From the WTF department: 'Defamatory' Yelp lawsuit settles
At what point did anyone in that story ever stop consider the larger picture? Brand damage ring a bell? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Where are you when we need you Ferris?
First of all, if you’re Yelp and you let this kind of a suit take place without trying VERY HARD to nip it in the bud, ultimately, your ability to be trusted by your users is crushed. It may not happen overnight, but it will. As an example, I WAS a user (admittedly infrequent) and now I’m NOT. Sorry, but I can’t trust that you won’t let the restaurant I pan sue me. Or you, after I post this. Just remember: FIRST AMENDMENT….
Second, if you’re the backcracker or any business who can be reviewed online (and that’s FREEKIN’ EVERYBODY), how bad do you look for suing some guy over what amounts to $375.00? Write it off and move on. One guy’s opinion does less to hurt your reputation than your abuse (in my opinion) of the court system to “make a point” and the ensuing press. Mr. Chiropractor, who’s gonna trust you now? And if you want help trying to figure out how to fix these kinds of issues in the future, call me. I’ll be happy to recommend an anger management therapist to you and turn your business away, even in this economy… Okay, can’t stand it, I wouldn’t take your money but I would give you some advice.
You may have already done this, but since I didn’t follow this story like an afternoon soap opera, here’s what I’d tell you: For (insert your deity here)’s sake be proactive. If you genuinely arewere a good guy and made a mistake, let the guy you sued and the world know what you did or tried to do to make it right. Use the internet and maybe even Yelp as a forum. It’s that simple. Net net, don’t look like an asshole. Oh, and don’t use that whole bait and switch gimmick anymore, nobody likes that. Even if you make good in the long run, it always leaves a bad taste.
Okay so what did we learn class? Only this: First you gotta be REAL. Nobody likes a phony. Second, provide POSITIVE EXPERIENCES. Otherwise, people give you bad reviews on the internet and a law suit ensues. Third you gotta be CONSISTENT. Don’t charge me one thing one day and something different the next. Don’t even tell me you’ll charge me one thing and charge me something else. If you KEEP ON providing real, positive experiences day after day, then you build TRUST. The trust leads to LOYALTY and presto…. ASPIREBRAND!!!!
Or you could be a chiropractor who sues a patient over a bad review and ends up with a SUCKBRAND.
Sorry dude, if you don’t have one now, it’s where you’re headed. Don’t blame me, you did it to yourself. I’m just pointing out what everybody that has an ounce of common sense already knows.
So? For the rest of you, which one do you WANT to be? And which one are you GOING TO be?
Today is a good day to get started.
