We at MyPE have been running the MyPE Business Directory for just on 9 years and I always get asked how effective being listed in the directory is. In a nutshell I can state that most listings in the directory get a fair amount of traffic which must be turning into revenue for them as many people keep their listings up to date and actively engage with us to do so.
As with most free services we struggle with the perception that something free cannot have real value, we are never thanked for referring clients, but are always criticised in a knee jerk manner when something goes wrong. Of course, we accept that it is human nature to blame someone else when we occasionally receive ‘strident’ messages like the one I received recently (all identifying words removed).
The message went like this:
Remove my link www.link-removed.com immediatly from your site. You are misleading customers with a factory direct advert for [product] next to my wesite
If it is not removed by 19/06/2013. We WILL claim loss of revenue from your company. A potential client lost R15 000, deposito after he bought from this company thinking it was us. (THIS statement that a Google Advert displayed on MyPE led to such a loss later turned out to be a lie which did upset me a tad)
Now, the easy thing to do would be to just remove the listing in the knowledge that such harsh words will lead to a loss of revenue for the writer, BUT, I am made of sterner stuff and sincerely want to explain the potential loss and point out the great benefits of remaining listed on the MyPE Business Directory so I embarked on the following explanation:
See the attached screen shots (one of the clients listing on MyPE, one of a paid for listing on MyPE and one of a set of Google search results for the client’s product). The separation between content and adverts is quite clear.
The adverts that appear above free listings are served by Google Adsense and are based on a number of factors – as you see in the first screenshot the text ad is about [product] AND in the second screenshot you see a banner ad for AVIS . This as a result of my visiting the AVIS web site – they use a Google Adwords app called re-marketing which presents ads for sites that have been recently visited.
If you look at the THIRD screenshot you will see the results I get when I search for [business]. Look carefully and you will see SIX competing adverts (via Google Adwords) for [product] surrounding [business]. In this instance the organic search results are the content.
The service I provide is mainly free – I can tell you that MyPE has sent 375 visitors to your web site. I have no way of telling how many people have phoned and placed orders with you but based on past experience I am sure it will far exceed the number of visitors sent to your site. This is business we have sent your way WITHOUT claiming any form of revenue/commission from you but all in the interests of promoting our region.
All free links are supported by advertising – as you see on your detail page here: [link removed]
Compare a paid for page with your page: http://www.mype.co.za/search/W_,045_From_Walls_to_Wrought_Iron/Waste_Disposal/mr_bin_2718.html to see the difference.
The service MyPE provides to Port Elizabeth businesses has been proven over many years (since 2005) and I encourage you to spend R40.00 a month to secure a paid for page.
I also run Google Adwords campaigns for clients and I will be happy to give you a quote to help you minimise the number of people clicking on other ads when searching in Google.
If your potential client will provide me with the name of the business he lost the deposit to then I am willing to report that business to Google (who supplied the ad) and also widely publicise the fraudulent act.
The message here is simple – taking so much care over free listings is ingrained in us, imagine the benefits to you if you actually pay to be listed! Contact Janine to advertise on MyPE.
But my pressing question is; “Would you accept my explanation?”
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- The Gold Avenue Flags the 91.67% Krugerrand Seller Mistake - 16 October 2026
- Does Your Finance Team Spend More Time Preparing Reports Than Analysing Them? - 16 October 2026
- Acepak Showcases Pouch Fillers for Liquid and Food Producers - 16 October 2026
- Osteoporosis Warning Signs and Risk Factors - 16 October 2026
- Osteoporosis Warning Signs and Risk Factors - 16 October 2026
I’m pretty sure the two companies have different names right? Did this person not notice that?
Your comment echoes an emailed comment that I received; “I am blonde and I still cannot see why someone was misled. They must be really really stupid. It is as clear as daylight.”
OKay – this has now got heated.
After a couple of e-mails back and forth in which I asked for the name of the advertiser who appears above this listing as I want to report them to Google Adsense for stealing R15 000.00 from someone as the result of an advert IT NOW TRANSPIRES that it is NOT so and that it was all a lie.
Understandably I am incensed that someone would lie to me and bring not only MyPE but also the Google Adsense programme into disrepute.
In a classic threatening move the writer who asked me to remove his listing on MyPE is now threatening me with ‘guys who know how to make you do things’ as well with asking me where I live before throwing the phone down on me.
Not very Christian of the man at all.
Update – I got a half hearted apology as follows; “I appologize if you feel affended , but please take our details off .” and I have deleted the Furnxxxxx listing.
An emailed comment: “That is actually very scary Alan, that person is scary, you are right, the Protection from Harassment Act (http://mype.co.za/new/2013/06/a-guide-to-the-protection-from-harassment-act/) might just help you here. The world is so full of nutcases, why does it have to be like that, wish we could all just be nice to each other. Sorry you had to go through that after all the good you do!”