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Is it a problem with Google, leaving many real reviews from same computer?

by ronr
4 replies
I have a client who wants to get more reviews and wants to encourage his customer to leave Google reviews from his computer in his business before they leave. Each review would come from the customers own google account, but they would be from the same computer and same IP.

While it's great to get the customer to leave the review while they are excited while they are in the office, has anyone had problems with a lot of reviews from the same computer?

I've heard this isn't a good idea but is this just rumor? Has anyone had a client who has actually done this and did you have a problem with the reviews not showing or any other problem?

Thanks, Ron
#computer #google #leaving #problem #real #reviews
  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    Hi Ron,

    I avoid writing reviews from customers for my clients... Instead I encourage ways to make it easy for their customers to leave reviews themselves.

    A quick and easy way to do so is to have a QR Code at the register (or table for a restaurant) where people can scan it and be taken to a page that has the different review sites. Google, Yelp, CitySearch, even AngiesList... that way customers can leave a review on the spot. Also have your clients encourage their employees to mention leaving reviews. Happy customers are often very willing to leave reviews, but they are just forgetful.

    As for IP diversity in leaving reviews on Google, I would recommend not doing it all from one IP addresss. It might not matter for the first few reviews, but if the majority of the reviews are all coming from the same IP address it might flag something in Google. Not only could it compromise the Google places page, it could potentially compromise all the Google accounts. I am not 100% sure on this, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

    I hope this helps!

    -Ben
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    • Profile picture of the author ronr
      I would never write the reviews myself but as I said it would be a lot easier if they could be left from the same computer by the customer.
      Still hoping to hear from someone who has done it pro or con.

      I like the QR code idea,. I haven't thought of that before. Anything to make it easier for them is good.

      Ron

      Originally Posted by Warrior Ben View Post

      Hi Ron,

      I avoid writing reviews from customers for my clients... Instead I encourage ways to make it easy for their customers to leave reviews themselves.

      A quick and easy way to do so is to have a QR Code at the register (or table for a restaurant) where people can scan it and be taken to a page that has the different review sites. Google, Yelp, CitySearch, even AngiesList... that way customers can leave a review on the spot. Also have your clients encourage their employees to mention leaving reviews. Happy customers are often very willing to leave reviews, but they are just forgetful.

      As for IP diversity in leaving reviews on Google, I would recommend not doing it all from one IP addresss. It might not matter for the first few reviews, but if the majority of the reviews are all coming from the same IP address it might flag something in Google. Not only could it compromise the Google places page, it could potentially compromise all the Google accounts. I am not 100% sure on this, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

      I hope this helps!

      -Ben
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  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    Yeah, making it easy for customers to leave reviews is key. Maybe even offering an incentive for leaving a review would help.

    I too am interested to see if anybody has had any problems with having reviews all come from the same IP... I'm sure their are some Warriors out there with this experience!

    -Ben
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    The Best of Warrior Ben: My Most Popular Warrior Forum Posts
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    • Profile picture of the author ronr
      Here is something I found on googles support site from a google employee about missing reviews:

      --------
      2) Reviews are removed from Google Maps because they exhibit spammy behavior. We can't share specifics about what signals we use, but our goal is to provide end users with high-quality information they can trust and use that info to make informed decisions. Here's our reviews posting guidelines and policy:
      ----------

      Of course Google will never tell you in plain terms, but I would think Google would be tracking IP's and would consider it spam if a lot came from the same IP.

      Ron
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