How to Work or Get a Job Removing Spam Comments for Yelp (2023)

Have you ever noticed spammy, irrelevant, or inappropriate comments on business pages on Yelp? As a leading review site, Yelp relies on an army of reviewers to provide useful feedback to consumers. But with over 200 million reviews, some spam and abuse inevitably slip through. That’s why Yelp employs hundreds of Content Reviewers to identify and remove spam comments, upholding the quality and integrity of reviews.

As a Yelp Content Reviewer, you’ll help businesses by deleting junk comments and keeping their Yelp pages clean. You’ll also protect consumers from misleading or offensive content.

It’s a great job for people who love connecting businesses with customers and want to work remotely. As an independent contractor, you can make your hours and work from anywhere.

What Does a Yelp Content Reviewer Do?

As a Yelp Content Reviewer, your primary duty will be analyzing comments on Yelp business pages. You’ll look for:

• Spam – Comments that only try to sell something and don’t give a real customer experience.
• Conflicts of interest – Owners, employees, or competitors writing about a business.
• Offensive language – Comments with hate speech, threats, or severe profanity.
• Irrelevant rants – Comments unrelated to the business itself.

When you find a spam comment, you’ll remove it so it no longer shows on Yelp. You’ll also provide feedback explaining why the comment violated guidelines.

Content Reviewers must make quick, accurate decisions on which comments to delete. Understanding the difference between spam/abuse and a negative but legitimate review is important.

You may also answer basic customer emails, report bugs, or test new products. The variety of tasks depends on Yelp’s current needs.

What Skills Do You Need to Remove Yelp Spam?

To succeed as a Yelp Content Reviewer, these skills and qualifications are key:

Strong Communication Skills

You’ll need to explain removal decisions clearly and tactfully. Strong writing is essential for customer emails and internal feedback.

Attention to Detail

Identifying spam takes sharp eyes to spot subtle violations. You’ll look closely at details like email addresses, links, and inappropriate words.

Critical Thinking

Not all inappropriate reviews are obvious spam. You’ll need good judgment to interpret gray areas based on guidelines.

Organized and Methodical

The job requires analyzing high volumes of comments efficiently. Being organized and diligent helps ensure you make the right calls.

Basic Computer Skills

You must be comfortable using web browsers, email, productivity software, and internal review platforms. Technical expertise isn’t required.

Flexible Schedule

Content Reviewers can set their hours, but you should be available at different times of day. Spam levels fluctuate, so schedules vary weekly.

Eligibility to Work

Yelp can only hire Content Reviewers authorized to work as contractors in the U.S. or Canada. Other eligibility factors may apply.

How to Get Hired as a Yelp Content Reviewer

Yelp has a competitive hiring process for Content Reviewer roles. Follow these steps to get noticed and secure a position:

Check Job Listings Frequently

Yelp posts open Content Reviewer jobs on their Careers page. But positions get filled quickly, so check new listings daily. Set up alerts for immediate notifications.

Highlight Your Attention to Detail

Tailor your application to emphasize organization, critical thinking, and communication skills. Provide examples of catching errors or inconsistencies.

Show Off Your Yelp Knowledge

Discuss your experience using Yelp as a customer and reviewer. Familiarity with the platform can help you identify questionable reviews.

Have a Clean Online Presence

Yelp will likely review your personal social media accounts and online footprint. Keep your profiles professional to show good judgment.

Provide Writing Samples

Your application can include short writing samples like emails or reports. It lets Yelp evaluate your communication abilities.

Ace the Tests

The hiring process includes multiple-choice tests on Yelp guidelines, spam identification, writing skills, and more. Study guides are available online.

Check References Thoroughly

Not everyone hired ends up being a good fit. Yelp does extensive reference checks to ensure reviewers are responsible.

Prepare for a Probationary Period

If hired, expect a probationary period to assess your accuracy in identifying spam. Review as many comments as possible to sharpen your skills.

Have a Dedicated Workspace

You’ll work remotely but treat the job like in an office. Have an organized, distraction-free work area, and dress professionally.

Provide Consistent, Quality Work

Work hard to keep your spam removal decisions thoughtful and error-free. Exceed goals for several reviews analyzed daily.

Communicate Professionally

Always maintain a respectful tone in emails and feedback, even when contacting unhappy customers about removed comments.

Stay Up-to-Date on Guidelines

Yelp’s rules evolve. Carefully read your emails and training materials to stay current on spam policies.

Key Challenges Facing Yelp Content Reviewers

Removing spam from Yelp is rewarding but has some tough aspects. Here are the key challenges reviewers face:

• High Volume of Reviews – Processing hundreds of comments daily requires efficiency and laser-like focus. Avoid burnout through self-care.
•  Repetitive Tasks – Reading lots of similar content can be dull. Stay engaged by taking breaks, competing goals, and finding satisfaction in helping businesses.
•  Unclear Cases – Not all spam is obvious. Use your best judgment, and don’t hesitate to escalate tricky judgment calls to a supervisor.
•  Difficult Customers – Some react angrily to removed comments. Stay calm and professional in these situations.
•  Evolving Rules – Yelp spam criteria change over time. Adapt by studying new guidance thoroughly as it’s released.

FAQ About Yelp Content Reviewer Jobs

If you’re interested in a career removing Yelp spam, you likely have plenty of questions. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about these roles:

How much do Yelp Content Reviewers make?

Yelp Content Reviewers are independent contractors paid per review analyzed. Earnings vary based on speed and hours worked but often average $15-$20 per hour. Faster reviewers can earn over $20 per hour.

What are the hours like?

Most Content Reviewers work 20-40 hours per week on flexible schedules they set. Availability during peak restaurant hours is needed, including nights and weekends. Hours can vary significantly from week to week.

What are the remote work requirements?

Content Reviewers must provide their computer and internet access and have a private workspace. Some positions require living near a Yelp office for occasional in-person meetings.

How competitive is the hiring process?

The hiring process is extremely selective, with a small percentage of applicants making it through. Standing out requires polished applications, high test scores, and clean background checks.

What are the main reasons applicants fail probation?

New reviewers often struggle with productivity expectations, accuracy, communication tone, or following ever-changing guidelines. Study intensively during training and probation.

What opportunities are there for advancement?

With stellar accuracy and productivity stats, Content Reviewers can be promoted to mentoring new hires or supervisory roles. But most remain in the base reviewer job.

Conclusion

Removing spam from Yelp takes diligence, care, and good judgment. While challenging, it’s a great gig for those seeking remote work with a flexible schedule. Bring your attention to detail, communication skills, and Yelp passion. You can launch an engaging career moderating one of the web’s top review communities with hard work.