There’s a directory on the web for just about anything you can imagine.

Type a search term into Google and somewhere in the results you are bound to find some directories listed. Click onto them and you often see business entries listed, sometimes with contact information and a link to their respective websites, sometimes it’s just a long list of names.

What are the benefits for your business of being listed on a directory website? In the case of reputable companies such as the excellent ‘The Best Of Chester’ your listing is both an ad that gets seen by lots of local, well targeted visitors who are looking for services, and if you have a weblink it can be a great way to increase your page rank on Google.

But… and this is a big but. Not all directories are the same. This week we took a call from a business owner in Chester who had given £300 to be on a directory believing he would get qualified leads, extra traffic and increased ranking on Google. After the 12 month agreement ended he decided the directory wasn’t for him and didn’t renew, expecting his listing would be deleted and that would be that. But the directory listing is still there, in fact performing even better than when it was being paid for. It is doing so well now it is performing better than his own website on Google when his business name is typed in. But instead of linking potential customers to his website, the directory is now sending them to a direct competitor.

We’ve advised on options, but our best advice is to do your research before becoming involved with directories. Ask other businesses about their experiences before signing up.

We are a web design company based in Chester, but we have helped many business owners and individuals who have had problems connected with internet related business.

Read our advice articles:

Domain Name Disputes

Twitter Impersonation

Web Designer Disputes

Advice Advice, Chester, directories, directory, dispute, Web Design

There was something about a Twitter account that troubled us. 

Registered before we became involved, it had our clients name, company logo, and ‘Tweets’ such as ‘We’re expanding’. It looked official.

A little detective work confirmed our suspicions. Someone completely unconnected with the business had registered the account and now wanted to ‘explore it’s value’. After a couple of weeks careful negotiation, the account has been transferred. It didn’t cost a thing either.

If you or your business is being impersonated, if your trademark is being used, or someone is asking for payment, goods or services in return for a (free) Twitter account in your company name, don’t hand a penny over. Just head over to Twitters help pages.

The lesson to be learned: No matter how insignificant you perceive Twitter to be, register your Twitter account before someone else does. Always be in control of your brand online.

Need help with online marketing? Contact us.

Advice account, dispute, impersonation, trademark, Twitter

A previous web designer our client worked with named himself as ‘registrant’ of their domain name, giving him complete control of it.

Why is this a problem? Think of a domain name as a sign-post, pointing everyone to the place where your site’s files have been saved. If you don’t control where the sign-post is pointing, it can be pointed away from your site, meaning anyone typing your address or clicking on your Google listing can end up somewhere else.

We always stress everyone should always have ‘ownership’ of their own domain names. Our client found out why when his website suddenly disappeared this week.

No matter how well you get on with your web designer today, always… ALWAYS… insist that your domain name is registered to you just in case things turn sour.

If you want to find out who has control of your domain or need help with a domain name transfer or a domain name dispute, please contact us.

* Update to this post *

We successfully completed the transfer of the domain name when negotiations between our client and his previous web designer broke down. It is now safely registered in our clients name, pointing to his website.

Advice Advice, dispute, Domain name, transfer