After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews

A pest control company offered $5 to anyone who would post a review that the business itself had written. The moving company was willing to pay $50 but wanted original copy. An appliance repair shop provided a start: “I really appreciate that the service tech was on time, the problem was solved, everything was cleaned up and he was very professional. Please add 50 or more words,” the shop suggested. It would pay $30. The highest payment was offered by a jewelry store in San Diego, which said it was forced to solicit reviews after others got away with doing it. “We have noticed that some of our larger, corporate run competitors have been unfairly trying to get reviews written for them on Yelp, which puts us at a disadvantage,” wrote Bert Levi of Levi Family Jewelers. He said he would pay $200 for a review of a new custom-designed ring.

Full article: http://searchengineland.com/yelp-sting-businesses-trying-...

Tweets

@chetstanton » 13 Nov '12, 12pm
RT @LaurenBusby11: This is why you shouldn't BUY reviews! Just a sign of poor ethics in marketing. [link] via @sengineland
@TitanSEO » 05 Nov '12, 12am
$200 for a fake #Yelp review?! Wasn't out of question for these companies, who were busted in a Yelp sting operation [link]
@LaurenBusby11 » 30 Oct '12, 3pm
This is why you shouldn't BUY reviews! Just a sign of poor ethics in marketing. [link] via @sengineland
@pitrow » 27 Oct '12, 10pm
#Yelp goes undercover and cracks down on businesses trying to buy reviews [link]
@EPlatformMktg » 25 Oct '12, 8pm
Internet Marketing Sting! People buying reviews get caught. How well do you know your SEO company? [link] via @sengineland
@tollhous3 » 25 Oct '12, 8pm
these marketers haven't been paying attention to the giant penguin in the room - Yelp Outs Businesses Buying Reviews... [link]
@SlyFawkes » 25 Oct '12, 5pm
I'm curious... what does everyone else think of this? [link]
@jabberly » 24 Oct '12, 10pm
#Marketing #Integrity: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 #Businesses Trying To Buy #Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@180Fusion » 24 Oct '12, 8pm
Yelp "outs" businesses that attempt to buy reviews; [link]
@Martijnvandenb » 24 Oct '12, 8am
Stiekem reviews kopen online? Busted! [link] via @sengineland
@RazChorev » 24 Oct '12, 2am
RT @kevinleversee: Yelp catches people 'Buying' reviews. Powerful showcase for how not to have a social business! [link] #igo2group
@kevinleversee » 24 Oct '12, 2am
Yelp catches people 'Buying' reviews. Powerful showcase for how not to have a social business! [link] #igo2group
@ChoosyReviews » 23 Oct '12, 10pm
I like this a lot... [link]
@sengineland » 23 Oct '12, 9pm
RT @courtney2bambi: Quit, buying reviews! Offer good service. Yelp Outs 8 Businesses Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link]
@MfPWebMarketing » 23 Oct '12, 8pm
After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] #seo #sme
@josiesquedesign » 23 Oct '12, 6pm
Just like buying links, buying reviews is not a good policy to practice... and here's a good example why [link]
@TwentySix2 » 23 Oct '12, 4pm
Yelp gets around to punishing review buyers.. (accused, I should say..) [link]
@jcrainium » 23 Oct '12, 4pm
Yelp gets around to punishing review buyers.[link]
@deantracht » 23 Oct '12, 3pm
After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sharethis
@courtney2bambi » 23 Oct '12, 3pm
Quit, buying reviews! Offer good service. Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@_Markace » 23 Oct '12, 11am
After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews. Read more at [link]
@brandmouth » 22 Oct '12, 6pm
RT @dawnyaspectx: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@asholstein » 22 Oct '12, 5pm
Looks like Yelp is taking a page out of Google's book and trying to scare businesses straight - Yelp Sting Operation [link]
@turfgrrl » 22 Oct '12, 1pm
RT @MMGYglobal: Yelp Outs 8 Businesses in Sting Operation Buying Reviews [link] -- problem with crowdsourcing is gaming system
@kbrowninisrael » 22 Oct '12, 12pm
What's worse - being outed as having bought positive reviews or being removed from a review site altogether? [link]
@belliveaul » 22 Oct '12, 9am
If only they could catch 'em all >> Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link]
@fastboots » 22 Oct '12, 7am
Thou must not buy reviews... #seo [link]
@brigleb » 22 Oct '12, 4am
Interesting. RT @AlizaEarnshaw: Thinking of buying Yelp reviews? Don't. [link]
@SingaporeITServ » 22 Oct '12, 4am
After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] #SingaporeITServ [link]
@joewardpr » 22 Oct '12, 12am
Businesses on Yelp: If you want great reviews, provide great products, services, experiences, and customer support! [link] #sm
@joewardpr » 22 Oct '12, 12am
Yelp absolutely *spanks* some cheating businesses (trying to buy positive reviews): [link] #socialmedia
@selenavidya » 21 Oct '12, 9pm
Ouch. It's like giving someone w/a DUI a specialized plate. RT @sengineland: Yelp Outs 8 Businesses Buying Reviews [link]
@ChrissyLever » 21 Oct '12, 9pm
Finally. -> After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@kfovargue » 21 Oct '12, 9pm
Do gooders ..... Weekend Review: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link]
@MidWestDigital1 » 21 Oct '12, 9pm
[link] #Yelp putting the hammer down on businesses trying to buy reviews. @sengineland
@sengineland » 21 Oct '12, 9pm
Weekend Review: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews by @mattmcgee [link]
@ohyesshecan » 21 Oct '12, 5pm
How *Not* to manage your businesses reviews [link] #reviews #yelp
@_Muck_ » 21 Oct '12, 4pm
RT @mollyjarboe: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@elavator » 21 Oct '12, 2pm
Avoid #social Spamming; After Sting Operation, #yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link]
@tweetiedancing » 20 Oct '12, 9pm
RT @AmyChenWrites: After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] via @sengineland
@FloatingCastles » 20 Oct '12, 4pm
Social Media Tip - Dont do this! Yelp Outs 8 Businesses Caught Trying To Buy Reviews. [link] @sengineland
@KevinMcKillop » 20 Oct '12, 2pm
Paying for reviews will land you in more trouble than having none. #yelp [link]
@delraybeachseo » 19 Oct '12, 8pm
Ouch Yelp - nice sting operation! [link] [link]
@dude_digital » 19 Oct '12, 8pm
Beware, some businesses trying to buy reviews [link]
@MelyssaTweeting » 19 Oct '12, 6pm
RT @stonetemple: #Yelp runs sting operation to catch merchants buying reviews, gives adds warnings to their pages [link] R ...
@midealersolns » 19 Oct '12, 6pm
Why you should NEVER fake reviews! - Yelp Outs 8 Businesses Trying to Buy Reviews: [link] [Search Engine Land] #AutoMarketing
@seotweetz » 19 Oct '12, 6pm
RT @SEOTidBits: More proof that shady practices don't pay off | 8 Businesses Busted for Buying Reviews on Yelp. [link] via @sengineland #seo
@SEOTidBits » 19 Oct '12, 6pm
More proof that shady practices don't pay off | 8 Businesses Busted for Buying Reviews on Yelp. [link] via @sengineland #seo
@localim » 19 Oct '12, 5pm
DO NOT Solicit Reviews [link] #localseo is about marketing, finding qualified buyers and making them happy.
@KellyeCrane » 19 Oct '12, 5pm
Interesting - After Sting Operation, Yelp Outs 8 Businesses That It Caught Trying To Buy Reviews [link] #solopr