A $500 lesson on a local business directory that got me nowhere

I paid $500 for a year on a Detroit business directory that promised more customers. They said my landscaping company would show up first in searches, but I got maybe two calls all year and both were wrong for the work I do. It felt like my money just vanished into thin air. Has anyone else here found a good way to get listed online that actually brings in real work?

3 comments

3 Comments

sandra_bennett591mo ago

Ouch, that's a brutal waste of money. I had a similar thing happen with a "premium" listing on some home services site that charged me $300 upfront. Got nothing but spam calls about duct cleaning for months. It really makes you lose trust in those paid directory pitches.

the_claire1mo ago

Check if they even own the website they're selling.

dakotab931mo ago

That "check if they even own it" advice is so real... I once got excited about a "deal" on a blog and asked for traffic stats. The guy sent me a screenshot he'd clearly photoshopped in MS Paint. I was the fool.