Our town

08/25/2006 David J. says:

Right on, kinz. I'm hooked on yelp. I can't stop doing reviews and impressing myself and at least 1 or 2 others by the # of places I've been around town and how many little doodabs I get on my map!

I yelp during the day while I'm supposed to be ...

I'm going to quit my job and see if yelp will issue me a yelp branded Toyota Prius so I can ride around town, try new places and pick up new yelpers.

Let's go...

No, seriously it rocks, my friends 2 song demo band  and I just never fit into myspace, Tom never did anything for me, and I was never in any of my friends top 8 or approached by predator... with Yelp! I don't have those problems.

08/26/2006 Edenista M. says:

San Diego is picking up speed.  We'll be flying high in no time.

08/26/2006 Tiffany C. says:

I think that the LA TImes article is a boon.  I mean, really, who in San Diego reads the UT anyways?  All my favorite people read the NYT or the LAT.  So I expect to see some more action on Yelp any time now . . .

08/27/2006 Kinsee M. says:

Tiffany's got a point. :-)

08/27/2006

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it has violated the Yelp Terms of Service and is no longer a registered yelper.

08/30/2006 Jason R. says:

San Diego has a newspaper?

08/31/2006 L a r i s a H. says:

For sure, San Diego is chock full of smart, coherent, opinionated people. I know, it's hard to believe when you're, say, outside PB Bar and Grill on a Saturday night, but the talent is out there.

Living in San Diego tends to breed apathy and malaise (just ask the Chargers), so we definetely need to stoke the fires to get Yelp really rolling.

08/31/2006 Kathy W. says:

Eh...LA & San Francisco are WAY over rated...SAN DIEGO is the best!

04/02/2007 Walker S. says:

SD's new CM (Meg M.) is going to be a big help with our visibility!

04/02/2007 Meg "'You like jake?! Jake's my boy!'" M. says:

Thanks for that vote of confidence Walker!  

I love everyone else's enthusiasm too! :-)  San Diego is THE best city PERIOD and with us all working together we'll show the rest of the cities exactly that!

04/02/2007 Warren W. says:

I've noticed that a large percentage of the reviews tend to be concentrated in the PB area and the central-county area.  Once things start spreading out a little more (like down into South County where I live) and more places actually get reviewed, things will start growing.  Personally, I found Yelp through a Google search for a particular restaurant.  So the more places get reviewed, the larger the Google footprint.  Also, because yelpers tend to link together and reviewers have multiple links via social networking, that will ultimately help the Google ranking score also, and bring in more potential contributors.

Now, if we can get some more people to start reviewing who are over the age of 30 and travel in different commercial and demographic circles (ie, besides bar/grills and nightclubs), we'll start to be noticed a lot more.  Right now, 30-somethings gravitate towards the UT site and Citysearch.

04/02/2007 Jason R. says:

Actually, the Google footprint is derivative of old acquaintances.   You see all of the former Paypal (cronies) went on to start/develop, and work on new ventures, including but not limited YouTube, Google, Yelp, Slide, Linked In,etc.  

With Google as a "silent" optimization partner, they can "fudge" the Google algorithm as much as they would like - so that Yelp has a Google presence.  Completely brilliant, yet frighteningly unethical.  (For instance, compare the time it takes for a basic web page or "blog" to be optimized under Google, pursuant  to their own set of "rules" and algorithms, to that of a Yelp review.)

Ironically, a good article regarding this just ran in the NYT.

http://query.nytimes.c...

04/02/2007 Robert "Gay Guerrilla Gardener" H. says:

I don't care if they use a 'silent' optimization for Yelp if you google for reviews. If Yelp has ties to Google because of past business relationships, then great for them. Its called networking and based on previous working relationships. That's how Silicon Valley has been so successful - by the networking among the entrepreneurs. Even when they make their millions or billions, most of them choose  not to retire but start all new ventures again. If you've ever worked with someone on a 24/7 basis like most dot coms, then its understandable that they will continue to network with each other. The biotech and telecom industry in SD do the same thing.

Now going back to the main topic: SD Yelpers are too laid-back, moreso than their LA or SF counterparts. Luis from Sf tried putting an aniformal yelp event together about 2 months ago, and it basically consusted of him, Julie, and myself (plus my bf and Juli'e daughter). If it were LA or SF, there would have been at least a dozen attendees.

04/02/2007 Jason R. says:

Robert H. says:

"...If Yelp has ties to Google because of past business relationships, then great for them. Its called networking..."

I differ, Google is a publicly traded company, Yelp is not.  This is a blatant disregard for business ethics.  If Google were to announce a formal agreement to deliver content directed at users of Google; making this public knowledge, then this could be considered fair business practice.  (much like the agreement Yelp made with dinosaur Palm, Inc.)  

Remember, Yelp exists in a competitive marketplace.  Citysearch, Kudzu, AOL City Guide, etc - these all serve the same purpose of Yelp, albeit without the "networking" component.  The fact is, the same VC's that are shoveling coal into Yelp's furnace, have been doing the same with Google for years.  For Google to subject the casual web user to Yelp content over other similar (and sometimes better) options, on the basis a few people shower together - completely violates the basic groundwork and principles that has made Google the monster it is today.

Why would GOOG not release a statement that they are using, and optimizing content from YELP, Inc, for the betterment of YELP, Inc?

As a proponent of "individualism", capitalism, and the dollar - I would be the first one to high five such a "schemey" relationship.  (I am a GOOG shareholder.)  I tend to think that if practices like this, (not to mention what it implies) are not kept in check, they will someday be the ruin of the internet.

04/02/2007 Robert "Gay Guerrilla Gardener" H. says:

Does Google own part of Yelp? If so, that would be a good reason for them to assist Yelp, just like Yahoo once invested in google before Google's own IPO.

There aren't that many VC firms in Silicon Valley, so odds are, there's a good chance that Google has invested in Yelp. there might even be a chance that Google might end up purchasing yelp in the end. Networking in Silicon Valley really isn't much different from the deals that goes on Hollywood and Washington D.C. Its all about who you know. There's always going to be gray areas, and as long as Google isn't breaking any laws with their partnership with Yelp, I'm all for it.

And I do you like Yelp as a service or not? Me, I'll use Yelp over Citysearch, Kudzu, City Guide, etc. I've tried most of those other services before and was not impressed and felt let down. Yelp's reviews have consistently helped me find restauurants and places to visit that i have enjoyed. I've even met a lot of LA Yelpers and they are a great bunch of people, so I will continue to Yelp and praise its virtues.

04/02/2007 Jason R. says:

If I recall correctly, Yahoo never "invested" in Google, but rather was paying to use "Google Search" for it's web browser (Spider).  Remember, this was at a time when everyone was focusing on portals, and not "search" as the stud technology. (Think Alta Vista)  

I believe it was covered in this book:
http://www.amazon.com/...

However, you make a good point.  I don't question or discredit the functionality and organic based growth of Yelp, or its usefulness.  It is indeed a great product.  

That said, my focus of disdain and concern lies with the evolution and overwhelming power of the "silicon valley brotherhood".  There are obvious reasons behind some of the most groundbreaking internet services and technologies coming from a certain 20 square mile area in northern California.  (which may or may not influence the weirdly, almost overpowering infatuation with the "Yelp Community" in San Fransisco, think Dungeons & Dragons in the 80's?)  But is this healthy?

I hate to draw parallels to a certain (or several movies), but when something is accepted so unequivocally as Google; sometimes it helps to take a step back and ask yourself if they're always right.

04/02/2007 Kristi H. says:

Yep...All of the silicon valley dot commers know/associate with eschother. They even blog about themselves (ahem... www.valleywag.com) You'll see the relationships between these guys, their brothers, partners, friends all on blast like the so very unfortunate celebrities whose ridiculous amounts of money cannot keep them safe from exploit.  Awesome.

04/02/2007 Robert "Gay Guerrilla Gardener" H. says:

"If I recall correctly, Yahoo never "invested" in Google, but rather was paying to use "Google Search" for it's web browser (Spider).  Remember, this was at a time when everyone was focusing on portals, and not "search" as the stud technology. (Think Alta Vista) .

Yahoo did invest in Google. They sold their stake after Google went IPO. Yahoo made a fortune but at the same time they helped spawn their own main competitor.

I think the Silicon Valley community deserve every bit of wealth and influence and power they have now. The reason why it happened in such a small area was because they could network with each more effectively.

People were calling Microsoft the evil empire. Now its Google. People are just jealous by nature and don't like seeing any one business become so dominant. Keep in mind that Google is still young as companies go. Most of their workers are still in their 20's. Give them time and their workforce will mature and when they get to be the same size as Microsoft, they will start 'normalizing'. Time is against them because their workers will eventually start having children, getting older and sicker and they won't be able to work the obscene amount of hours they currently do. All large companies go through these growth spurt stages. Even the big 3 USA automakers went through this phase and look at them now. Ditto for Wal Mart. The bigger you are the harder you'll fall. So let Google enjoy its party while it lasts until the next disruptive technology phases in. In the mean time, I'm going to keep on enjoying Yelp and hope our community grows.