Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#1

Post by loyai » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 12:39 AM UTC

I'm exploring a software solution for restaurant and cafe owners that helps them better understand the people who leave reviews on their Google Maps places.

Imagine you're a restaurant owner, the goal is to analyze the reviewers other activity, such as whether they've reviewed your competitors, their average spending range, and their favorite types of dishes and more, all based on their reviews in other places in general. This would give you a more complete picture of who they are.

Do you think this kind of insight would be useful?

Do you even consider people who leave Google Maps reviews to be actual customers? And would having detailed information about them help you make more informed business decisions?

Would love to hear your take on this

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#2

Post by brudgers » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 1:02 AM UTC

Do you think this kind of insight would be useful?

Go and ask restaurant owners. They are your potential customers.

Or better yet, ask them what their problems are and work on those.

The best likely outcome is you gain experience trying to talk to potential customers. Some experience acting instead of imagining. Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#3

Post by solardev » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 1:29 AM UTC

I think that's against the terms of use of the Google Maps APIs, FYI. You'd have to scrape their pages and risk Google's wrath.

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#4

Post by AStonesThrow » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 1:43 AM UTC

solardev wrote: post #3

I think that's against the terms of use of the Google Maps APIs, FYI. You'd have to scrape their pages and risk Google's wrath.

Yes; as an active Local Guide, I sincerely hope & pray that OP is sued/banned/canceled into oblivion, and I further request that their code dies in a fire.

You’re essentially describing a cyber-stalking SaaS. Do you reside in the United States?

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#5

Post by is_true » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 2:04 AM UTC

I know a shop owner and he will tell you that unhappy customers are overrepresented.

He had a problem with someone and half his friends and family left bad reviews that were fake. The worst part is he didn't want to sell something to that person because the product had a problem but that person thought he didn't want to sell to him and got mad.

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#6

Post by jfil » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 3:50 AM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #2

Do you think this kind of insight would be useful? Go and ask restaurant owners. They are your potential customers. Or better yet, ask them what their problems are and work on those. The best likely outcome is you gain experience trying to talk to potential customers. Some experience acting instead of imagining. Good luck.

I second this. Also, I heard that restaurant businesses are always very tight with cash. The kind of service you described sounds like a "nice to have" that they can live without.

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#7

Post by solardev » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 5:52 AM UTC

is_true wrote: post #5

I know a shop owner and he will tell you that unhappy customers are overrepresented. He had a problem with someone and half his friends and family left bad reviews that were fake. The worst part is he didn't want to sell something to that person because the product had a problem but that person thought he didn't want to sell to him and got mad.

If it's truly that bad, how come there are so many places with 4 and 5 star reviews? It's really rare to see something with 3 or fewer stars.

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#8

Post by loyai » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 9:21 AM UTC

AStonesThrow wrote: post #4

solardev wrote: post #3

I think that's against the terms of use of the Google Maps APIs, FYI. You'd have to scrape their pages and risk Google's wrath.

Yes; as an active Local Guide, I sincerely hope & pray that OP is sued/banned/canceled into oblivion, and I further request that their code dies in a fire. You’re essentially describing a cyber-stalking SaaS. Do you reside in the United States?

Wow, such a wild comment from someone who can't understand that every place owner can see all your reviews if they're public just by clicking on your profile picture! You being a local guide and not knowing this is wild, I wonder what reviews you wrote having this mentality lol

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#9

Post by loyai » Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 9:23 AM UTC

is_true wrote: post #5

I know a shop owner and he will tell you that unhappy customers are overrepresented. He had a problem with someone and half his friends and family left bad reviews that were fake. The worst part is he didn't want to sell something to that person because the product had a problem but that person thought he didn't want to sell to him and got mad.

That is an interesting take.. sad that people would do this and crush someone's reviews

Re: Ask HN: Analyzing the behavior of Google Maps reviewers

#10

Post by is_true » Mon, Apr 14, 2025, 10:25 PM UTC

solardev wrote: post #7

is_true wrote: post #5

I know a shop owner and he will tell you that unhappy customers are overrepresented. He had a problem with someone and half his friends and family left bad reviews that were fake. The worst part is he didn't want to sell something to that person because the product had a problem but that person thought he didn't want to sell to him and got mad.

If it's truly that bad, how come there are so many places with 4 and 5 star reviews? It's really rare to see something with 3 or fewer stars.

Not my experience. It might depend on where you live. I'm also not sure if places with bad reviews are shown or at which zoom level they are shwon