Better Business Bureau Vs. Wikipedia — Competing For Credibility?

Are you among those who would check the internet before purchasing a product? If yes, then you must have read product reviews on different platforms as well. But here’s the thing, don’t believe everything you read on product reviews! It is possible that some of the reviews are not trustworthy and may divert users’ attention only.

Good news! There are still some platforms that offer honest reviews. Millions around the world trust platforms such as Wikipedia and Better Business Bureau (BBB).

They may be competing for credibility for a long and have a sizeable audience. Both these platforms are renowned for providing honest reviews to their users. Lately, there have been complaints about credible platforms such as BBB from their customers. Some of them complain about reviews while others question their criterion using which they rate businesses.

Let’s dive in and see what the fight is about;

Are They Protecting Customers From Business Frauds?

Entities such as BBB are vocal about protecting customer rights and helping them avoid business frauds. The reality is a little different, as many complaints have been filed against BBB by businesses and customers. Visit their site, and you will find that some prestigious businesses with one or two complaints only have F ratings. On the contrary, some little known new startups enjoy better ratings compared to those that have been around for decades. There are question marks against their claim of the non-profit entity as their business rating system suggests otherwise. Next, do they have algorithms at work?

Are There Algorithms At Work, At All?

The BBB has been around for a long time. With 122 offices in the US and Canada, they have a multitude of claims about their rating procedure. They also claim to use high performance proprietary algorithms for rating purposes. However, the credibility and authenticity of their business rating system are now in question. For instance, your search for a roofing service on the BBB platform will find you many roofing services depending on ratings and locality. You can visit the site and check business ratings yourself. BBB claims to be a non-profit organization but charging money from businesses for rating’s sake without considering their numbers raises many questions.

What About Wikipedia?

Whereas BBB has questions about its credibility, platforms like Wikipedia are improving by the day. Wikipedia started as a simple editable encyclopedia but has become a platform of choice for millions worldwide. If you wish to take your business to the world without spending a fortune, all you need is a business page on Wikipedia. However, having an approved page on this platform is anything but easy. It would help if you did it for your business.

Next, the information of your business, followed by neutral sources mentioning your business, will be included in the notability report. Your wiki page will need several wiki drafts that will contain legitimate, non-promotional information on your business.

Is It Trustworthy?

Getting your business page approved on Wikipedia is serious business. The procedure takes several days, and there is no guarantee that it will be approved. The provided data must be authentic; otherwise, the notability report may be rejected. Keep in mind that Wikipedia is free of cost platform that doesn’t entertain promotions or advertisements. Back by multiple checks and stringent procedures, your Wikipedia page can do wonders for your business.

Are Businesses Suffering In War For Ratings?

There is no denying that both platforms are a world apart. They have different criteria for approving business with BBB rating system questioned by many, including media. Eventually, platforms are competing for ratings where businesses suffer the consequences. The war for ratings is all but over, and businesses must establish their credibility through it. Competing platforms often blame businesses for poor ratings, but the situation is otherwise.

Now is the right time to change your priorities. Instead of registering your business on controversial platforms, having a credible Wikipedia page would help a lot. There is no guarantee that your business will have a Wikipedia page, though, so start looking for data, third-party media coverage, impartial content where your business was featured.

It will help your business establish its authenticity tremendously, so what is best for your business and let platforms deal with their race for competing for credibility.