Client unhappy about Online Directory Calls and Spam Calls in General

[Tom K Digital]

Hello LocalSearchForum,

I am new to the Local SEO game, recently I have added a small business I am working with to some online directories. I read that adding them to as many as possible was a good idea, so i started adding. A weekend passes and now my client is complaining that he is getting endless amount of calls for premium listing and other potentially scam calls. Below I will include a list to the online directories I have added the business listing to, what is the best way to rectify this issue? I've already said to install a call blocker app and start blocking the numbers. Below is the list.

APSense

directree

trustpilot

foursquare

GPS Network

Manta.com

yell.com

pininterest.com

Navmii

My Local Services

Evening Standard

iBegin

Cylex

Brownbook.net

192.com

opendi

Aroundme

Showmelocal

Hotfrog

contractors1000

192.com

yelp!

storeboard

infobel

bizapedia

cybo.com

freeindex

 

[Adam Kaufman]

There is zero value in these directories. Local Listings Are DEAD. I have been saying it for years.

 

[Tom K Digital]

Thank you for your reply Adam, I have come to a realization that yes, most of the citations on my list are just spammy online directories. I have actually seen my clients business drop down in the local grid too which i can only attribute to these listings.

I got this idea of making as many online directory citations from Chris Palmer on Youtube. I am not promoting him, I am starting to think some of his methods are actually not that thought out and just plainly do not work as this isn't the only thing that has not worked.

Going forward, I will make a list of very high quality citations and go for them, I know it will take time but that is the game.

EDIT: If you are reading this Adam, what would you suggest to do on fixing the premium listing and the scammy calls? I am in UK, I think I will spend tomorrow removing the listings, I have already told the client to block numbers and install a call blocking app called "HEYA".

 

[Conor Treacy]

I'm not bashing Chris for the stuff he puts out, but just take it with a grain of salt. There's a lot of spammy tactics that he promotes on his videos. I used to watch his videos on occasion to see if there was anything new being talked about, but I rarely see a video these days.

As Adam mentioned, aside from Yelp, there's no value in those listings. There's really only 5-10 places that you need links from (facebook, google, etc) and then the rest is all fluff.

As far as stopping the spam calls, it's kind of like putting an email address on a website - once it's there, it's added to a list and then that list is shared with others. Even blocking numbers only goes so far as they'll use other numbers. All you can do at this point is tell the person to say "remove me from your list" and then report them if they don't.