Yelp Reviews: Helpful or Harmful?

In this day and age, leaving a review about an establishment can be pivotal to their business. Whether it be positive or negative, generating traffic and discussions about the place in question will draw attention to it, and business can boom (or sink) from there. Learning what is legitimate and helpful on sites, especially Yelp, is important when searching for your next favorite spot.

Yelp is Honest

Yelp leaves little room to fudge an opinion, especially when taking one’s experience into account. If the service at an establishment is stellar and the food is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that is generally expressed as a great review. If people are consistent in bad experiences, that will be expressed as well. Pay attention to what the masses are saying in the comments, and try to process it fairly.

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Watch out for Negativity

Unfortunately, most online communities lean towards negative opinions that are very subjective. A person that had an awful time at an event or dining establishment will often try to express a grim, negative account of their time there, and try to delegitimize the place in their comments. However, if the majority of visitors are expressing the same judgment, it’s probably worth listening to.

Look at the Big Picture

Also, take into account the isolated incidents from certain Yelp users. If a consumer is not a fan of Indian cuisine but visits an Indian restaurant, that is hardly a solid basis of opinion. First-time visitors are not as reliable, but longtime customers will leave more dependable reviews, given their rapport with the company and its services. Use your best judgement in cases like these; basing your decision on this type of customer can make your experience, so pay attention!

Try Something New

One positive aspect of Yelp is that it can expand the horizons of those that utilize it. For example, typing in a broad search for a food or entertainment option may present a local favorite or hole-in-the-wall that might have gone undiscovered otherwise. Yelp also takes special services, concerts, shows, and other fun options into account, and they will provide information on upcoming events in the area.