Is illegal to list a company on my business directory without permission form the company??

Question

Company name - Address - Conatct details.

It's a new directory and I want to get some listings on there so people use it but I don't want businesses to know they are listed for free. When the site gets going I want to go back and charge for a listing and that won't happen if they are getting the service for free already....Help!!!

Answer 1

No, you're ill informed. You offer them a placement for free for a given time, say one month. It's a percentage game - some will say no and some will say yes. You have to be strong enough to take the no's.

Then after a month you contact the businesses with free ads and discuss the results of their listing for the month. If they have seen favourable results, then discuss payment. If not, then extend their free insertion for another month. Also, try to analyse with them why they may not be getting results and possibly fix the problem.

Get to know your clients, talk to them often and befriend them. Don't hide behind a door and suddenly jump out at them with a bill - they'll think your crazy.

Hope the Directory takes off for you.

Kind regards, Steve.

See my Squidoo Lenses at:

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/Steve...

Answer 2

Hello,

I think it will not be illegal to list company's name, address and contact details in a business directlry. If you can maintain the same informations in your telephone index, then you can also maintain it in your business directory.

Answer 3

Why don't you just contact them and offer them a free 6 months trial listing? That way you have their permission (all legal - get them to sign a form of course) and if your site takes up you can then start charging them after 6 months.

If you're successfull they will be happy to pay for the listing, and if not, they've not lost anything and have got a wee bit of free advertising, so I expect you can get them to agree quite easily to a free trial.

Answer 4

I hope you like prison food!

Answer 5

No, of course not.

Answer 6

You need to answer a few questions first:

1.  Where are you obtaining their information from?

2.  Are you calling to verify they are still in business, the phone and address are still correct?

3.  Did you get permission if you're going to put someones name on the "listing"?

4.  Why can't you be a more honest businessperson and go legit by telling them what you are doing?

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