Is Yelp the Mafia? Well, Maybe Not…
Posted in: UncategorizedIn today’s edition of the Ad Age Summer Weekend Reader — a fresh post each Friday afternoon serving up a recent in-depth article about media and/or marketing (think of these as great train or beach reads) — we’re calling attention to a piece of reporting you may have overlooked because it popped up in an unexpected place: BuzzFeed. Yes, the site best known for listicles and LOLcats, and listicles of LOLcats, has been beefing up its journalistic operations under its well-regarded editor-in-chief Ben Smith (who made Ad Age’s list of “Eight Great Digital Hires” in February).
“Is Yelp A Bully Or Just Misunderstood?,” by BuzzFeed staff writer Sandra Allen, sheds light on why Yelp has such a terrible reputation with some business owners. BuzzFeed’s summary:
The online reviewing behemoth is regularly accused of Mafia-style extortion by disgruntled business owners and the media. But even as Ivy League researchers debunk the conspiracy theories, the company’s shadowy reputation remains intact. Why is it so hard to believe that Yelp might actually be fair?
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