This sounds like this shitty “Chamber of Commerce” we have in my city.
They’re a non-profit, and they publish a directory for local businesses.
I find it infuriating because if they didn’t exist, nothing of any value would be lost. But because they do exist, you need to pay to be listed in their book, or else you’ll miss out on some customers.
I stopped paying for the listing many years ago because obviously I don’t want customers that need to look things up in a phone book, but they still grind my gears.
Man that sucks. A Chamber of Commerce ought to do much more than that. For instance, ours has always been a great resource for us. Frequently it’s networking events and such, but if we ever need anything, they find the people to help. When we needed capital they figured that out for us too. Our CoC has been an amazing partner for four years now and I highly doubt we’d ever consider leaving.
Well, there’s probably people in my city that would say the same about our CoC. I’m sure I have a skewed perspective. They do have networking events but that’s just not how I roll. I honestly don’t know how helpful they’d be in other ways.
Yes, potential customers use their directory to look up businesses that provide services that those potential customers need.
Businesses need to pay to be listed in said directory.
If the directory did not exist, those potential customers would look up businesses that provide the services they need somewhere else, like they might google it and be directed to my awesome website.
Therefore, because the directory exists, you need to pay for it if you want those customers. If it did not exist you would still have access to those customers and would not need to pay.
Oh man.
This sounds like this shitty “Chamber of Commerce” we have in my city.
They’re a non-profit, and they publish a directory for local businesses.
I find it infuriating because if they didn’t exist, nothing of any value would be lost. But because they do exist, you need to pay to be listed in their book, or else you’ll miss out on some customers.
I stopped paying for the listing many years ago because obviously I don’t want customers that need to look things up in a phone book, but they still grind my gears.
Chamber of Republicans, in my town.
Yeah. That’s pretty much what it would be here too, I’m sure.
Very similar, yelp is like a Mafia protection on steroids version of that. They will actively hide your company if you do not pay.
Man that sucks. A Chamber of Commerce ought to do much more than that. For instance, ours has always been a great resource for us. Frequently it’s networking events and such, but if we ever need anything, they find the people to help. When we needed capital they figured that out for us too. Our CoC has been an amazing partner for four years now and I highly doubt we’d ever consider leaving.
Well, there’s probably people in my city that would say the same about our CoC. I’m sure I have a skewed perspective. They do have networking events but that’s just not how I roll. I honestly don’t know how helpful they’d be in other ways.
But… If you scored some business by being listed there, they’re not totally useless?
Yes, the BBB model needs to die, but get customers however you can.
That’s not really what I’m saying.
Yes, potential customers use their directory to look up businesses that provide services that those potential customers need.
Businesses need to pay to be listed in said directory.
If the directory did not exist, those potential customers would look up businesses that provide the services they need somewhere else, like they might google it and be directed to my awesome website.
Therefore, because the directory exists, you need to pay for it if you want those customers. If it did not exist you would still have access to those customers and would not need to pay.