Originally posted on mylocalblog.co.uk

In marketing terms, the internet can be seen as a hunting ground, and small business is the prey. It can seem that every Tom, Dick and Harry wants your money. They want to sell you something, maybe promise to get you on Google page 1 or just tell you how to spend your precious marketing budget.

Unfortunately, in-between all the hype and too good to be true offers, is some really good stuff from various websites and sources.

So defend yourself!

If you are new in Business, or in fact unfamiliar with sales processes, here’s the one bit of advice you should never forget.

Never agree to anything from a cold call!!

Sound obvious?

Then why do countless people get it wrong, and why are online sales pressure tactics so effective and rogue companies so common?

Now not all cold calls are bad. A lot of telemarketers work long and hard making contacts and try to win you over, and a lot of businesses starting out have to resort to cold calling to get off the ground.

But, and a big but. Never agree to anything from that first call. If you like what you hear, get their contact details, say good bye and do some research. Spending five minutes doing a bit of due diligence without having a salesmen waffling in your ear will save you a lot of costly mistakes.

If a companies product/service is as good as they say it is, then spending 5 minutes on Google looking for testimonials and feedback, and making sure there are no pages of “they’re a con, run away” shouldn’t make the slightest bit of difference.

Trust me, when it comes to things like online advertising, that offer that is only valid if you agree now, will still be valid tomorrow!

Some of the shadier cold callers you need to watch out for.

Unfortunately, as soon as you start marketing yourself, from forums, directories, blogs, articles etc, then the unscrupulous cold caller will strike at some point.

Ones to particularly watch out for are so called Charity or Police Magazines. Be very wary of anyone trying to sell you advertising space in publications that you have never heard of, or allegedly using charities.

The scam is you pay for an A4 advert, it has dubious artwork, you are bullied into a payment plan, which you wont have to pay for x number of weeks/months. You won’t be happy about the exposure you got from the magazine (which will be zero), so you will refuse to pay your bill. You are then passed over to a debt collection agency, which will all be operated by the same company…

Another scam is the SEO one. You will be offered an Google Page 1, all sounding too good to be true, payment plan etc…

The sad fact is, Trading Standards are fully aware, and try and close these guys down when they can, but they resurface under another guise.

The only cure is down to the consumer, ie you.

• Never agree to anything on a first initial cold call.
• If the sales call gets aggressive or the caller isn’t listening, put the phone down.
• If the call sounds interesting, get as much information as you can, get their contact details, do some research and agree to call them back if you are still interested.
• Remember this offer really will be available tomorrow!

If you ever think you have been treated unjustily or think you have fallen prey, then speak to your local Trading Standards.

Don’t be another victim…

Steve Richardson

Owner of My Local Forums and My Local Services – The Online Advertising Directory.