1. In the U.S., Section 230 usually prevents suits against platforms — that’s why suing Yelp directly rarely succeeds. 2. A calm public response, clear evidenc…

1. Yelp explicitly forbids undisclosed paid reviews and can remove or demote content that appears biased. 2. Automated filters plus human moderators are used t…

1. Platforms often remove reviews only when they violate policies (spam, hate, illegal content, or defamation) — not merely because they're negative. 2. Verifi…

1. Typical Yelp CPCs: under $1 (low competition), $1–$4 (most local services), $5–$15+ (competitive/high‑value verticals). 2. Small business test budgets commo…

1. Yelp does not offer paid review removal — moderators act only on verified guideline violations. 2. DMCA takedowns work for copyright claims but not for fals…

1. Respond publicly within 48–72 hours — research shows timeliness signals responsiveness and reduces escalation. 2. Use a proven four-step pattern: acknowledg…

1. Yelp removes reviews that contain personal data, paid/fake posts, doxxing, or explicit threats — these are the clearest wins for removal. 2. A calm, short p…

1. Respond publicly within 24–72 hours — a prompt, calm reply reassures future customers. 2. Collect evidence first: booking IDs or timestamps increase the cha…

1. Most negative reviews are protected opinion — only specific false factual claims can lead to a lawsuit. 2. In the U.S. platforms are usually protected by Se…

1. During the February 2025 incident many businesses saw reviews return within days to two weeks when a display bug was fixed. 2. Successful policy appeals alm…

1. The formula x ≥ (t·n − n·r)/(5 − t) gives the exact minimum number of 5‑star reviews you need to reach a target average. 2. Moving from 4.8 to 4.9 often req…

1. In many cases, a well-documented report with receipts and timestamps leads to Yelp action within days. 2. The FTC’s 2024 rule makes buying or paying for fak…

1. Evidence matters: moderators are far more likely to act when you supply verifiable proof like order numbers or timestamps. 2. Response power: a calm, profes…

1. The FTC’s Final Rule (effective Oct 21, 2024) now explicitly bans the sale, purchase, or posting of fake consumer reviews. 2. The Social Success Hub has a p…

1. Yelp removes reviews only for clear guideline violations—routine negative opinions are usually left visible. 2. A calm public reply plus a steady flow of ge…

1. A calm, evidence-first public reply reduces reputational damage more often than an emotional rebuttal. 2. Prevention (monitoring + encouraging named reviews…

1. A well-documented flag with booking logs, timestamps, or screenshots increases the chance of removal within two weeks. 2. Identical phrasing across multiple…

1. A single, calm public reply can stop a complaint from escalating and reassure dozens of potential customers. 2. Flagging fake or malicious Yelp reviews with…

1. Yelp never accepts payment to remove reviews — removals occur only for guideline violations, user edits, or account removal. 2. A calm private outreach ofte…

1. The Secretary of State record usually provides the first definitive proof of a company’s legal existence (entity name, filing number, and formation date). 2…