How important is it to you that the google reviews you read are honest, particularly
if they are either 1 star or 5 star reviews? How important is it to hold both reviewers
and the subjects of their reviews responsible for what they type? What balance can
we reach between Free Speech/Honesty and protecting professional business reputations?
What role should google reviews play in holding professionals accountable to consumers?
When Ralph Nader started “Consumer Reports” in the 20th Century, there was no internet and
he did not worry about defamation lawsuits, he published survey results but they might
have been critical at times of businesses. What would it be like to establish "Consumer
Reports" on the internet, is that what google guides and reviews does? I have come
across people who are paid to write positive reviews. I personally have never accepted any
payment of any kind from any business I review on google, nor for any of the other work I have
done that is published on the internet, but that might not be the norm. I refuse compensation
so that I can be 100% objective, no preconceptions, no debts, no strings. Would it be helpful
to disclose this kind of paid v. unpaid status of guides?
So what about reviews themselves, do you want more detail? Less detail? Verifiable facts?
Names? Dates? Or do you want short descriptions such as, “efficient,” “rude,” “professional,”
etc.? Some of these issues are addressed in Q&A, many are not.
My view is that I am a guest, an observer and that I am not unique or special. I write about
what I experience in as much verifiable detail possible so that others can resonate without
follow up but also so that owners can receive meaningful feedback after I have stopped 1:1.
I have also published reviews on Amazon.com since 2009, almost a decade, including many
movie reviews. I enjoy respectful discussions in text format, please feel free to post relevant
comments.
See you online!