Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECT:Online Yellow Pages - Is it ignorance? The Internet 800 Directory - http://www.inter800.com The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter This issue is for Friday, February 21, 2003 Table of Contents 01. Online Yellow Pages 02. Is it ignorance? 03. Tip Of The Week Welcome to the Internet 800 Directory Newsletter. The Internet is compressing the gap between Americans and citizens of other countries. While it’s not unusual for me to play bridge online with three other players all from different countries. We must be careful to remember that we don’t all live under the same set of rules. Activities and actions that we permit can be outlawed in other places. Freedom of speech, one of our principal rights is not as well received in other parts of the globe. This week a domain name registrar in Germany deleted the registration of a U.S.-based site that features images from autopsies and medical procedures. They deleted the domain in response to a request from a German prosecutor. This is case a of an American Internet site running up against national laws that are more restrictive that our own. Maybe they should have used a US based registrar. I want to thank Stephen Almberg for the next article, “Online Yellow Pages”. Thanks Stephen for taking the time to share you thoughts with our readers. If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share, please send them to Chuck Arning at chuck@inter800.com *01 Online Yellow Pages Why do 1000's of Web Sites provide Online Yellow Page solutions? Because millions of consumers use them! Today more and more consumers are turning to the Web to search for a business or product. Is it time to update your business listing and start advertising in the Online Yellow Pages? The answer is yes! Consumers turn to the Online Yellow Pages to do things not available in the traditional print Yellow Pages, such as finding a restaurant close to their hotel, driving directions, toll-free number, web site, contact information, and other enhancements. Each Online Yellow Page allows different information for free and for a fee. Many of the most popular Search Engines, Internet Service Providers, News Organizations, City Guides, and Mapping sites provide links to Online Yellow Pages. Go to your favorite site and look for a "yellow page" link to review your business. Things to look for: Is your business in the right category(s)? Are your phone number(s) correct? Is the address correct? Does the map/driving direction send them to your business? Is your e-mail and web link included? If not, does the Yellow Page site allow these for free or for a fee? The Online Yellow Pages have not eclipsed search engines in generating traffic and usage. However, the consumers who use the Yellow Pages are often looking to purchase a product or service. There just not looking, they're ready to buy. The next time you are on a web site look for a Yellow Page link: Yahoo.com, MSN.com, EarthLink.com, AOL.com, Yellow.com, iWon.com, AltaVista.com, Lycos.com, About.com, MapQuest.com, MapBlast.com, MapPoint.com and 1000's of other web sites have Yellow Page solutions available. Ensuring your business is up-to-date and correct on the major Online Yellow Page providers is essential in today's market. Stephen Almberg Web Relation Services 757.469.4513 (phone) 877.743.3486 (toll free) www.WebRelationServices.com Stephen@WebRelationServices.com We’re Talkin’ Serious” Bone Suckin’ Sauce ! Winner: “Battle Of The Sauces.” Created in true western North Carolina style. Tomato based all-natural, sweetened with honey and molasses Order your Box of six today for $39.99 +s/h. Toll-Free 1-800-446-0947 or online http://www.BoneSuckin.com *02 Is it ignorance?….. or, is it just plain stupidity? We have had about 4 major grocery chains in our state for at least the last 12 years that I've lived here. The most dominant went out of business about 4 years ago, for whatever reasons. About 8 or 9 years ago, the 2 most dominant stores started offering savings IF you signed up for a card that you presented upon check-out. The meat in the counter was $2.99/ lb, but, with a "Savings Card", the meat was suddenly $1,98/lb. Are we all as stupid as that insidious ploy wanted? Evidently. (For those of you that haven't got it yet, the profit margin on the people who don't sign up is much greater than those who do. The card discount just brings the price down to the level that other stores, without the card, are charging.) I even asked a store manager, "What if a homeless person comes in and he somehow obtained $1.00 and just wanted an apple, which would be $.75, without the card and $.50 with? He said that he would have to fill out the card. "What address should he use?,", I responded. "Well, he can just type in anyone's." he replied. Wait a minute, you say, "I just bought $27.62 worth of groceries tonight and my "Incredible Values" card says in BOLD LETTERS that I just saved $12.21! You can't beat that! (aside: These are actual figures that I just pulled off from my receipts from one of those major chains.) If you believe that, see the paragraph before the one above, if you can count that far. You just got penalized by not giving them the information that they wanted so that they could "save" you money. The truth is, that, by using their card, you are now paying about the same price that you would have if you went to a store that doesn't require a card. Disregard the special offerings. Those are "loss leaders" that all stores take a hit on in order to get you into their store, which is a legitimate practice. These ploys, represented by major national chains should be banned, and you should not shop at those chains that use them. (On the other hand, you can applaud them for their brilliance in exploiting the stupid among us, which I believe is now at 94.2% on my unofficial scale.) The other problem, about them being annoying and misleading is that they are time-consuming. It's enough that people have to dig into their respective purses and wallets (long after the items are rung-up, which is an article in itself), but that they now have to search for their precious " Savings Card", which they not only cannot find, but for which the teller will be glad to supply them. Which leads to a search for a pen and eye-glasses and a process filling out the application that which I can only remember from the 2nd grade. Enough. The other problem is the DATA COLLECTION the stores obtain, to which I will not address, as I believe that the audience of this newsletter already understands. Which brings us to another ploy that is pure SCAM! Perhaps some of you have received a check from a Yellow Page Directory or an Internet service provider for a small amount of money, such as $3.62, and all you have to do is endorse it. The last time I did that without reading the small print was a major error, resulting in a fight with a major magazine and cost me well above the $3.62. Anyone receiving these should report his or hers state's Attorney Generals' office. (Since my wife works for the Attorney General here, I just shout upstairs.) These are serious frauds and we must be proactive in protecting the general public against them. (Even the stupid ones.) Steven Jackson - sjackson@inter800.com DEVRY UNIVERSITY – WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH? Provide for your family? Move out of that dead-end job? Make your family proud? You can make it happen with a DeVry University degree: - Leading technology and business firms actively recruit DeVry graduates - Study at one of 25 DeVry campuses nationwide, or through DeVry online - DeVry's graduate employment services are one of the strongest in higher education Click Here to Learn More: http://elilip.com/clk/ubeichenzagarensung Words from prospective students: "I want to provide more for my family" "I need to set a better example for my children" "I don't want to be stuck in a dead-end job anymore" Take your first step in achieving your goals! CLICK HERE: http://elilip.com/clk/ubeichenzagarensung Tip of the Week The tip this week was sent to us by Dick Larkin (http://www.DickLarkin.com). Dick publishes a free weekly newsletter that is very entertaining and informative. It’s filled with business advice sandwiched between lavish amounts of humor. You can sign up for his newsletter at: http://dicklarkin.twpsite.com ----- Cutting Telemarketing Calls ----- Reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive by putting your name on the Direct Marketing Association’s “Do Not Call” list. The DMA requires their members (many telemarketing firms) to remove these names and numbers from their call lists. It’s free if you mail in your form, or you may submit it online for $5. I personally mailed in my form several months ago, and have seen a reduction in the number of calls I receive. I can’t say for sure if the list has had an effect. Another way to reduce the calls is to tell every telemarketer to remove your name and number from their list. The web address for the “Do Not Call List” is. . . http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offtelephonedave If you have any tips or shortcuts that you think the readers of this Newsletter will find useful, send them to sjackson@inter800.com Banners? Pay-per-click? Why not target your market with links or information placed in relevant content? The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter offers direct access to business people who are interested buyers. Advertising: Information on how to sponsor this publication: Call 800-299-1879 Thanks for taking the time to review our newsletter for this week. If you know of anyone that might benefit from receiving this newsletter, send them to (http://www.inter800.com/news800/ ) where they can subscribe. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2002 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |