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mTurk - Do not use for local business center reviews

by johnhoefer
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I had heard that you could get a lot of reviews for your local business by paying people on mTurk. I didn't think it was a good idea as most shortcuts aren't, but I was still tempted by how easy it would be and started thinking about all the calls coming into our office once we start showing up in the local search box.

Boy am I glad I did a little investigation. I looked for HITs looking for positive reviews for their local business and found one. I followed the link to see what kind of results he got.

All he got was three 1-star reviews. All say, "Don't trust any reviews of this site, he is paying for them over at mTurk."

See for yourself.
Seattle Massage Schools Directory - Google Maps

I can't say that I would have resisted the temptation, tried to dodge the FCC and get some good reviews if I saw that it did work...but, I couldn't be happier that I checked others results first.

Wise men learn from others mistakes, fools from their own.... No $hit.
#business #cente #local #mturk #reviews
  • Profile picture of the author debra
    Originally Posted by johnhoefer View Post

    I had heard that you could get a lot of reviews for your local business by paying people on mTurk. I didn't think it was a good idea as most shortcuts aren't, but I was still tempted by how easy it would be and started thinking about all the calls coming into our office once we start showing up in the local search box.

    Boy am I glad I did a little investigation. I looked for HITs looking for positive reviews for their local business and found one. I followed the link to see what kind of results he got.

    All he got was three 1-star reviews. All say, "Don't trust any reviews of this site, he is paying for them over at mTurk."

    See for yourself.
    Seattle Massage Schools Directory - Google Maps

    I can't say that I would have resisted the temptation, tried to dodge the FCC and get some good reviews if I saw that it did work...but, I couldn't be happier that I checked others results first.

    Wise men learn from others mistakes, fools from their own.... No .
    Wait just a minute! Although I'm Not defending anyone here on either side...This Smells Like Sticky Fish!

    Out of the three comments:
    1. All commentors failed to take time to profile themselves and have not contributed any comments thereafter.
    2. Comments are too close together for shear unluckiness with No comments to follow by anyone credible.
    3. At this point...I'm not sure of your motive of posting this here.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnhoefer
    1. I checked that too Debra. I didn't know what to think of that.
    2. The comments are close together because they came right after he posted the request on mTurk. That is my assumption anyway.
    3. My point was to warn others. I am helping with SEO for my family insurance agency. We have purchased a marketing system specifically for insurance agencies that involves a website, CRM software, ready to use email marketing campains, monthly SEO and it costs $30k per year for five years. We just started this in December and my task for this month is to approach clients and ask them to review us. Could you imagine if I took a shortcut and got those reviews for my family business? I would feel horrible damaging our business.

    I checked out a shortcut, that was suggested by some who do offline marketing, and saw that I could seriously hurt my businesses online reputation. I figured I would warn others as well.

    I have no idea what else my motivation could be.


    Anyway, there are obviously other great uses for mTurk, as suggested by others on here. Article marketing, having people watch some insurance videos I will be putting up and then giving an honest review.

    Just some words to the wise. That's all.
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    Brewery Insurance
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  • Profile picture of the author debra
    i understand your point about the shortcuts. Shortcuts usually don't pay.

    Where I'm coming from and "why" you should be careful in these types of posts is this:

    In the SEO world especially in the offline seo world. Bad publicity is sometimes deliberate. Ppl are paid to also make those bad reviews so that a seo sales person can go in and sell them High Ticket services to get rid of the bad publicity.

    The offline biz doesn't understand and realize that the bad publicity was staged and falls for the con usually costing them quite a few grand in the process.

    The sales person hands the task over to whoever they are working for and they simply take down the review that they put up over time, trying to make themselves appear legit.

    It's a rackett that's been going on for a few years.

    Your prob...you May have drawn yourself into a possible con game without even realizing it. That's my point.

    Just be careful.
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    • Profile picture of the author johnhoefer
      Interesting scam there, but it obviously wasn't what was going on in my example. mturk is owned by amazon and I am sure they will not be hurt by my little advice that a slightly dirty shortcut doesn't work there and can actually burn you. I don't get why my post set off red flags about my intentions.

      Originally Posted by debra View Post

      i understand your point about the shortcuts. Shortcuts usually don't pay.

      Where I'm coming from and "why" you should be careful in these types of posts is this:

      In the SEO world especially in the offline seo world. Bad publicity is sometimes deliberate. Ppl are paid to also make those bad reviews so that a seo sales person can go in and sell them High Ticket services to get rid of the bad publicity.

      The offline biz doesn't understand and realize that the bad publicity was staged and falls for the con usually costing them quite a few grand in the process.

      The sales person hands the task over to whoever they are working for and they simply take down the review that they put up over time, trying to make themselves appear legit.

      It's a rackett that's been going on for a few years.

      Your prob...you May have drawn yourself into a possible con game without even realizing it. That's my point.

      Just be careful.
      Signature
      Brewery Insurance
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      • Profile picture of the author debra
        Originally Posted by johnhoefer View Post

        Interesting scam there, but it obviously wasn't what was going on in my example. mturk is owned by amazon and I am sure they will not be hurt by my little advice that a slightly dirty shortcut doesn't work there and can actually burn you. I don't get why my post set off red flags about my intentions.
        It was more the timing. All the bad comments on that review were today and then your post on the most popular IM forum on the net. Then just plain not knowing you very well. That part is my Bad.

        Anybody can make comments on mTurk and they are not usually taken down unless they are flagged. And...it is not moderated very quickly either. It seems to me that...that makes it easier to game the con.

        Have you tried to locate the request at mTurk?

        I'm willing to bet that it doesn't exist. Could be wrong though...but I doubt it.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnhoefer
    It does exist. That is how I found it. Checking mturk HITs. Says so in my first post.
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    Brewery Insurance
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