podcastsinenglish Level B.78 The best restaurant in London
Mar 21, 2019
In a wild twist, a garden shed became London's top-rated restaurant! A journalist created the hoax to test if fake reviews could elevate an entirely fictitious eatery. With a clever website and stylized photos, he climbed the ranks on TripAdvisor using his contacts and bogus feedback. The stunt shocked everyone when The Shed claimed the top spot. Ultimately, he revealed the trick to showcase the ease of manipulating online ratings and left listeners pondering the power of perception in business.
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Journalist Built A Fake Restaurant
- Journalist James Ubar Butler used his experience writing fake TripAdvisor reviews to test a bigger idea.
- He wondered if a completely fake restaurant could reach number one in London.
The Shed Was Literally His Garden Shed
- Butler registered his garden shed as 'The Shed' and created a professional-looking website and photos.
- He even faked food images using shaving cream and paint to make dishes look attractive.
Reviews Drive Ranking Rapidly
- Fake positive reviews can dramatically change an online ranking fast.
- Butler climbed from #18,149 to the top 30 within months using coordinated five-star reviews.