Qype

[RentAWebsite]

Hi All,

Anyone used Qype (premium listing) before? I've recently tried it but not too sure about it to be honest.. Currently trialling them on a premium listing but thinking about just reverting to a standard listing...

Currently struggling to get them to talk to me!

anyone had any good or bad experiences?

[AdamW]

Never heard of them so no !

[RentAWebsite]

Hmmmmm that's not a good start then!

[Posilan]

We have a basic listing on Qype, but I can't say we had anything from it so far.

Steve

[LibertyOnlineMarketing]

A basic listing on Qype is good as it's a citation source that Google uses to verify that your business exists. This helps with Places and natural rankings.

Qype took a real hammering on the latest Google update (Panda), so if you were getting traffic from it before, it's likely that this will have now fallen.

[Matt22]

Originally Posted by AdamW

Never heard of them so no !

Snap!

[MASSEY]

I had never heard of them until i listed for a freebie to get a citation on google places.

The chances of anyone getting business from that directory are very slim and they charge a fortune. It's almost as if they think they are the yellow pages or something.

It's a legal way of robbing people in my opinion setting up a directory and drastically over charging small businesses who can not calculate how advertising budget should be spent.

They run google adwords to get their visitors and then pressurise people who don't have a clue into giving them money.

[slimpitt]

Originally Posted by LibertyOnlineMarketing

A basic listing on Qype is good as it's a citation source that Google uses to verify that your business exists. This helps with Places and natural rankings.

Qype took a real hammering on the latest Google update (Panda), so if you were getting traffic from it before, it's likely that this will have now fallen.

Absolutely correct - a free listing is every bit as good for citation purposes. Also make sure your business address is exactly the same as the one you use for a Google places listing so the Googlebot can tie the two together to combine listings.

I haven't heard much good about their payed adverts (plenty of other business forums back this up) so if you are going to pay for a listing then insist on some sort of traffic guarantee from the sales people. Either impressions or clicks.

[Claire Whyatt]

Hi @RentAWebsite, I know you posted this nearly as year ago, just curious on the outcome of "Qype" for you. I have just spent half an hour on the phone to a sales person trying their best to sell me the Premium Package. It sounded too good to be true, and after reading these posts it confirms my decision to not to bother with it!!! Just wondered if you managed to generate any business from it.

[Adam H]

I use Qype Iphone app all the time when travelling around the country, makes life much easier to find local places to eat etc , Most of the people i know whom travel alot for business use it.

I think the real benefit of Qype isnt the directory or traffic from that directory but the enquiries it generates from the APP's which you probably wouldnt tie in with a conversion from Qype.

I order food all the time from it but i use it for what its suppose to be used for ( being a directory ) , i get the phone number from Qype and then call them or visit them, they would never know how i got to them.

[Claire Whyatt]

Thanks @AdamH our business is an I.T. reseller, so I really don't think Qype is for us, I said to my Manager earlier that restaurants, hotels, etc. would benefit from Qype but not us. The sales person I spoke to also mentioned that their app is one of the top apps used, but again as I explained, the customers that we would like would probably be looking for our products/services whilst in work, not travelling around.
Thanks again for the info, much appreciated.

[Adam H]

Originally Posted by Claire Whyatt

Thanks @AdamH our business is an I.T. reseller, so I really don't think Qype is for us, I said to my Manager earlier that restaurants, hotels, etc. would benefit from Qype but not us. The sales person I spoke to also mentioned that their app is one of the top apps used, but again as I explained, the customers that we would like would probably be looking for our products/services whilst in work, not travelling around.
Thanks again for the info, much appreciated.

I agree, Its very niche specific. If i was travelling and i needed something for my laptop or it had broke i wouldnt go on Qype for that, i would get to the nearest large store like Currys to get what i wanted unless i saw a little store on my route.

As others have mentioned however a basic listing is still worth having, people as individual companies just need to figure out whether they would benefit from a premium listing or not.

[Claire Whyatt]

I have the free listing already, which is why they are trying to sell us the Premium Package!!! I would love to hear from anyone in a similar business to us (I.T./Tape Media/data recovery) that actually had any business from Qype.

[matt.chatterley]

I can't really see the premium package being worth it (mind you, from browing their site, couldn't immediately see the prices which puts me off a bit with this sort of thing) - suspect you can probably get more bang for your buck with more direct advertising, though.

Is there anyone out there who is on both Qype & FreeIndex and has a view as to which is more effective for them?

[BUZZB]

nice bit off wiki

Negative reviews are often deleted on the Qype UK website. This gives an unrealiable rating for places featured in Qype, especially when obvious fake positive reviews are left (which are filtered by other sites). Those who complain have their Qype account deleted. It is speculated that because Qype sell review services to local newspapers that there is a commercial bias within Qype. Therefore, other review sites are considered to be more accurate and honest.

Qype also receives funds from business for their listings, further eroding their trustworthyness.

Those who have been sold advertising packages discover that they're unable to cancel a contract, typically that they never knew they were entering. The advertiser also discovers that the stated traffic to that listing has been significantly over exaggerated. Others who have said no to advertising subsequently have negative reviews posted about their business.

Dont know how true that quote is but dont make me even want to have a free listing. Some reviews of them: Qype.co.uk Website Reviews - Page 1 | SiteJabber

[paultgreen]

A couple of years ago, Reggie from Qype was phoning me every few hours to bully me in to taking an ad out for the pub we had - promised me the world, wouldn't accept that I wasn't interested.. Eventually got the message.

As I said to him, and any other web directory salesman, I'd rather spend the money they want in fees in helping our website to become more organically listed on the major search engines.

[Claire Whyatt]

Hi BUZZB, just had a look at the reviews on sitejabber, so glad I didn't take up the offer of the Premium Package, I would never make a decision on the phone anyway with Sales calls, I think if the company is a genuine one, they would never force you to sign up immediately (Qype tried their best, using the "well if you don't sign up now, someone else will take up the offer" speech) and I found it amusing how quickly their manner changes when you say no to them, they spent 30 minutes trying to make out this would be such a good business opportunity, and as soon as you say no, not interested, they can't wait to get off the phone quick enough, ready to get on to the next victim!!!

[paultgreen]

Yell.com are just as bad - couldn't explain to me why I should do pay per click advertising with them.. within the four weeks they were pestering me, our site actually went above them on the phrases they used, and thus shut them up during a live demo

[pete]

Personally I like to do my own research in regards to marketing.

Basically as long as you can effectively measure, then it's easy to work out if something is worthwhile in regards to the amount of money you're spending or the amount of time you're putting into something.

You would be surprised how many people, pay for advertising or invest time into something and have no idea if it's worthwhile.

[IGM_Computers]

We've registered on nearly all the major web directories and had calls from most of them trying to sell their premium listings but never had a call or email from Qype. Like most people I don't tend to bother with premium listings as the free version gives you what you need anyway.