who seek to engage users like Yelp has done for years do it in the name of "gamification". It should be done just to give people proper feedback for having written a 500-word review for no money.
I absolutely believe the reports of yelps blackmailing actions. I've personally met 2 business owners that have been contacted by yelp. Both accounts were very similar. They threaten to remove the businesses current exposure level if some arbitrary fee isn't paid monthly and they offer to remove any negative reviews for an additional fee.