Yelp reviews (which are a local SEO factor) occasionally disappear into a pit of doom, never to be seen again. This is known as review filtering.
The theory seems to have been in the past that Yelp’s review filter was somehow tied in with advertising (or not advertising) on Yelp. Allegedly, if you weren’t paying for some Yelp advertising then this review disappearance could possibly be some sort of punishment. A variation of “You’re not playing properly. My bat, my ball. I’m going home”.
“Not so”, Yelp have been repeatedly stating. This week they reported on their official blog that they’ve been vindicated again after being investigated by the US Federal Trade Commission and the enquiry ending without any action.
For a small business, having the US FTC turn up on your doorstep to go through your processes and paperwork must be rather terrifying. Yelp on the other hand seems to have welcomed the opportunity to show that they are fair and acting above board.
It’s not just the FTC either. The Harvard Business School and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have also been investigating and not found anything to bring against Yelp. Squeaky clean it seems which is excellent news.
Still doesn’t help with that pit of doom though.