I recently got a call from a company that committed to moving my web site form its present location, somewhere in the middle of the pack, to FRONT PAGE placement on Google, Yahoo and MSN. The process, know as Search Engine Optmization, is a hot button for companies with a web presence and less than frond page placement. Realtors and companies in related businesses are prime targets for these folks.
I think my first mistake was to listen for thirty seconds and ask a couple of questions. They were VERY HIGH PRESSURE. Their normal cost is $ 3999 for a six month period, and it takes about 45 days before you start seeing results. Of course, they were offering a discount at $ 2799. I ended up talking to their sales people on one call for about fifteen minutes and they came down to $ 2499 if I signed up on the spot.
I explained that it is not my practice to part with that much cash without doing some research. Eventually, they actually listened to my comment and gave up the pressure.
I spent a little time checking them out. The demonstration portion of their web site has eight customer web sites that they are using as great examples of their work. They recommended that I call one of thee owners, a travel agent in Florida. She did give them a glowing recommendation when I called. Then I called the other seven.
The second site, a roofing contractor, said that they delivered as promised and he was happy with them. The third, a software vendor, said that they had deliverd but is product only sells for $ 10 and the cost did not justify the expense. He quit after the first six month enlistment.
The forth, an Canadian outfit that has something to do with divorce, said they delivered for him. He did say that they had asked him to make his check out to another company! RED FLAG. He also quit after six months.
Number five was a Las Vegas DUI lawyer site where no one answered the phone. The DUI business must be good if they don't need to answer their phone. Number six was a rail tour company. Their 800 number had been disconnected--not a good sign.
Then it got very interesting. Number seven was a hair replacement site--something I could actually use. The owner said that she had never heard of theis company, she didn't know anything about them! Number eight was a home staging company. The owner did use them and was highly dissatisfied. She was not pleased with any of her dealings with them!
TILT: Is this a new marketing strategy not yet in use by real estate agents and loan officers? What a concept. Lets market our product or service using dissatisfied customers and people who have never heard of us, and then try to HIGH PRESSURE unsuspecting schmucks into paying big bucks for our questionable service!
CAVEAT EMPTOR
If you get a call from this organization, you have been warned!
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