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Arguably, One of the Best
Directories Out There!
When Cameron Avery, owner and managing director of Guildford based
Fidelis Security responded to a message posted on the Island Locks
forum by Locksmith Journal’s director Rob Exley regarding the new ‘Find
a Locksmith’ directory; he was pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
»»Fidelis Security offer a
variety of security services to all kinds
of industries, including; mobile, events,
static security personnel, alarm response
and guard dog patrols, as well as
locksmith services.
Cameron had a sceptical view of
many online directories where they
advertise ‘Free entries for businesses’
then continue to harass the business to
pay for an upgrade so they can appear
in a premium spot on the site. Often the
directories claim to give consumers local
businesses details from their searches,
when in fact many are more likely to be
a national company posing to be local,
because they have paid for a premium
entry on the directory.
The disgruntled security business
owner, decided to take on Rob’s claims of
‘free listing – no hidden charges’, where
consumers can search local area services
after challenging him online on the
forum.
Rob assured Cameron that the new
directory has no exclusive deals for
nationals. After a heated exchange on
the forum where Rob’s claims were
challenged, Cameron and Rob discussed
the directory over the phone. He was
eventually convinced by Rob’s comments
that the Locksmith site was unlike any
other currently on the internet.
The ‘Find A Locksmith’ site was
established by Clearview Group, owners
of the Locksmith Journal, Clearview
magazine, Pro Installer and The Farmers
Mart, and was designed to ensure
consumers were obtaining the right
information to contact local locksmith
services.
So committed is Clearview Group of
its new website that it has invested in a
team of staff who will continue to cleanse
the sites database, ensuring there are
no duplications and that Locksmiths
claiming an entry on the site are genuine,
to ensure consumers are receiving the
very best in their search.
Cameron advised: “I have to admit
before chatting with Rob I was annoyed
by a lot of the online directories, which
claim to offer lead enquiries by free
listings. I have in the past invested, but
because the national businesses have
the advertising spending power to
ensure their listing appears at the top
of the users search, it’s very difficult to
compete.
“We are not averse to paying for
something which gives us a competitive
advantage, but we know that on
some of these sites we are unable to
compete online but are more than
capable of doing so once in front of the
homeowner.
“What is also apparent is that
consumers using these sites are being
misled on some occasions, believing
they are calling a local business
when in fact they are engaging with a
national who is farming out the work to
Locksmiths who may well be in the next
county.
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“I know the ‘Find a Locksmith’ site is in
its infancy, but from the conversations I
have had with Rob and my first impression
of the site itself, I would say that it may
be one of the best Locksmith online
directories out there and not only that,
by subscribing to the Locksmith Journal
magazine I have the chance to receive
up to date special offers from all types of
industry suppliers!” Cameron concludes.
The new ‘Find a Locksmith’ website has
been set up to engage with homeowners
and assists them to find a LOCAL
Locksmith. The user may either type in
their postcode, identifying the distance
they would like the search to cover (1,
5, 15 or 20 miles) or enter the name of
the Locksmith they wish to find. The
search results will then appear in the
form of a Google map all tagged with the
listing and below a list of Locksmiths by
postcode, allowing the user to click on
to find out more information about the
Locksmith and send an enquiry form to
the Locksmiths’ email address.
Clearview Group launched the new
website at this year’s MLA Expo show,
encouraging Locksmiths to claim their
online listing or create a new listing if their
company was not already listed.
By just registering at www.find.
locksmithjournal.co.uk/help, Locksmiths
will have the opportunity to upload
logos or images to their listing and
also encourages consumers to rate the
Locksmiths work by visiting their page on
the site.
For more information for ‘Find A
Locksmith’ site or to claim your free
entry visit www.find.locksmithjournal.
co.uk/help or call 01226 321450
For information regarding Fidelis
Security visit www.fidelis-security.com