logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
17m 28s

Should you trust reviews?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

When are reviews real and when are they fake? We'll be asking a range of guests whether it's ok to be paid to do a review and how online sites can detect fraudulent write ups. We’ll also hear why negative feedback can be good for a business in the long run. Elizabeth Hotson speaks to James Kay, head of corporate communications at Tripadvisor, Carolyn Jameson, chief trust officer at Trustpilot and Michael Hanney, founder of Review Solicitors. We also hear from restaurant pr Hugh Richard Wright and Alison Edgar, author of 'The art of getting what you want.' Plus, Cynthia Giles from Cut Throat Marketing explains why negative reviews aren't necessarily bad for business.

Presenter: Elizabeth Hotson Producer: Sarah Treanor

(Picture: A mouth and comment symbols. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Sep 17
Taking Stock: Can Big Tech rivals be trusted to develop safe AI?
AI: Existential threat or billion-dollar opportunity? The increasingly loud and often stark warnings from inside the tech industry - about the dangers AI might already be posing.Plus we dig into the interest rate rises facing US and European consumers. And ask whether an ABBA sin ... Show More
23m 27s
Apr 2026
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 2026
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2019
MBA1244 Taking Control of Online Reviews
<p>No matter what you do, your business will have a story. The question is: who’s writing it?</p><p>Getting a handle on your business’s online narrative is key to protecting your brand. Whether your business is brick-and-mortar or strictly digital, you have an online reputation t ... Show More
10m 32s
Mar 2018
Making Sense of Online Reviews, Our Best/Worst Service Experiences, plus Debating the Future of Spotify
In this episode, Youngme, Mihir, and Felix try to make sense of online reviews, dish about their best/worst service experiences, and offer their thoughts on Spotify. Plus, their After Hours recommendations for the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
34m 46s
Sep 2019
What is Trust Issues?
We all go through moments of doubt and uncertainty. But how do we stop them from holding us back? Trust expert Rachel Botsman speaks with incredible guests – from soldiers to poker players and psychologists to world leaders – to give us new ways of thinking about how and whom we ... Show More
2m 29s
Feb 2016
Customer Service
All businesses rely on customers. So, why do some businesses bend over backwards to keep customers happy, and why do some of them appear not to care? What is the impact of poor customer service on a business and how much does it cost them to invest in improving their infrastructu ... Show More
28m 13s
Jan 2025
HR People Pod – Ep 15: The Traitors | Business confidence | ‘Corporate catfishing’
From strategic alignment to establishing a common purpose, what lessons can people professionals learn from the hit TV show ‘The Traitors’? As business confidence diminishes, and employers face rising business costs, what approach should you take with communicating with your peop ... Show More
36m 10s
Oct 2018
Is Retail Dying? Plus, How Are Companies Spending their Tax Cuts?
Youngme, Mihir, and Felix discuss whether the “retailpocalypse” is real, try to figure out how companies are spending their Trump tax cuts, debate whether share buybacks are a good thing or a bad thing, and offer their picks for the week.For interested listeners:The future of ret ... Show More
31m 42s
May 2025
HR People Pod – Ep 23: Suggestion boxes | Managing voice | ‘Gamifying’ performance | ‘Job polygamy’
Could the humble suggestion box make a comeback as the key to acquiring honest, off-the-cuff feedback? What risks do organisations face by ignoring or mismanaging employee voice? Is a gamified approach to performance management the future? And are employees staying faithful or ta ... Show More
34m 30s