As a small business owner
As a small business owner, I’m tired of watching Yelp hurt small businesses while claiming to help consumers. Many of our customers leave genuine 5-star reviews based on their real experiences, yet Yelp hides them as “not recommended.” Meanwhile, businesses are constantly pushed toward expensive advertising packages. It certainly makes you question the system. A company should not have this much power over a small business’s reputation. One algorithm can bury legitimate customer feedback and impact years of hard work. In my view, Yelp has become more of a bully than a helpful review platform. Small businesses work too hard to have their reputations controlled by a company that isn’t accountable to the people it affects. Don’t blindly trust Yelp ratings. Visit businesses yourself, talk to real customers, and make up your own mind.