Why You should NEVER give your phone number out online
Posted by Holly in Business Preparations
Some Internet Marketers will be upset with me for this post, but I feel it’s important to share with everyone. Some people may already know this and others may not. There are websites online which serve the sole person to gain any and all information that they can about you. The purpose is to (at the very least – get your name and email address). The people may have a website that gives you a free report of some type – but in order to download and receive it, you must give them your e-mail address. Some others find a way to tactfully get you to give out your phone number as well. They may even offer you one free coaching call and that can be quite enticing if you are desperate to start working online and need some guidance. The problem with this is that once they have your phone number (the webmasters with the lead-generating websites) then they normally sell it to a bigger company for about $7+/- USD per lead more or less. After that happens, the other company’s staff will call you (these people are usually trained sales people who have remarkable talents when it comes to closing a deal). They may give you a free coaching service but also try to brainwash you into thinking that you NEED more guidance from them. They may charge you a few thousand dollars up front or offer you a special deal of monthly payments.
The reason I know about this topic is because over the past year I have been contacted by numerous businesses and individuals who have asked me up front if they could buy my leads. That means they wanted to buy YOUR information off of me. Don’t worry I didn’t do it. According to the last guy who offered me money to sell my leads, he basically said I’d increase my income by an extra few thousand USD per month. I said “No thanks.” I have personally been in contact with so many of the people who have bought my ebook and I would never do that to you.
Over the past year I have lost so much respect people who do this type of thing and for these well-known internet marketers because the more time I’ve been around them the more I’ve realized they are crooks. Yes it’s true they are making good money (some, not all of them) – but it’s because they are sales people or they are paid to speak and sell the dream. I’ve had in depth conversations with several of these people and I was surprised how little they knew about the internet marketing techniques they preached about.
9 Responses to “Why You should NEVER give your phone number out online”
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TheDavinator
23. Feb, 2008
Well Miss Holly, i had to reply to that. You are absolutely right. It really amazes me sometimes that people, or companies are just signing up to be, let’s say a subscriber to your list, just so they can hit you in the backend with something that they are trying to get out of you. It’s even in automatic autoresponders, trying to get your contacts, or your list info from you. Very surprising!
So what’s the answer, I’m just not sure at this point, but, things have to be turned around a bit. Thanx and cheers, take care,
Things will change..keep the faith…
talk soon
Dav
TheDavinator
23. Feb, 2008
Hmmm, actually re-read that Holly. My post was actually somewhat backwards compared to what it should be.
I think what you are talking about is for instance companies like Vanity, or something like that.
I can’t quite remember the name, but I was approached many times on behalf of other marketers from this same company.
Sometimes, I’m not even sure if this company even actually has any personal contact with the marketers they are saying they represent.
Anyhow, just noticed my mistake,
Cheers
Davin
Holly
23. Feb, 2008
Thanks Davin. I understand the purpose of opt-in forms for websites – but if you just have a site rigged to get an email address to sell to a big company I don’t think that is right. Thank you for the comment mr. and thank you for everything else. You have helped me so much and I’ve been a horrible friend.
I still seriously hope you can come to Thailand and work with me here otherwise I have no idea how we’ll get our JVs going. (My fault by the way!) YOU take care Davinator
TheDavinator
23. Feb, 2008
Miss Holly, Miss Holly…
Well I’ll tell you what my plan was here.
As soon as my trip to Kelowna with my old man(Dad), lol, for his annual check up to make sure he is completely ok, then I was going to finally put in a request for a passport.
This trip still hasn’t been done, soon hopefully. I’ve been having one heck of a time getting paid for quite a few commissions from a couple of different merchants. But, I’m learning sometimes which products I won’t promote in the future..lol.
It makes it tough when you are expecting things on certain days etc. and then it’s not there as it’s supposed to be. He can’t go alone, and I need to accompany him for the trip.
So yes, I do need to go on that trip first off, and then I’m going to put in for a passport, lady!
Your not a horrible friend Holly, just a very busy one.
As outlined before, if you need more help, let me know.
Maybe I should quit putting links out there to your Cheekyo site, so you wouldn’t be so busy??
LOL, it’s a little late now…
Say hi on Skype, silly!
Davin
JamesOliver
24. Feb, 2008
Hi Holly.
This is where a service like Googles Grand Central (http://www.grandcentral.com) comes in handy. You can get a free phone number from them, setup caller groups, screen calls.. even use their HTML on your site so that people can call you without giving out your number. Even the caller can be anonymous.
Great post!
annaverawilliams
06. Mar, 2008
I have a very bad habit of writing my phone number:
(000) 000-0000
rdshultz
10. Jul, 2008
There seems to be an amazing number of people that make this mistake Holly and I haven’t done it since I came here to the Southwest in 1998. The times I wrote my phone number down online, when I lived back home in Canada where far too numerous. However the faux pas I made nine years ago isn’t affecting me here in the states as I did have people ask for leads and have learned my lesson. Good article Holly!
By the way, you are one of 3 women I follow on the net. The other two are Jinger Jarrett and Kristi Sayles.
Kind Regards
rdshultz
Holly
10. Jul, 2008
Thank you Ruth!
I am happy you enjoyed that post. It really is upsetting how people use your information to make a profit in such ways.
I will check out the other two women you mentioned ok!
You take care!!!! And keep in touch!
davidnicoll
08. Mar, 2011
my phone number 64212563996