My Rotten Experiences with Yelp. Small businesses need real help

 

I am writing the conclusion of my Yelp experience with a prayer for something similar but much better to be created.   Small businesses can use a service like Yelp with a fair system of rating.  The fallowing conversations will illuminate my asking for something better.  Right now, it seems Yelp probably exists because of the dark side.  They lie, extort, manipulate 5-star reviews by hiding them.  While filtering positive reviews, they allow negative reviews to exist and scar people for life.  If these reviews were honest and justified it would not be the death of a business.  A business can benefit in knowing about customer disatisfaction and then improve.  Yelp is very expensive for new businesses.  They will call frequently with incentives but a small struggling business will pay about 400 dollars per month.  That is not based on clicks per day.  Yelp has been known to manufacture the precise number of clicks needed to charge that amount of money.      

Conversation one.  My arm is sore from being twisted by Yelp salespeople wanting me to experience their new and improved ways of driving people to my website.   I must seem like “fresh meat“ to them.   They can’t show me how this works without getting my credit card number first.   I did not give them my credit card number.   They got impatient, “we have been talking for an hour now” and they want you to talk. Then they have some kind of funnel speech that will help your business   I have been with Yelp since 2012. I have heard all their campaigns.  

They haven’t changed.  Two different people told me that I could stop advertising at any time if it did not seem to work for me.   I told them that I had tried to stop it when I realized there was no traffic coming to my site.  I went through the process of turning it off on my end.  They failed to tell me they also must turn it off on their end. I ran up a bill because I believed that my ad program was shut down.  They went ahead and charged my credit card. It is hard to be a small business.  Pirates, lies, tricks and shenanigans are waiting to rob us and all they must do is have your card number. 

I have had wonderful conversations with salespeople.  They seem genuine enough and they complimented my business.  Then in the twinkling of an eye the deal turns south.   There is a video on YouTube called “Billion Dollar Bully”.   It is about Yelp.  Here Is that link:  https://youtu.be/9OsbLQ8pUOk?si=bo3L_UM0s5uybZzh

This documentary goes into detail and spells out how they operate.  It seems that small businesses would be aware of this tricky service and not choose them.   The sad truth is that it is hard to find free advertising and any advertising is better than none. If you have a chance to say a little bit about your business and share a website and contact information it does help.

Yelp said that they would create my first add campaign and give me a 300-dollar discount. They still made 150 dollars as the amount charged was 450.  I had believed it would be less.  If there was something like Yelp where they would charge much less, how wonderful.  Yelp wants your blood like a vampire. They are lethal.  They could easily turn into heroes to new and struggling businesses.  There is so much competition among small businesses.  It is not unusual for a competing business to write a bad review.  It is simple enough to pay a yelp reviewer to use your service.  When I suspected this, the representative at Yelp said, there is no way to remove a bad review. There is an elite class or professional class of Yelp reviewers called the Elites. If your business gets reviewed by an Elite or two you will know it.  They say things in their review that do not ring true.  I called one of my one star reviewers and offered her a refund or a re-do.  She did not want either one of those.  She did add to her negative review that I would not leave her alone.  Anyone can leave a review, but they must have really engaged in a service you offer. But even that has been disputed.  There really is no hard and fast rules at Yelp. 

A Billon Dolar Bully has some winning strategies about dealing with yelp.  They suggest getting congress to pass some laws that will clarify Yelp is not getting rich as a reviewer, most of their money is made from advertising.   They target small businesses, and they can smash a new business by arranging  negative reviews. That is extortion. That is just another day at Yelp for a salesperson.  Be ware, salespeople are very expendible too just like a small vulnerable business.  Yelp pressures their staff to preform well and be sales person of the month,  and if they don't produce,  they are dropped.  It is a harsh dog eat dog environment.  Watch that video if you are a customer.  You might be on Yelp and not know it.  Anyone can add your busienss and you cannot remove it. 

Phoenix Homelessness Is About to Get a Big Boost From the Middle Class

 Yes,  siree,  it is my Nancy Knowing.  I got really involved in who is making significant change in policy and adhereing to good plans?   It is not Katie Hobbs, our govenor.  

I spent some quality time today watching videos on homelessness. I spent the better part of a life time helping families who were trying to cure drug addiction and homelessness. I don't judge and no one should. You can only say what is good and wise for yourself. Otherwise, your creating dependency. It is that old saying of teaching a man to fish and take his kids fishing too. Best to be a good example and allow others to take steps towards their preferred path.  

Counseling isn’t fixing the problems of others. It is a special type of listening. As people speak, you might hear the words between the words. If you are lucky, you will find a hook, you will ask the right questions and leave an awkward silence. That silence will be filled by God and the person in front of you. You were there as a counselor, the handmaiden, of the next step. I also have a Nancy Knowing. I don't let people whine and carry on. No, they don't get a little cheese with that whine, but they will get a chance to shine. Whatever it takes, move the focus, redirect, look down the road.

Everyday there are choices to make. A thousand baby steps will get you to your goal. So celebrate each day and each step. Edgar Cayce said the mind is the builder and he was right. We are building all the time. I had a afternoon nap today and it was just what I needed. I dreamt I was in a township, and it reminded me of a Hallmark movie similar to "When Calls the Heart." It was the late 1800s and I loved the way people were dressing and behaving. I had been making choices that were right for that town. I knew everyone, so these people were most likely soul family. Some were plucked from my own family tree. My Grandfather was there and he is and was my seanathair Gaelic pronounced Shin a there. My Grandfather was Gaelic, and I was lucky to have him. OK, so many family. It was a nice visit. Different branches have different special qualities.  It is colorful. 

It is my Nancy knowing, and Nancy Code of Ethics, just because you are manifesting abundance, you can't ignore the homeless. It will come around in a bad way. Another Nancy knowing: You don't have to re-invent the wheel on helping the homeless but know these things. It will come from the grass roots. In Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoes every bill that suggest best action for the homeless. Don’t wait for the wealthy either. They might not have the right sort of humanity for all this. It will come from the churches which will be hubs of strategy. Ideas that work include: Create tax incentives for home builders to create more modest homes with parks and edible landscaping. In Phoenix there are "safe space" designated areas. They have 24-hour security, laundry and free clothes, and showers. each homeless person gets a number for their space. And it is working quite well. People will move up the Maslow Hierarchy and on to jobs and better housing. Phoenix has a industrial Center where many factories could provide overnight parking for people living in cars and vans. This could be extra income for industrial lots. Right now many areas are off limits for overnight parking. And during the day shade is quite important. The temperature inside a car can be 140 degrees in Pheonix. Just visit phoenix.gov/council to get more ideas. Get your church to have special committees for the homeless and find out what your city council is doing to help. I learned a lot today. I can help a great deal as just one person just making those calls.

It is my Nancy Knowing, that says, don't just complain, without campaigning and being focused on the solution. Also, don't wear yourself out helping people. I used to do that all the time. In social work jargon it is called burn out. I bet you can find a few hours a week to devote to community service and actually make it enjoyable. Then go picnic with friends. I don't like being "advice driven". I’m just saying Pheonix must create more low-cost housing before next year and I am going to remind our city council quite a bit. I know some of the council folks and oversight is a good idea. And, And, And it aint just Phoenix, this is becoming global. The UK is having issues, just about everywhere. Please lend a hand and know that helping others is the fastest way I know to get rich, pleasantly plump and fashionable. Skip all the way to the bank but first find your humanity.  That is where the real wealth is.  

My Top Ten most popular blog essays with summaries.

9/22/2025

Top Ten Most Viewed Posts of this Blog

By Nancy Lake

Nancylake444.com

nancy@nancylake444.com

My blog has approximately 84,000 views.  It began in 2012 when there was such a stir about the Mayan Calendar and the end of the world.  I felt led to post about relevant issues and I noticed lots of comments and responses.  I still welcome responses, but you must email them now.  The comment rules have been changed by the powers that be.  There were many times my brain would light up with a certain muse or energy and I knew I was getting a channeled message from my higher guidance.  I would not eat or do anything until I had written that essay.  I would then go back and correct it later.  I am terrible at spelling.  I grew up being Dyslexic.  I speak on a wide range of subjects as I feel led by the Universe.

So let’s begin with number one in my list of ten: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2014/03/asmr-triumphant-time-for-tingles.html

Written March 2014.  This is a highly personal essay about ASMR.  ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and I began noticing this response in childhood. My great aunt was a beautician, and she owned a shop in Texas.  She would brush my hair and French braid it.  As she worked with my hair, I would experience tingles all over.   It is a lovely, relaxing feeling and I maintain it is a type of healing energy.  This essay is the most viewed and that has always surprised me. 

            Post two: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2012/11/fairy-magic-at-findhorn-scotland.html  This post is about our trip to Scotland.  Vance and I participated in many workshops at the Findhorn Foundation.  I explain how this community got its unusual start, and I discuss whether or not it lived up to its magical reputation.  I am glad that we experienced the wee people or nature divas, and this trip did have a profound impact on my life. 

            Number three post comes in at 4,600 approximate views.  I have rounded up just a little knowing that time has been good for my most popular posts. I wrote this post in 2012. The Title is: The Toughness of Tall White Alien Mothers.  I was able to interview Charlie Hall about his experiences with an alien group he calls the “tall whites”.  I have two interviews with Charlie; however, this one became a viral hit very quickly.  Tall white mothers believe they love their children more than Earth mothers do.  Link. https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-toughness-of-tall-white-alien.html

            The number four most popular post is an essay on my many near death experiences.  I would say I have about 10 posts on both my NDE’s and other NDE’s.  I titled this one as: My Many Lessons from My NDE’s.   I have learned so much from these rendezvous with heaven and God.  I love sharing these experiences. Here is the link: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-many-lessons-from-ndes-six-near.html

            The next blog is interesting to me.  As I read now, I am comparing Esther Hicks teachings with traditional psychology.  I am not sure if it is even balanced. I go heavy into what Hicks believes are the underlying causes of bipolar mental distress.  I wanted to re-write it and I probably will.  In the mean while it is my fifth most popular post.  The title is Skating with Bipolar Illness.  And the link is: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2016/09/bipolar-bears-skating-with-abraham-hicks.html

            The sixth post in terms of popularity is called: What About Bob’s Baby Steps.  And it is based on one of my favorite movies.  What about Bob.  It has the best comedic actors ever and it is well written.  It is actually sound therapy.  I do it all the time.  I reduce all the scary things I must do down to baby steps.  Today I went to a dental appointment with lots of “self-talk”. Just get there. Just go and listen to some advice today, I advised myself.  I find it works very well.  Link:https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-about-bobs-baby-steps.html

            Seventh Place Post is about my psychic development under a famous psychic named Jan Ross.  Jan hired me on the spot.  She said just write your name down.  I guess that said it all. I wasn’t sure how I would pan out as a psychic, but I worked the psychic fairs. I did pretty well, and I have my favorite stories of readings that took me in a whole new direction.   Link: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2012/10/jan-ross-and-my-personal-proof-of.html

            The Eighth Post is about me.  I did a blurb about me and all the paranormal adventures in my life.  Sometimes I get lack luster when it comes to creating a biography spot.  I must be in the right place to make it all seem new and worthwhile.  I waited until I was high on life and then recounted all those things that made me, me.  I think that process worked.  It is a popular post.  The title is About Angel Bell.   I had a website for about five years called Angel Station.  I picked up the handle of Angel Bell and in some circles I still am.  The Link is: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2015/02/about-angel-bell.html

            Number nine spot is one of my favorite blogs.  It is so nice that other people liked it as well.  This title is: Snap Shots of God.  I was explaining that my NDE, as well as other NDE’s gives us a unique glimpse of who God is.  I have read so many NDE accounts that it is like looking at a mosaic with everyone’s puzzle piece creating the Bigger Picture of God.  Arguments break out over what God wants and thinks.  It is all a big mystery.  I think how can anyone say they are an atheist.  You must have a rough concept of God; to then decide you don’t believe it.  Talk about going down a rabbit hole, yeah, and it was the most creative exploration yet.  Link:  https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2015/08/snap-shots-of-god.html

            OK here is the last one in the top ten.  Link: https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2012/11/beyond-jetsons-our-future-citys-and-cars.html  I decided to start off with the link.  It is rather easy to guess the subject.  It is all about future dreams I have had, and my children have had.  And it makes me seem like a liar.  So many things have already been created that were not at all happening when I first dreamt about them.  The title is: Beyond the Jetsons. Our Future Cities and Cars.  With Elon Musk all things are on the drawing table it seems.   Remember the Jetsons?  That cartoon got a lot of things right.  It is amazing.  I think it is fun to remember all the progress we have made.  

           

 

 

 

 

Medium, Nancy shares a message for Charlie Kirk's widow and children

 

What I would say to Charlie Kirk's widow and family

 

OMG.  I have been crying since September 10^th.

 I am a natural medium and I began seeing my great grandfathers as a child.  I was protected from a fire at age five by a guardian relative.  This is the shortest little bio information.  My grandmother was a Southern Baptists, and I went to church with her.  My emerging psychic gifts, or gifts of the spirit, did not please her.  She and I loved each other but had an unsettled truce between us.   I am still, to this day, unsure of how to defend my gifts to those who don’t have these gifts or feel that they come from the devil.  I don’t feel that these gifts are bad and they have allowed me to help other people as a counselor. If the Old Testament says not to seek out soothsayers and mediums, OK.  I wonder why they were afraid and why that warning gets quoted so many times. I also wonder if Erika Kirk would share this concern.

I loved Charlie Kirk and his way of debating with young people.  I loved the person he was but I did not agree with all he said.  Charlie had such a cheerful presence, it was impossible not to love him.  I feel I must get to the point of this essay.   I have been having so many psychic downloads about Charlie.  First, every time someone says RIP Charlie, I gag.  Charlie is a whirlwind of energy right now.  I see him riding a bicycle at the speed of light around the globe.  He is omnipresent and with all those who remember him.  Charlie is an avatar for this millennia and he is the poster boy for significant change.  Erika mentioned that she will keep his name and memory alive, and yes, I believe her.  However, it appears she has tremendous help from the Universe at large.

 

 I am not a fan of the expression RIP.  The dead are often more alive than us who are incarnate.  That is a strange paradox.  I say, you go Charlie.  He could not rest in peace with the tsunami of energy surrounding him anyway. 

I keep getting the vision of Charlie being cloned.  I was listening to people in Korea saying, “I am Charlie Kirk”, and in London and all over the globe.  There is such an outpouring of genuine respect and love for him.  I feel that Charlie embodies certain universal traits and those would include freedom of speech, listening to people and respecting their opinions, staying true to your values, and pure passion.  Charlie was passionate about his life and his message.  So, what would I say directly to Erika? 

Erika.  You don’t have to say goodbye to Charlie.  He will be with you. You will have so many people devoted to you and your well-being.  There should not be any significant cause for concern.   I hope that you are open to communicating with Charlie and accepting that life continues and love never dies.  His love will be manifested.  I wonder about Charlies parents.  I wonder about his siblings. There must be something about the way he was raised that made him the firecracker he was.  I understand his parents are very private people.

I also feel that Charlie may send a partner to Erika, and he will be a Dad for those kids.  I think Erika needs some time to work through her grief.  It seems to be like 3 or 4 years away on the event horizon. 

I want to say how sorry I am and that she is very strong and will make good decisions for herself and those kids.  We are all praying for you. 

Written by Nancy Lake, Phoenix, AZ

Nancylake444.com   

oh, I forgot to add a youtube link.  This is the link to listen to Candace Owens, eulogy. It is such a good celebration of Charlie and How he got started.  Please take the time to watch it.  They were such good friends.  

https://www.youtube.com/live/_dRaEO47-co?si=S2MKSe-FlXhd3P3S

Hey Nancy Lake. Who am I?

 

My name is Nancy Lake

Psychic Counselor.  Professionally, I have been a clinical mental health counselor with a little something extra. I have a MA in Counseling, and I was born with several gifts.  I am clairvoyant and clairsentient and have a mix of all the clairs like clairaudient at times. I can zero in on a problem area and suggests solutions very quickly.  No need for weeks of discovery in counseling.   I offer free 15-minute sessions to new clients to see if we click.  I don’t believe it is business as usual when most USA citizens are struggling.  I hope to offer continued help to those who need answers on a donation basis.

More about me. 

I have a blog.  I wrote a biography as a blog, and I will add the link for that.
https://nancylake.blogspot.com/2015/02/about-angel-bell.html
now I have another website: 
nancylake444.com
I had a website called Angel Station and my handle was Angel Bell.  My eldest son created
The logo for that website. It was an angel.  Then when Jason was 27, he transitioned to the other side.  I know how horrible grief can be.  Losing a kid is a different kind of grief. 
I was so lucky to have two sons in my life.  We were close and yet it wasn’t all cotton candy.  We grew spiritually because we just kept trying to keep things together.  There was fighting until we had a shift in consciousness.   We came together over loved ones lost. 

Jason’s Angel.  Zak helped too.  

 My family of origin was not religious, but my grandmother was.  She was a Baptist, and I really think it held her together to have a Bible and a close relationship with Jesus.  I have explored many different paths.  And I believe that there is ONE LOVE.  We all come from Cosmic Parents.  It is wonderful to find a church or temple where the message lifts you up and the people support you.  I believe one day you will be quite surprised about all the different kinds of people in heaven.  And lets just say, probably all of us will be in heaven.  Before Jesus's Ascension,  our souls did not die.  Jesus spoke with the disincarnate souls of Elijah and Moses as witnessed by the disciples.  Jesus did not do two things:  act as a sacrifice and he did not remove death.  He did remove the fear of death by visible showing us that he could physically ascend.  He was the son of God.  We all are children of God, but he was the wayshower because he was advanced beyond the people he came to help.  He was a dynamic speaker, teacher, demonstrator of the unseen power, alchemist as water into wine,  healer, counselor, psychic, bi-locator etc, etc, etc.  And we are 99% sure he was not concieved in the usual way, but inseminated by a very advanced ET race .  I kept thinking Jesus needs a makeover because we have a stereotype of a marytar and I know him differently.  Forturnately, I found this video that gives us a much needed view of Jesus.  See what you think. 

https://youtu.be/kei6W5no34s?si=WltWU_n_E1X_OUKv

OK so what do I do anyway? 

 
I would like to talk about my services.  

I was born psychic.  By the way we are all psychic.  That does not make me special.  What does make me just a bit special is that I have developed my psychic ability,  telepathy,  and clairvoyance.  I love to teach classes on development.  I can do that. 

I am an animal communicator.  It is very easy for me to communicate with animals.  I call them fur angels.   They are so precious.  They love us so much.  All I really need is a picture of the pet or animal. Just email it to me. Then we can schedule a zoom session with your fur baby present...or feather baby etc.  And if I can communicate with animals it is really easy to communicate with non verbal children and those on the spectrum.  It is always a priviledge to break through to them.

I also work with the fairies now.  They are a slightly higher frequency and it does not take more than a slight frequency change to become invisible.  They are available to me and I do zoom readings witht their help.  Just book a session on my new website nancylake444.com

 
I also love history and find it exciting to read past lives. I love Akashic Records.

We will find significant lifetimes in your aura.   I can bring together those orphans that have become unloved parts of yourself and bring them home.  I like to look at soul contracts as well.

 My profile photo. 

  I am 72 years old.  I started reading for my friends in high school at age 15.   Too many years to count.  It was colorful and full of surprises.  I like to use Solution Focused counseling techniques.  Sometimes healing the past may need some quantum soul line jumping.  What ever it takes to heal and move forward, I am all in.

Animal Totems are great signifiers of what might be off in someone’s life.  My Cherokee ancestors were Christian, but they seem to include wisdom of the past ways to help them cope with the trail of tears event.   I am happy to say it lives on. 

GGG Cherokee Grandfather, with his Irish wife and their daughters
 

In Closing, I would like to say distance does not matter with my readings. All I need is your name, birth date, and the sound of your voice over the phone. You will only be a heartbeat away. 

 

 This is my youngest son, Zak,  he fed this sparrow and it made it. 

You might enjoy my Facebook Group.  Manifesting Abundance

 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14Hzfm4oYnP/