Writer Sanctum
Writer's Haven => Marketing Loft [Public] => Topic started by: alhawke on August 29, 2021, 12:47:14 AM
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My rule is probably yours. When I get an unsolicited email from someone, I google them. I was emailed this:
We are DIRECTORIA, we'd like to let you know that we have listed alhawke.com on our directory (for free).
If you want to remove it click here: "a link was provided"
If you want to make any changes, please, "a link was provided"
I can't look them up because if I click the link it could lead me to a virus. Should I just completely ignore? Or does any of you know what this is about. It'd be nice to remove if I want but I don't dare click on their site without knowing who the $#*% they are. :icon_think:
(I'm advertising my website through google so that's probably where the source found my website).
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Website directories are largely useless these days.
In the past, they were used to increase search engine rankings and just to discover websites since it wasn't always easy to find something using a search engine. (Think of a web directory like a yellow pages for the internet)
These sorts of websites typically offer a paid service for website owners such as seals to display on your website and better visibility within the directory website (basically, "ads" that put your website at the top of a category or search).
It's not necessarily an outright scam or virus. Even if it is 100% legitimate, I would rank it as 100% worthless.
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Thanks. Could be legit and they might just be doing a legal thing informing me. :shrug
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I am glad you have not clicked the link. It could be a business scam, only for writers.
A business scam was when you replied/clicked a link to check out your "listing" then the company sent an invoice because you acknowledged the advert by checking it.
It was called Business Directory Fraud.
This link explains it. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/business-directory-fraud
In Australia, they used to put a small business advert on the edge of a calendar, without permission. Then send a bill along with one printed calendar. Most businesses paid the invoice without checking if the advert was requested in the first place. But, this happened a long time ago.