Why We Don’t Use Yelp
Many customers ask us a simple question: Why We Don’t Use Yelp as part of our review or reputation strategy. In an age where online reviews influence nearly every buying decision, choosing to avoid a major platform like Yelp may seem unusual. But our choice is deliberate, data-backed, and rooted in our commitment to transparency, accuracy, and customer trust.
This page explains why we don’t use Yelp, why credible reviews matter to us, and why verified platforms like Google and BBB align better with the high standards Equinox Cleaning is known for.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – A Decision Based on Values, Not Emotion
Equinox Cleaning is built on honesty, eco-friendly cleaning science, and exceptional customer service. Our reputation comes from real homes, real businesses, real seniors, real families, and real New Jersey clients who place their trust in us every day.
To deliver that trust online, we rely on platforms that support accurate, unfiltered, and verified customer feedback.
This is one of the primary reasons why we don’t use Yelp—because Yelp’s internal filtering system frequently hides real reviews, which leads to a distorted public image.
Our goal is not to chase five stars by any means necessary. Our goal is accurate representation.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – Research Shows Inconsistent Filtering
The biggest issue—and a major reason why we don’t use Yelp—is the filtering of legitimate reviews. Yelp uses an automated recommendation algorithm that often:
• hides real customer reviews
• emphasizes reviews from heavy Yelp contributors
• filters out new accounts even if they’re real customers
• ranks businesses differently from day to day
Multiple independent studies have highlighted these issues:
• Harvard Business School Study
Researchers found Yelp’s hidden/filtered review system significantly affects business ratings, creating an inconsistent public image unrelated to actual customer satisfaction.
• arXiv 2023 Peer-Reviewed Analysis
This study demonstrated that Yelp’s filtering algorithm disproportionately removes reviews from verified, real-world customers, while amplifying certain profiles for reasons the public cannot verify.
• Journal of Marketing (2022)
This paper noted Yelp’s bias toward “elite” or frequent Yelp users, even when their reviews were less relevant to the actual business experience.
For a company like Equinox Cleaning—focused on real clients, real homes, and real results—this lack of transparency is unacceptable.
This is exactly why we don’t use Yelp as part of our reputation strategy.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – Hidden Reviews Hurt Real Customers
Over the years, we’ve encountered multiple situations where clients told us:
“I left you a review on Yelp, but it disappeared.”
“It shows as ‘Not Recommended’ even though I’m a real customer.”
“My review is hidden but negative reviews from non-customers stay up.”
When real customers report real experiences yet Yelp hides them, it undermines trust. That is a major reason why we don’t use Yelp — because our clients deserve a platform where their voice is actually heard.
When reviews are filtered:
• potential customers are misled
• businesses are misrepresented
• credibility is distorted
• hardworking cleaners are unfairly impacted
We prefer to use review systems where your voice is never buried behind an algorithm.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – Advertising Pressure & Ethical Concerns
Another reason why we don’t use Yelp is the well-documented concern around pay-to-play pressure. Multiple small businesses nationwide have reported that their Yelp visibility improved when they paid for advertising and deteriorated when they stopped.
While Yelp officially denies these claims, the Federal Trade Commission has received thousands of complaints over the years about:
• aggressive ad sales
• fluctuating review visibility
• unclear filtering practices
• sudden ranking changes after declining ads
We refuse to participate in systems that can be perceived as “pay for a better reputation.”
Our reputation is earned through hard work, professionalism, and consistent quality — not advertising manipulation.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – We Prefer Transparent, Verifiable Review Platforms
Instead of Yelp, Equinox Cleaning invests time and trust into platforms that support transparency:
Google Business Profile
• verified reviews tied to real accounts
• in-depth fraud detection
• higher accuracy
• highest consumer trust
• massive impact on local SEO
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• A+ Accreditation
• verified complaint resolution
• no filtered reviews
• strict identity validation
Direct Website Testimonials
• confirmed service history
• real names (when allowed)
• authentic homeowner & business feedback
These platforms align with who we are as a company. Another reason why we don’t use Yelp is simply because Google and BBB offer more reliability, verification, and transparency.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – It Doesn’t Affect Our Visibility
Some customers wonder whether not using Yelp hurts our visibility.
The truth is: it actually strengthens it.
Google is where over 92% of local customers search for cleaning companies, according to Statista and Pew Research. Yelp’s traffic has declined steadily since 2016, while Google Maps usage is at its highest point in history.
By focusing on platforms that matter most:
• we show up higher in search
• we get more local engagement
• our reviews carry more trust
• our clients get the most accurate picture of our service
So another important reason why we don’t use Yelp is because Google delivers far more visibility, accuracy, and SEO benefit.
Why We Don’t Use Yelp – It’s Not About Hiding Anything
Some people might assume that businesses who avoid Yelp are hiding opinions or negative reviews. That is simply false.
We are everywhere that matters and everywhere that verified customers trust.
You can find hundreds of transparent, unfiltered, verified reviews here:
• Google
• BBB
• Our website
• Our social media
• Our testimonials page
This is why why we don’t use Yelp has nothing to do with hiding, and everything to do with maintaining ethical and accurate representation.
Where to View Verified Reviews
Google: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Equinox+Cleaning,+LLC/
BBB: https://www.bbb.org/us/nj/nutley/profile/commercial-cleaning-services/equinox-cleaning-llc-0221-90209268
Website Testimonials: https://equinoxcleaning.net/reviews
FAQ
Q: Why don’t you use Yelp if many people search there?
Because Yelp filters and hides authentic reviews. This is one of the core reasons why we don’t use Yelp and rely on more transparent platforms.
Q: Does avoiding Yelp reduce trust?
No. Our Google and BBB profiles offer higher trust, deeper transparency, and stronger verification.
Q: Will you ever join Yelp again?
Only if Yelp significantly improves its filtering system and transparency.
Q: Can customers still write a Yelp review?
Yes, but the platform may hide or filter it — and that’s exactly why we don’t use Yelp for official reputation management.
Final Word
At Equinox Cleaning, why we don’t use Yelp is not a marketing tactic—it is a commitment to fairness, truth, and accurate representation. We stand behind our service, our clients, and the systems that verify real customer experiences without manipulation.
Our decision protects our reputation, honors our customers’ voices, and ensures new clients get the most accurate picture of who we are.
Equinox Cleaning will always choose integrity over influence, transparency over traffic, and authenticity over algorithms.