I recently had this article headlined “Fake Google reviews published en masse for a new Mandelieu restaurant? The director defends himself” in my watch:
As fate would have it, I contacted this restaurant 3 weeks earlier, as the owner is an acquaintance with whom I’ve had the good fortune to work in the past.
Deciphering a case study and the backlash of a too-quick and too-consistent opinion acquisition.
Summary and contents of the page
The power of online reviews
In the digital age, a restaurant’s online reputation has a major influence on its patronage. Google reviews are particularly scrutinized by consumers, who see them as a reliable source of information. In Mandelieu, the recent controversy involving fake reviews for a new restaurant is a reminder of the importance of these reviews.
It’s also worth noting that the arrival of a new player/retailer in a sector can irritate existing competitors, who may also buy false reviews to harm the player concerned!
The facts
A recently opened restaurant in Mandelieu was the target of an avalanche of reviews, some praising the quality of service and food, while others spoke of less pleasant experiences. This dichotomy raised questions about the veracity of the testimonials.
How can you spot a fake review?
There are several telltale signs of a fake review:
- Exaggerated tone – Excessive praise or very negative criticism can be signs of a fabricated comment.
- Vague details – Fake reviews often lack specific details about the experience.
- Anonymous profiles – Profiles with no photo or very few reviews may be suspect.
The restaurant’s answer
Faced with the controversy, the manager of the Mandelieu restaurant was quick to speak out in the press, defending the integrity of his establishment. He reiterated the importance of transparency in the restaurant industry, and encouraged customers to share their true experiences.
I contacted him in parallel by SMS, and he confirmed that a competition with a bonus had been launched with the staff, which created a major craze and therefore an unusual wave of notes in the profile of the form.
The impact of fake reviews on the industry
False reviews, whether positive or negative, can distort public perception and turn away potential customers. This is a growing concern for many restaurateurs in Mandelieu and around the world. As a reminder, false positive or negative reviews are punishable: https: //www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A15721
My advice / Opinion
The credibility of online reviews is essential for businesses, particularly in the restaurant sector. In Mandelieu, the case of the fake reviews highlighted the need for vigilance on the part of both consumers and restaurant owners. It is essential to promote a culture of honesty and transparency to ensure that reviews reflect genuine experiences.
If Google has accepted the reviews, it’s because they’re true. Google moderation is so severe these days that even I had my reviews moderated when I was in a hotel in Spain…;-)
The idea of launching a contest to collect reviews is an excellent one, and one of my best-case scenarios! But I always limit the acquisition to 10 to 20% more per week than the average number of reviews over the past few weeks. After all, if you’ve posted 300 reviews since your creation in 2012… what will Google think of 100 reviews collected in one week? Here, the idea would have been to create acquisition trays:
- 1st week: each server must collect 5 notices to access the next contest level
- Week 2: each server must retrieve 7 notices to access the next contest level
- 3rd week: 10 notices
- etc.
As a result, the increase in notice is more rational and shows growing interest.
What’s more, I personally have the impression that Google is starting to detect “first names” in reviews and is therefore detecting this kind of incentive and moderating them more often… so I’d advise you to use a selfie photo with the table number or something else instead… A photo is a sure sign that the customer has come and that it’s a real review, which is the best way to avoid backlash.
