It is the attempt to create an impression of widespread grassroots support for a product, policy, or individual where little such support exists. Loosely translated, astroturfing is the act of trying to boost one’s image online with fake comments, paid-for reviews, made-up claims, and testimonials. The term for this unethical practice is astroturfing. That’s right – it’s against the law and you can actually be sued for posting fake reviews. If ethics alone aren’t enough to stop you, consider the fact that it is actually ILLEGAL to write fake reviews. The only people who should ever review your company are those who have actually done business with your company. Creating a fake profile for the purpose of reviewing your own business as a “happy customer.”Īre you sensing a theme here? The very reason that online reviews exist is for potential clients to get an honest and impartial view of your company and how you treat your customers.Having one of your employees post a review for your company.Requesting that another franchise owner write a review for your business.Paying someone to review your company online.Asking someone (a non-customer) to write a review for your business.

YOU, the business owner writing a review for your own company.Some Examples of Fake Reviews are as Follows: Most people label these kinds of reviews as “fake reviews,” and in the same way that we don’t support fake news, we really don’t support fake reviews. For example, you shouldn’t write reviews of your own business or employer, your friends’ or relatives’ business, your peers or competitors in your industry, or businesses in your networking group. Yelp: Your contributions should be unbiased and objective. Both Google and Yelp consider it a conflict of interest. We’re begging you…just say NO.įor starters, there are strict policies against reviewing your own company online. You just can’t review your own company online and get away with it. We can understand why you would be tempted to give yourself an amazing review or five. This is a brave, new online world we’re living in and trust us, we totally understand why you want and need those 5-star ratings on your business page. In the fierce game of online business, there’s a lot of pressure on your company to distinguish itself from other competitors. Nearly 80% of consumers rely on online reviews before making a purchase or choosing a service which means that it’s vital that your online reputation is glowing. Review sites like Google and Yelp are where potential customers go to get an understanding of what your company is all about and what others have to say about you. You already know that the reputation of your company should be one of your top priorities and that online reviews are extremely important for your business. Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of why you shouldn’t review your own company online, let’s first lay some groundwork.

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