Help for Yelp Filtered Reviews

I just got started looking at Yelp about 2 weeks ago.  It got my attention because all of a sudden it started appearing on Google searches for the term “Botox Modesto” or “Modesto Botox“.  Then I searched other cities such as San Francisco – “San Francisco Botox” and the Yelp search comes up pretty much first.  What is this about?  Yelp is taking over the world I suppose.  So, I decided to consider taking it seriously.  I saw that I already had about 2-3 reviews, and some filtered reviews.  So, I decided to try to read about some of the filtered reviews and get people to write reviews to see what got filtered.  I even tried to write my own Yelp review – at least I wrote it with my name (Calvin L.) – didn’t do one of those undercover things and change my name.  Apparently you get filtered if you write your own review – fine – I understand the reasoning.

What I’ve read online about avoiding Yelp filtered reviews

So I looked at the characteristics of what got “filtered” by Yelp.  I think what others were saying were true:

Red flags that might get you filtered on Yelp:

• Very few reviews.  Or only one review.
• No picture on profile
• No Yelp friends
• Very few things filled out on the profile
• Very few people voting your reviews as Useful, Funny or Cool.

Okay so those things make some sense – yelp want to filter out fake people – or people who don’t exist.

I found a new secret! – 5 star ratings habit

I found another pattern.

It seems like Yelp likes people who are stingy with 5 star reviews.  If you blasted someone with a 1 star, 2 star or perhaps gave 3 or 4 stars instead of the full 5, yelp values your reviews somewhat more than someone who frequently gives out all 5 stars.  Thus stingy reviewers get filtered less.

So do what you will with this pattern that I think I found.  Maybe we should be stingy with 5 star reviews on yelp.  Thus when we do give out 5 star reviews – they stick and don’t get filtered by the all mighty Yelp.

Conclusion about Yelp

One more thing to help avoid getting your reviews filtered – write some mediocre reviews too.  I think if you’re all 5 starsy, Yelp thinks you’re fake and thus might get filtered.   But please don’t bash people unnecessarily.  I personally prefer to give people all 5 stars and those that don’t deserve 5 stars, I’m kinda quiet.  So for now, Yelp has filtered every single one of my 7 reviews.  That’s too bad.  I really don’t like discussing my gripes in public, but I don’t own Yelp and Yelp doesn’t live in my house.  I thought Facebook was confusing.  Yelp’s confusing too.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to edit my filtered review posts to see what else I find out about the world of filtered reviews in Yelp.

For now – the secret?  Be stingy with your Yelp stars.