Comments on: Review Spam Under Attack by the FTC http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Wed, 22 May 2013 22:55:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: FTC Extracts $250,00 Fine for Affiliate Reviews & Endorsements | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-546535 FTC Extracts $250,00 Fine for Affiliate Reviews & Endorsements | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:14:37 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-546535 [...] need to dislose that they are in fact benefiting from the product that they are touting. The FTC  previously fined an Ad Agency that posted fake reviews on iTunes on behalf of a [...]

]]> By: Fake Reviews Starting to Get Mainstream Media Attention | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-546068 Fake Reviews Starting to Get Mainstream Media Attention | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:17:42 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-546068 [...] there has been a few cases of state and national government enforcement (contrary to the reporting on NBC), it has been [...]

]]> By: Menachem Pritzker http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-529243 Menachem Pritzker Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:34:16 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-529243 I was impressed that the FTC is really enforcing their rules… until I clicked through and actually read the article. The judgment was.. the offending company has to take down the reviews, but there was no monetary penalty?

When the cops pull you over for speeding and let you off with a warning, that’s not enforcing the law – that’s letting you off easy.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-528773 Mike Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:48:27 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-528773 @Miriam

I was wondering where you were :) I thought this was “Miriam Bait” for sure! Glad to hear you are ok…

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-528771 MiriamEllis Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:46:24 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-528771 Hi Mike!
This really is big news (my delayed reception of it is due to an attack of bronchitis), but here I am coughing and reading with raised eyebrows and a sense of justice being done. As Jay says, above, this certainly is an indication that reviews are big business, and while I share your doubts that we’re going to see sweeping, across the board enforcement of this, at least we are seeing the problem acknowledged. It’s a start. Great coverage, and I’m so glad to see you posting after a bit of a lull. Local isn’t much fun without your blog.

]]> By: Jay http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-528761 Jay Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:44:08 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-528761 Reviews are getting real big so now the FTC has to step in. Trust is the key and some policing but the government yet has it’s hand in the jar. Again

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-528741 Mike Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:56:48 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-528741 @Mark

That is probably very true. FTC action will likely give the more forthright agencies the ability to say no, can’t do that but it is unlikely to dampen down the widespread abuse unless they really, really beef up their enforcement efforts. It is also likely to drive these sorts of activities further underground.

Google needs to not only adjust the algo but probably put in place some element of review filtering based on trust.

]]> By: Mark http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-528719 Mark Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:51:48 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-528719 It is nice to see the FTC stepping in but the root of the problem falls back on Google. The reason so many firms post fake reviews is because they get results. If Google could identify a way to improve the search algorithm of Maps to ignore reviews the problem would be solved. Basically businesses can still post fake reviews as long as they add a disclaimer at the end OR in the user account itself. There is just too much gray right now in search marketing.

]]> By: Frank Lewis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-527808 Frank Lewis Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:56:18 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-527808 Mike, as you already know, there are a number of companies marketing their review services. I hear a radio ad on the EIB Radio Network (reaching millions of listeners). They claim to have to cooperation of Google. They are literally writing thousands of 5 Star gmail reviews for SMB’s and I am seeing 7 pac results where a business has as many as 50, 100 or more. It’s a joke and certainly hurts the user experience as well as Google’s local search efforts. I can’t understand why Google has not taken action. I am certain that there are many links to these companies and their “hired for gun” spammers.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/09/10/review-spam-under-attack-by-the-ftc/comment-page-1/#comment-527795 Mike Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:09:24 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=7280#comment-527795 Dear “Christian Church Pastor”

While I appreciate you taking the time to comment and provide insight on the blog, I believe that it is inappropriate for posters to use Keywords for their name in their posts.

For reference, I prefer folks to use their real names to encourage open and fair communication. However, if you feel it necessary, you may use a non keyword pseudonym.

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