192, AskAlix, Yell - Any thoughts?

[bitsnstuff]

I have recently been approached by these three and wonder whether any of you could give any advice as to whether it would be a worthwhile investment or not? None specifically has a website section, most listings have a physical location and a website as an extra.

Any thoughts?

Kate

[Alpha]

Kate

cannot comment on Yell as have not looked at them in any detail but the other two are, in my opinion a waste of money. You would be better off focussing on getting your website SEO right.

I actually had the ask alix salesman going round in circles when they last called a couple of years ago and actually got him to consider on a pay per result which he thought was a good idea (Strangely though he supervisor wouldn't go for it) It's basically a big directory that no one seems to use.

[webit]

Thats one of the reasons we created webit.net. Very much the same but we dont charge for the service and we added more function. Also, intrestingly some of our search results higher on the page than Ask Alix.

[epiphany]

Personally I would go for seo as the main cost is your time. We have a fairly good system in place that got a site we started in May to a page rank of 4 and a site we started in february to a page rank of 5. If you really want to develop your site in the long term then forget about yell imo :D

[Anyanka]

Hi there,

My opinion to throw in :D With your line of business I don't think it would show a ROI. Alongside SEO, PPC etc I would definatley run an affiliate program as I think it would work very well for you.

You should also consider approaching some niche sites where you could run a deep feed.

V. Nice site btw.

[bitsnstuff]

Damn - I wish I had found this forum before I got stung by AskAlix! It is so difficult to know where best to turn when you first start, however, I suppose everyone makes mistakes and learns from them.

I couldn't find a section on Webit that applied to me - any suggestions, I would be happy to join?

Rob at Top-Click is doing a fine job of my PPC and I am working hard on SEO, but I hadn't considered an affiliate program, as I thought I was too small. How would it work for me? Do you have experience with these things, Anyanka or anyone?

What does "running a deep feed on some niche sites" mean?

Sorry to need so much help, but I really need to focus on conversion at the moment and I think all of these topics would help.

Thank you.

Kate.

[Alpha]

Kate

I'm also sorry you went along with ask alix, I took it from your original question that you were only thinking about those services.


The reason that these forums are here is so that we can help each other build better businesses and learn from the mistakes and experience of others which hopefully makes building your business that much easier.

The forums are here for you to ask questions so ask as many as you need to

[bitsnstuff]

I had already been stung by AskAlix and this week was approached by 192.com, so before I made another error (to put it mildly :cry: ), I thought it best to ask the experts. :D

Kate

[webit]

I couldn't find a section on Webit that applied to me - any suggestions, I would be happy to join?

I can add the category 'wedding' under 'Products > Home > Health, Beauty and Personal' for you to list you goods and services. Let me know and I'll have it done by the end of tommor (I have some other category requests to add as well.)

Just as a point of reference against Ask Alix etc. we're finding that out of our business listings on webit.net, 19% of them are having either their company name and description being returned or their site or one of their products visited from a search engine per day (thats a click through from a person rather that just a spider following a lead) based on figures over the last 30 days, sometimes our listing appear above their own company pages (as well as above the AAlix listings)

[bitsnstuff]

Thank you Webit, that would be great. Can I be cheeky and ask for a gift section too? Its just that my site covers gifts, wedding, fashion, home decor, mums and babies, its a nightmare to try to fit that into one category.

If not, I will still register as what you said makes alot of sense.

Thank you very much.

Kate.

[webit]

Will do - I'll add wedding and gifts under:
'Products > Home > Health, Beauty and Personal'

and I'll drop you a PM when done.

[bitsnstuff]

Thank you very much Webit, I really appreciate your help.

Can I set up a link to your site - Do you have a nice little banner I can use?

Kate.

[webit]

Great stuff - we'll get one made up and sent to you - any perfered size?

[bitsnstuff]

Take a look at http://www.bitsnstuff.co.uk/acatalog/Favourite_Links.html - this is the sort of size I would be looking for.

It is just a small way to say thank you for helping me :oops:

Kate