A Comprehensive Guide to Fighting Spam Comments On Yelp

PDF download Download Article
Remove inappropriate comments from a Yelp business profile
PDF download Download Article

Did you know that Yelp uses its own system for filtering spam instead of a third-party tool? Read on to learn about Yelp spam comments.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the Yelp app or log into the website.
  2. Navigate to the comment you want removed.
  3. Click or tap ••• .
  4. Click or tap Report Review .
Section 1 of 4:

Flagging Spam Comments

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to your Yelp account and find the spam comment. You can log into your business account using the mobile app or a web browser.
    • Use this method if you see a photo or a written comment that is suspiciously spammy , but it hasn't triggered the filter. Remember that negative comments are not spam comments.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This three-dot menu icon is in the top right corner of the review.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Answer the following questions thoroughly, as these answers are the leading factors of getting the comment removed from your business page. [1]
    • Yelp's team of User Operations Associates will remove the comment if they discover that it violates Yelp's quality guidelines.
    • After flagging a comment, you'll get an email that explains whether or not Yelp removed the comment. [2]
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Improve the Spam-Filtering Algorithm

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing both of these will help make the algorithm smarter and improve the filters that catch spam comments.
    • You're not only improving the filter, but showing to other customers that your business is engaging, which encourages more reviews.
    • You can also improve the spam filter by politely responding to negative reviews.
    • By regularly monitoring your business's Yelp account, you can catch spam comments faster.
Section 3 of 4:

Yelp's Quality Guidelines

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • Relevancy : content should only review the business and stay on-topic.
    • Conflict of interest : comments shouldn't originate from people who are associated with the reviewed business.
    • Privacy : content shouldn't reveal private concerns of others.
    • Originality : comments should be human-written, and first-hand experience; not written by AI or a friend.
    • Appropriate content : no content should ever harass or threaten others.
    • Promotional content : comments should not contain promotional or commercial content. [3]
    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Applying to Yelp's Content Moderation Team

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Yelp-Remove-Spam-Comments-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The address for their hiring page is https://www.yelp.careers/us/en . To become a Yelp content moderator, you'll be responsible for determining if the reported comment violates any one of the 6 main quality guidelines or if it is honest and is simply a negative comment that the business owner reported as spam.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Close a Yelp Account
      How to
      Edit a Yelp Review: An Easy-to-Follow Guide
      How to
      Edit or Remove a Posted Review on Yelp
      How to
      Contact Yelp
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.yelp-support.com/article/How-do-I-report-a-review?l=en_US
      2. ↑ https://www.yelp-support.com/article/When-should-I-report-a-review?l=en_US&ref=spoton.com
      3. ↑ https://www.yelp.com/guidelines?ref=spoton.com

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 410 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement