LocalBizBits Local Search Marketing Information and Resources
Just wanted to digress for a second. Do you guys get Internet junk mail? Now I am not talking about spam. I am talking about Internet related snail mail. I have been getting them for years but now I blog-so I now I can vent 🙂
The two biggest ones I get are domain name registration and Internet Yellow Pages. The paperwork is very professional looking and well written. (The fine print on the back is very fine!) When I first received one, I really had to read it over carefully but now I just toss them out.
The thing that gets me is the prices! Holy Cow! The domain name registration one I got yesterday wanted to renew one of my domains (which does not expire until Jan 2008) for $30/year but I could save more if I did multiple years. They also provide the option to buy related names.
I provide domain name registration as part of my web design business so I can get my names at a discount and when I do sell domains, I do not even charge that much!
Domain name registration and ownership is critical and too many business owner do not understand. When you ask someone to purchase a name for you, make sure they put it in your name and you get full access to domain name. I have worked with so many that think they own their name but really do not.
The Internet Yellow Pages is another one I get. They all have the standard YellowPages symbol and tell you that so many of the following options are included. Again the price seems a bit high for a company I never heard over or seen their website.
I definitely think Internet Yellow Page listing are important but at this stage, I would work some of the more known companies simply for security and trust factor. You will need to evaluate any offer but I would ask them what and where your listing will go, can you edit/update them, will you have your own account, etc.
Junk mail, many times is usually just junk and these companies are looking to make money so just be careful!
The domain name scams are big business and do take a lot of small businesses in. So much so that various county Trading Standards in the UK have issued warnings about it such as http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=734. The Register ran a good story on it in 2002 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/12/three_domain_name_scams/