The Self Storage Anti-Aggregator Alliance issues alert to operators concerning inaccurate online directory listings - offers free how-to guide to every self storage operator allowing them to quickly check for correct content on multiple online free business directory listings.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – (McAllen, Texas) – The Self Storage Anti-Aggregator Alliance has released a brief synopsis of one issue brought to light concerning a possible questionable practice as employed by some businesses. Randy A. Smith, the industry’s most outspoken critic of the online aggregators is quoted as saying, "I've received numerous reports of troubling instances from operators of every size and location from around the USA. One issue in particular seems to be rising to the top of the list of complaints. Operators are discovering that some of their free, online business directory listings at sites like Local.com, Merchant Circle, and CitySearch have had their contact info changed or listed inaccurately. In several cases, the listing has the right business name and address, but the phone number and/or website link leads to another business, which in many cases is a competing business."
Smith is not claiming intentional misconduct by any particular company but notes, "it is extremely interesting to see the breadth and depth of this issue, and the number of cases in which this is occurring. A couple of names keep coming up. The industry association executives at the national, state and local levels really need to investigate this matter further. Is someone manipulating the listings? Are these public directories being used by some in violation of the directories’ own terms of service? Are these just honest mistakes and due to search engine errors? Are operators paying companies to create or manage listings for them and unaware how the listing info appears? Nobody knows, but now several people at various levels are looking into it. I've even been able to get through to the folks at Google, who were extremely interested in how some in the industry are using Google Places listings."
To that end and to help operators see if they have a problem of their own, the SSAAA put together an extremely simple how-to guide that any person can use to check their own self storage operation's free online directory listings. Smith says, "the guide takes you to two independent websites that check dozens of directories and in less than 10 minutes you can see if you have an issue. I guarantee you’ll see listings and directories out there you didn’t know existed. Everyone needs to take the time to check these listings. Unfortunately, many will be unpleasantly surprised at what they find." The guide is absolutely free and downloadable as a full-color PDF document that walks one through less than half a dozen steps, with screen-by-screen, step-by-step instructions.
"Operators are beginning to ask questions that they hadn't asked before, which is good," Smith said. "Information is power. The more information the individual operator has about different web technologies out there, the more informed they become and the better business decisions they can make. This is all about protecting operators’ online presences, and indirectly… profitability. In addition to this issue, we are also looking into the roles self storage consultants, management companies, and other storage alliances may or may not have played in steering operators towards using the aggregators. Operators should be keenly aware of whether or not the advice they are getting is strictly independent and objective. Unfortunately, a few recent events seems to point that in some instances, that is not the case. We’ll be releasing more information on this subject in the very near future."
To learn more or download the free guide, visit The Self Storage Anti-Aggregator Alliance at http://www.ssaaa.org
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January 31st, 2012
SSAAA PRESS RELEASE
Currently 31 facility members and 2,304,232 sq.ft. out of aggregator control