Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Frequently Asked Questions & Useful Resources => Topic started by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on October 04, 2007, 08:57:28 am
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Hi...got a rep coming round today from directory telephone service 118, had any luck with 118? I seriously have my doubts!
Paul
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Its not too expensive IMO, but any form of paid advertising has to give you a return.
I have tried it this year but of those calls I have had (and I try to ask all but forget some) not one has said 118.
Yellow Pages are calling next week but I dont think I will go with the 118 again.
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not a lot of responce from 118.
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I have not tried 118 yet but they do a lot of advertising on the telley but that does not ensure success. I have a listing in the Yellow pages but it is not published yet. I will try to let you know more about it. One thing I did is the free listing on yell com and got Two leads and both converted to contracts. Seems like the leads that contact you always work out better. If I go with a paid listing it will be with Yell.com because the free listing is already did a bit in the first month so a paid listing "In Theory" should do better, plus it gives me a link with a PR6 (I think when I went on Yell.com it was PR6 I would have to check again to be sure).
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I'd probably recommend yell over 118
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Hi, Probably a bit late for this one but here goes. I have a listing with Yell.com and get some response from it, it does pay for itself (About £350 per year I think) however it does not deliver fantastic results,enough to make it worthwhile tho. (JUST). I have also been signed up with 118 since December, and was mis-sold the service very badly by the rep. (Who has now left, surprise surprise.) They stated a certain number of calls per month etc etc, what a load of rubbish, since december I havent had a single call. Personally I wouldnt use them again. So as with all these things BEWARE.
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not had a good response from my investment with 118 or Yell. better luck with local free newspapers and Thompson Local
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Hi,Sorry but WATCH OUT. I also was mis sold an advertising deal with 118 118. Seven months later no calls,and they are still chasing me for cash. do not do it.
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GUYS! save your money,
if you can just register with thompson local, and yell online.
thompson, blue phone book, and basic yell are free!!!!!!
then theres your cleaning forums which can provide a link to your details.
why spend all that hard earned brass to line there pockets.
i learned the hard way!
lynn x
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Thanks for your help! Well spoted. It is not worth to pay them!
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DO NOT DO IT ! 118-118 is a total con. Ive been taken in by their lies and drivle. £1380 later no calls. Iv'e definately got their number. STAY AWAY!
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I agree with most of whats been said previously. I think the problem with any directory enquiry service is that people tend to use it when they have an immediate problem so they want you now! - this may, or may not, suit.
I prefer customers who have a bit of pre-planning!
Enough said.
The 118 service is isht anyway in my ho.
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How many times do you use 118 or any other enquiry service yourself? Bet it's not that often!
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I did it one year - rubbish.
The next year a different Yell rep came and she said she was suprised I was sold it - my type of business is not suited to it ie carpet cleaning.
Nuff said.
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How many times do you use 118 or any other enquiry service yourself? Bet it's not that often!
Only for a taxi number.. train times.. bus times.. tbh id use the net first - id only use a 118 directory number if i was away from home.
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I tried 118 via Yell - not one call!! So be v wary!!
I am also trying Yell Search Marketing - its supposed to top list u on google searches - NOT!
This has driven me crazy - and cost £170 with zero result - plus all the aggro of getting them to list me as a Carpet Cleaner - not a domestic cleaner!!As the boss lady told me "we have had problems...2 u bet!!
My advice ,,,save yr cash folks!! google Maps is free as is Free index - better!!
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I personally speak to around about 150 small companies a day, and they do not find 118 attractive. some of them find yell.com works but 0800 numbers have been know to enhance advertisement.
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118 is no good for carpet cleaning - I have had zero calls from my years advertising with them. :(
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Mentall
Perhap's a daft question but; if you've been advertising with them for years and had nothing, why keep doing it, are you getting it for free?
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had no experience with 118, but yell. com only returned 3 jobs in a year but the king of all cons is bt customer street i have been with them 9 months and not 1 job acording to the paper work, to date my business has been found 1521 times and not one single job. signed to 12 months contract and try all ways to get out and will not answer emails or phone calls
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Hi,
Bludy rubbish a lot of it is, all a load of bludy con merchants and robin hoods if you ask me >:(
They can guarentee to take your money every time,but they can not guarentee you the work from it!
So realy you are on a loser straight away,its like trying to win the national with a dead donkey ;D ;D
Keep your money i say ;)
Regards G. :)
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Will give it a go...haven't tried yet....
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Jon
You going to give 118 a go??
Have you not read the comments on here??
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its cheap and doesnt work went with this in my local area and didnt get one job, until I called up and said I want to canel the agreement, somebody was due to call me later that day to talk to me about this but didnt call until the next day
BUT with that time scale I got an enquire mmmm!
Oh they didnt book in, maybe that was the call from them (did I say that out aloud)
Peter
www.fab-idea.co.uk
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I see the last post is quite old but it is quite relevant considering the financial situation recently. Furthermore would like to bring the topic back in the early-to-mid 2011 considering the need for advertising and the post financial stress situation.
We have tried Yell.com over the past 3 years and the results were amazingly low. I mean - NILL. No comeback at all. And now they have come up with their new service, sounds quite cheap: web-design + hosting + SEO for just over £170 a month. Considering the prices for standard SEO it sounds good. On the other hand 118 has proven to be with lower results than Yell.com, based on comments and feedback from colleagues.
My personal opinion is that similar websites do not work for domestic cleaning, cannot say anything about commercial and contract though. And even with the strong position search engines are currently taking I believe 118, BT directory, etc will keep loosing clients until they come up with an idea to beat the competitiveness of on-line search engines. Mind that there you pay for what you get, but not for flat existence on a list of companies.
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Hi Paul
I haven't seen you about in a while!
I don't think it would be worth spending money with them.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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Calling 118 for carpet cleaning who tells you that. Just call professionals by searching on the site.
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GUYS! save your money,
if you can just register with thompson local, and yell online.
thompson, blue phone book, and basic yell are free!!!!!!
then theres your cleaning forums which can provide a link to your details.
why spend all that hard earned brass to line there pockets.
i learned the hard way!
lynn x
Quite agree with you that Thomson Local and Yell are two perfect place to advertise about our business and besides of them yellow pages is also a recommendable option as they give you direct leads which converts into business deals. Forums are also growing as advertisement places for businesses.
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I would not recommend 118 - they tend to take a lot of time to respond!
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I think that 118 is very good.
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Similar subject was being discussed at yahoo answers last week. I can post the link if needed.
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I've not heard great things about yell or 118! For domestic services I think most people would do a Google search eg: 'window cleaners in...' so it's important to get yourself on page 1 of Google if you have a website. The good news is that SEO can be free if you're willing to do the research and make a few vital onsite changes. Google Adwords also works extremely well for us when set up correctly :)
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I would say Yell is better than 118 because at least the shows up on google search results when someone search for cleaning services.