Comments on: InfoUSA – calls to verify our basic record http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/24/infousa-calls-to-verify-our-basic-record/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:26:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/24/infousa-calls-to-verify-our-basic-record/comment-page-1/#comment-379952 Mike Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:22:01 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3103#comment-379952 @Joan I am sure that you saw the cityvoter article and how much trouble he was having with Google...perhaps I should rename my blog...The Trouble(s) With Google :) @Rich It is hard to say whether I would hang up on an automated call or not...I get so many of the freaking things these days. Perhaps a person to start and then optionally shifting to an automated system with an explanation of how I would benefit...ie more detailed accurate local records...etc etc. MC's tactics of getting merchant participation have often been very manipulative in getting this information..."someone has left a review on your business, hurry on over to MC and respond" kind of things. So while a verified business model makes sense, it needs to be done honestly and centrally (why do 20 times when one good listing should do the trick) without a ton of cheap hooks @Joan

I am sure that you saw the cityvoter article and how much trouble he was having with Google…perhaps I should rename my blog…The Trouble(s) With Google :)

@Rich

It is hard to say whether I would hang up on an automated call or not…I get so many of the freaking things these days. Perhaps a person to start and then optionally shifting to an automated system with an explanation of how I would benefit…ie more detailed accurate local records…etc etc.

MC’s tactics of getting merchant participation have often been very manipulative in getting this information…”someone has left a review on your business, hurry on over to MC and respond” kind of things.

So while a verified business model makes sense, it needs to be done honestly and centrally (why do 20 times when one good listing should do the trick) without a ton of cheap hooks

]]> By: Rich Rosen http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/24/infousa-calls-to-verify-our-basic-record/comment-page-1/#comment-379949 Rich Rosen Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:01:48 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3103#comment-379949 Mike - I am curious, how would you feel if InfoUSA used an automated call, but asked more questions? Better or worse than a live a operator? In addition to the data InfoUSA doesn't collect, its interesting that they don't seem to use the data from their call disposition logs. A disconnected number is most likely out-of-business, but what does a no answer, busy and/or IVR / voice mail tell us? FastCall411 researched this topic a while back: 80%+ of users reported that *availability* was an important factor when choosing a local merchant. Answering the phone, and responding to a consumer call is a measure of availability. Undoubtedly important data that InfoUSA is either not collecting, or not licensing to their clients. Last - in a way MerchantCircle has verified a ton a local merchants using a very different approach to InfoUSA (and w a different biz model). The calls are automated, but the merchant has a chance to add as much details to a MerchantCircle page as they wish. I think MerchantCirlce has the better model; I cant see the data aggregation companies like InfoUSA maintaining their model. Mike – I am curious, how would you feel if InfoUSA used an automated call, but asked more questions? Better or worse than a live a operator?

In addition to the data InfoUSA doesn’t collect, its interesting that they don’t seem to use the data from their call disposition logs. A disconnected number is most likely out-of-business, but what does a no answer, busy and/or IVR / voice mail tell us?

FastCall411 researched this topic a while back: 80%+ of users reported that *availability* was an important factor when choosing a local merchant. Answering the phone, and responding to a consumer call is a measure of availability. Undoubtedly important data that InfoUSA is either not collecting, or not licensing to their clients.

Last – in a way MerchantCircle has verified a ton a local merchants using a very different approach to InfoUSA (and w a different biz model). The calls are automated, but the merchant has a chance to add as much details to a MerchantCircle page as they wish. I think MerchantCirlce has the better model; I cant see the data aggregation companies like InfoUSA maintaining their model.

]]> By: Joan van Hilten http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/24/infousa-calls-to-verify-our-basic-record/comment-page-1/#comment-379925 Joan van Hilten Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:41:31 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3103#comment-379925 Hi Mike - I've dealt with InfoUSA on a number of occasions and collaborated on different pieces of work with them. They actually will get data dumps from utility companies when doing their listing verification when prepping lists for their clients. They have built strong relationships with vendors such as MSN - however; with Google they can never guarentee anything. I found that rather refreshing - that I'm not the only one. Lone little old me is having the same challenges with Google as a company like InfoUSA. Yaaaaahhh. Joan Hi Mike -

I’ve dealt with InfoUSA on a number of occasions and collaborated on different pieces of work with them.
They actually will get data dumps from utility companies when doing their listing verification when prepping lists for their clients.
They have built strong relationships with vendors such as MSN – however; with Google they can never guarentee anything.

I found that rather refreshing – that I’m not the only one. Lone little old me is having the same challenges with Google as a company like InfoUSA.

Yaaaaahhh.

Joan

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