Google's 'Local Guides' - a big problem for business owners
Discussion
monthefish said:
For those who aren't aware, basically Google now gives out 'points' to users for reviews etc, and the more 'points' they collect, the greater virtual honour is bestowed upon them and they attain titles such as 'local guide' etc. i.e. They become a 'somebody' in the virtual world.
The fundamental flaw in this is that there's no obligation or requirement for reviewers to have actually visited the places -or used the services - of those they review. They can just select a business at random, write a review (good, bad or mediocre) and get points for this.
The major problem with this is that there is seems to be an increasing number of weird, sad people who just want to collect points by doing scores of reviews of places they've never visited, which Google rewards them for. Sadly, these reviews are often amongst only a handful of other reviews of that business/service meaning they affect the overall rating quite significantly.
There's one reviewer I spotted 'Johnny Groats' who's a 'Local Guide · Level 10' and has given 5575 reviews. He gave a review of Ducati Glasgow of 3 stars with the comment "vroom, vroom"
Has anyone been affected by this yet? (i.e. a random, unfounded review of their business)
And when they have enough points, they will start bribing people. The fundamental flaw in this is that there's no obligation or requirement for reviewers to have actually visited the places -or used the services - of those they review. They can just select a business at random, write a review (good, bad or mediocre) and get points for this.
The major problem with this is that there is seems to be an increasing number of weird, sad people who just want to collect points by doing scores of reviews of places they've never visited, which Google rewards them for. Sadly, these reviews are often amongst only a handful of other reviews of that business/service meaning they affect the overall rating quite significantly.
There's one reviewer I spotted 'Johnny Groats' who's a 'Local Guide · Level 10' and has given 5575 reviews. He gave a review of Ducati Glasgow of 3 stars with the comment "vroom, vroom"
Has anyone been affected by this yet? (i.e. a random, unfounded review of their business)
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 11th January 16:17
A bit like this debacle which thankfully turned the table but still.. https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/hotel-s...
Buzz84 said:
Its the same on the Amazon Q&A section of an items listings - someone will post questions about the item then there will be several answers normally along the lines of "sorry i don't know i bought it as a gift for someone else ". its a complete waste of time and they can only be posting to gain more virtual kudos.
The problem is the question is emailed to you from Amazon is posed as if someone is asking you directly. Therefore people might reply based on that.As a reviewer of Bose Solo 5 TV Soundbar..., can you help this fellow customer?
Louise M asked: "Does it matter what tv you have? i have s sony bravia and it’s been a nightmare compatibly wise - it was murder getting a new sky remote to pair! "
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 15th January 09:19
mehmehmeh said:
monthefish said:
For those who aren't aware, basically Google now gives out 'points' to users for reviews etc, and the more 'points' they collect, the greater virtual honour is bestowed upon them and they attain titles such as 'local guide' etc. i.e. They become a 'somebody' in the virtual world.
The fundamental flaw in this is that there's no obligation or requirement for reviewers to have actually visited the places -or used the services - of those they review. They can just select a business at random, write a review (good, bad or mediocre) and get points for this.
The major problem with this is that there is seems to be an increasing number of weird, sad people who just want to collect points by doing scores of reviews of places they've never visited, which Google rewards them for. Sadly, these reviews are often amongst only a handful of other reviews of that business/service meaning they affect the overall rating quite significantly.
There's one reviewer I spotted 'Johnny Groats' who's a 'Local Guide · Level 10' and has given 5575 reviews. He gave a review of Ducati Glasgow of 3 stars with the comment "vroom, vroom"
Has anyone been affected by this yet? (i.e. a random, unfounded review of their business)
And when they have enough points, they will start bribing people. The fundamental flaw in this is that there's no obligation or requirement for reviewers to have actually visited the places -or used the services - of those they review. They can just select a business at random, write a review (good, bad or mediocre) and get points for this.
The major problem with this is that there is seems to be an increasing number of weird, sad people who just want to collect points by doing scores of reviews of places they've never visited, which Google rewards them for. Sadly, these reviews are often amongst only a handful of other reviews of that business/service meaning they affect the overall rating quite significantly.
There's one reviewer I spotted 'Johnny Groats' who's a 'Local Guide · Level 10' and has given 5575 reviews. He gave a review of Ducati Glasgow of 3 stars with the comment "vroom, vroom"
Has anyone been affected by this yet? (i.e. a random, unfounded review of their business)
Edited by monthefish on Friday 11th January 16:17
A bit like this debacle which thankfully turned the table but still.. https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/hotel-s...
And blackmailing
Was talking to a business owner yesterday who specialises in MINI parts new and used and he was approached via a facebook by a guy looking a head for a specific engine. He pitched his price which the guy took exception to as it was more than he was expecting to pay and is now threatening to "leave negative feedback on google" if the guy doesnt drop his price.
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 15th January 09:25
We let a temp go just before Christmas because he was too slow.
Months later, he left us our first Google Review, slating his line manager, and saying some not very nice things about how were rubbish to work for, etc.
3 years on, Google still refuse to remove this review and the alleged contents of the review are embarrassing to the line manager who is still with us.
They have a policy that employees past and present can't leave reviews, but in our case will.not enforce it. I've given up trying to get it removed.
To top it off, looking at his other reviews, he's slated just about every employment agency in the local area, and a few local businesses. Nothing nice to say, all negative.
Months later, he left us our first Google Review, slating his line manager, and saying some not very nice things about how were rubbish to work for, etc.
3 years on, Google still refuse to remove this review and the alleged contents of the review are embarrassing to the line manager who is still with us.
They have a policy that employees past and present can't leave reviews, but in our case will.not enforce it. I've given up trying to get it removed.
To top it off, looking at his other reviews, he's slated just about every employment agency in the local area, and a few local businesses. Nothing nice to say, all negative.
I recently came across this person who had left a review of my local cinema. Curios to know if all her reviews slated the companies she visited I checked out her profile. Take a look: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/11174573711968...
ashleyman said:
I recently came across this person who had left a review of my local cinema. Curios to know if all her reviews slated the companies she visited I checked out her profile. Take a look: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/11174573711968...
I must order from Daily Fresh Naan getting 3 stars in a sea of singles, what a miserable person (and racist).Pigdoguk said:
No and do people really pay attention to Google reviews? I dont.
Of course they do. A user searches google maps for 'independent garage', they get a list of 4 local ones come up, some of which have 5/5 stars, some have 1/5 and you think that makes no difference to which they click?
Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 22 January 09:16
cheekymeerkat said:
We let a temp go just before Christmas because he was too slow.
Months later, he left us our first Google Review, slating his line manager, and saying some not very nice things about how were rubbish to work for, etc.
3 years on, Google still refuse to remove this review and the alleged contents of the review are embarrassing to the line manager who is still with us.
They have a policy that employees past and present can't leave reviews, but in our case will.not enforce it. I've given up trying to get it removed.
Sorry to hear this. This is exactly what I was talking about.Months later, he left us our first Google Review, slating his line manager, and saying some not very nice things about how were rubbish to work for, etc.
3 years on, Google still refuse to remove this review and the alleged contents of the review are embarrassing to the line manager who is still with us.
They have a policy that employees past and present can't leave reviews, but in our case will.not enforce it. I've given up trying to get it removed.
A few interesting links on the subject:
https://www.webnetcreatives.net/google-local-guide...
https://onlinemarketinginct.com/2018/06/27/google-...
https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Disc...
" The process for cleaning up fake reviews from Google is woefully inadequate. Google recommends flagging inappropriate reviews, but this very often does nothing.....
...... The whole system of removing fake/unscrupulous reviews needs a major overhaul but who knows if/when we’ll see that"
https://www.webnetcreatives.net/google-local-guide...
https://onlinemarketinginct.com/2018/06/27/google-...
https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Disc...
" The process for cleaning up fake reviews from Google is woefully inadequate. Google recommends flagging inappropriate reviews, but this very often does nothing.....
...... The whole system of removing fake/unscrupulous reviews needs a major overhaul but who knows if/when we’ll see that"
DSLiverpool said:
ashleyman said:
I recently came across this person who had left a review of my local cinema. Curios to know if all her reviews slated the companies she visited I checked out her profile. Take a look: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/11174573711968...
I must order from Daily Fresh Naan getting 3 stars in a sea of singles, what a miserable person (and racist).How's this going for everyone?
Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
monthefish said:
How's this going for everyone?
Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
Maybe an article from Google about how to correctly use them so I don't get 1 star reviews with "I don't know why this is on the listing" from "Local Guides"Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
I like doing my we google review of some places when it pops up on my phone after a visit. I done one after I bought a car and since it was off a friend I made it a bit exaggerated and now my claim to fames a good few thousand views on that review. Google keeps telling me I'm popular lol
Si1295 said:
monthefish said:
How's this going for everyone?
Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
Maybe an article from Google about how to correctly use them so I don't get 1 star reviews with "I don't know why this is on the listing" from "Local Guides"Spotted this article recently, which explains how to stop your device suggesting business/services to review, but unfortunately doesn't explain how to stop your business/service being suggested for a review.
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