How Google evaluate our reviews? And why does google keep old reviews ?
I was recently giving some reviews to help small businesses with the pandemic crisis and the lock down. I found out that it was nice of me as Local Guide to give reviews about some places.
I could see their happiness when a customer entered their business but later on. I didn’t see that my review counted?? Did any changes happened in in Google Maps??
My second question: how can we judge a business which was reviewed 4 or 5 years ago?? Can we base on that review? Is it fair?
Hello @SunshineNY
As I understand, the automated checks evaluate reviews and photos to detect objectionable content.
Every review remains visible to the public and counts in the ratings until the program marks that as private.
The app allows sorting the reviews on multiple criteria.
Further, everyone has a choice to revise that based on the latest experience.
Nevertheless, old reviews are also useful to evaluate how the business has evolved over the years.
@PaulPavlinovich . Thanks for your explanation . After the lock down, I started to go more outside and to help small businesses. No, I cannot write about a place which I didn’t visit and I always have a proof with pictures.
My point is how come a review was 3 years ago and we base that business?? Otherwise, the owner should close his business!! As local guides, we are more fair than those random customers.
Sometimes, they base their review in a moment where it was not the right time.
Maybe, I defend the small businesses now because of the Covid-19.
before, I was more concerned to get service and leave the place but now, it’s different.
When a business owner asks his customers to come more often it means he needs them to help him by purchasing.
It’s just my opinion that I am sharing it with you. We all know “Google” does Big help for the whole world why not we do our part as local Guides too!
Thanks for reaching out. I see fellow Local Guides have shared their knowledge with you. You can always follow their tips.
Just to let you know, I am marking @C_T 's reply as a solution, so other Local Guides can refer to it. The purpose of this feature is to help Local Guides find answers when searching on the Connect. Please take a look at How do I mark comments as solutions? article.
P.S.: Having said all the above, I will move your topic to the How-Tos section of the community.
We hope as you say @SunshineNY that Local Guides are more fair than the average person. It is certainly true that every business or even just one person in a business can have a bad day and that will reflect on the experience that you and I might have visiting there at that time. Before that and after that they could be perfect but on that one day perhaps bad.
When I look at reviews I tend to look over time and at the review content. Its fairly easy to spot genuine reviews because their passion for the experience (good or bad) usually shines through. Fake or spam reviews generally stand out to me and I ignore them. If a person has reviewed less than five places I generally ignore them completely because those are quite possibly accounts created by the business or by a competitor for nefarious purposes. They get found out and acted on after time.
I’m really happy that you are deliberately experiencing and sharing small businesses. These small ones are the ones who need the most help to survive. A world without small business means dealing with faceless large chain businesses which is often a low quality experience.
@PaulPavlinovich , thanks for your nice and honest words. You made me laugh when you said an owner who created an account. Yes, I noticed a lot on Google maps especially a doctor or lawyer. The same words but different accounts.
I am happy to go more often now and even Google maps is giving us more points now and thanks to them.
I will keep reviewing and updating with those I have already given my review before but now with the new pictures to encourage customers and businesses with our New Lifestyle with COVID-19.
To show them that we can deal with it and enjoy life with respect and following the rules.
Those small businesses need us and we need them too.
The other thing I like to deal with is when a business I’ve used invites me to review on Maps and offers a discount for give stars. For them I report directly to Google My Business.
Right now there is a plant outlet place that I frequent depending on the weather and what I want. A few years ago the business underwent new ownership (I believe from rumors). Even if the place is not under new ownership, it certainly has changed in the type of materials they now carry.
There is one dated review that tells of being badly treated. Should I just ask one of the people now tending cash register, stocking shelves, etc. if their is a new owner and ask to be directed to him / her, do a mini-interview. Or do I just write a new commentary and refer to the commentary in which the person says they were rudely treated and say that this has never happened to me?
So far, with the thought that I am not writing for a newspaper, I have not said what I am doing or made contact with any owners or supervisors. Comments / suggestions on this and like situations? Thank you.
. After the lock down, I started to go more outside and to help small businesses. No, I cannot write about a place which I didn’t visit and I always have a proof with pictures.