[RTC List] Phone solicitation for web creation

[Dwight Winegar]

For the second time now I've received a rather rude call by someone  
who could barely speak English, with a company called "Comp U Max" in  
Lodi, NJ.  He claimed he was a "Web Doctor" and could build site that  
must needed; yes I build site that everyone can find and see with all  
web searches; all web browsers. I also connect you with direct e-mail  
marketing."   Yeah, right.   Last month I had Idearc also calling me  
telling me the same thing for Smart Yellow Pages.  At first I had to  
wonder if he got my info from the Tech Conference a week ago last  
Saturday.   He couldn't really tell me the source of my name and number.

While the focus of the Tech Conference for my session was on Vertical  
Response and how to do selective e-mail marketing the right way, I  
would think that when it comes to building websites for people and  
linking them up with search engines there must be quality people doing  
the same locally without having to deal with some rogue salesman  
transplanted to New Jersey from New Delhi.   I thought some of our  
local web designers, such as "Carson Park", "Morse Media" and  
"Persechini & Company"  to name a few, could do all of that, but maybe  
I'm wrong, since the pitch of both of these had been "complete  
package" that included site creation, maintenance, your own URL with  
registration, statistical reports, and more; and do it reasonably  
priced for the independent (less than 5 employees, sometimes just 1)  
self-employed businesses.   Don't our local people do all of that too,  
or is it just a portion of the total picture?   These tele-sales  
people will try and tell you "but they can't do for you locally, what  
WE can do."   I highly question that, but thought I better verify the  
facts to see if there is any part of the whole picture missing in what  
is done locally.

- Dwight