Catering Supplies  |  Catering Equipment

Record Keeping for IYP Accounts
MerchantCircle
GetFave
Yellowbot
Yellowpages.Lycos.com
Kudzu
DiscoverOurTown
Local.com
Local.Ingenio.com
YellowUSA
IAF.net
Local Search goes Global
About Catering Supplies Depot


In the first part of our white paper on Internet Yellow Page websites for caterers and those wishing to set up their own catering companies, we introduced the concept of online local advertising and showed how you could use local classified advertising to increase your customer base and boost your bottom line one Internet Yellow Page directory at a time. Before we take you to the next round of ten free and paid IYP websites, here is a quick suggestion.

Record keeping for IYP Accounts
If you decide to list your catering company on more than five or six IYP websites, we recommend that you set up a record keeping matrix so that you can manage your online classified advertising without a hitch. Consider setting up an Excel sheet with all the necessary data such as user ID, password, date of submission, date of renewal, website URL and posting URL. Log into your account to update your listing as frequently as possible. Set up a separate e-mail folder in which you can transfer all the messages you will receive from these websites so that you can locate them easily. Finally, we have set up a mechanism to update you about free and reasonably priced Internet Yellow Page websites each time we come across them. Visit our blog on Blogspot at CateringSuppliesDepot.Blogspot.com for regular updates to our list.

MerchantCircle
URL: http://www.merchantcircle.com
Status: Free and paid

MerchantCircle is a growing IYP company. The company’s website aims to connect local business owners and customers online to help build a stable relationship. The website permits free advertising. It is based on the Web 2.0 social networking mantra which allows business owners to write blogs and upload pictures free of cost. In addition to these services, MerchantCircle has two unique products, “Neighbors” and “Answers.” The “Neighbors” helps the customer follow up with the local business with the help of blogs about new promotions. The service “Answer” allows customers to get their queries solved on the spot. If they click that link, they will be connected to a local business owner or expert who can give them proper advice. Additionally, this website provides a service which helps business owners to take their advertisements to the top pages of the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. This service is called “Pay per Click.” Business owners pay according to the performance of their respective clicks.

GetFave
URL: http://www.getfave.com
Status: Paid

Fave helps prospective customers to find you on the Internet. The website works in partnership with major search engines to help business owners to increase their rankings on the search result pages of different search engines. In a true spirit of social media, the website concentrates on video advertising. Customers can search on this website for the businesses in their own communities. The motto of the website is: “GetFave and get found!” It has a service called “Targeted Banner Campaigns” which helps business owners to reach out to customers in a specific area. It has a service called “Priority listings” which helps business owners to find themselves on the top pages of the organic results of different search engines. If you own catering companies at multiple locations and wish to geo target your search campaign, this websites is surely for you. To know more about the method of payment and current promotions, please call 877-311-3283.

Yellowbot
URL: http://www.yellowbot.com
Status: Free

Yellowbot is a local search website admirably inspired by Web 2.0 which helps consumers to find what they want through reviews and blogs. It provides information about the places you usually visit in your community or elsewhere. You just have to type your location, keyword or your zip code. It is easy to add your business listing here. You simply have to register on this website or create an account and provide the necessary information about your business. This service is free of cost. With the help of reviews from users and site visitors, the website rates businesses. We recommend that you first spend some time on this website and get a feel for it before you register.

Yellowpages.Lycos.com
URL: http://yellowpages.lycos.com
Status: Free and Paid

Yellowpages.licos.com is a social media website established in 1995. The website has many services like online games, blogging, tools for sharing and viewing video. Customers can search in this directory and find what they want. The website has many advertising agencies which can help you make an online deal successfully. It allows you to create an advertisement flag with the starting rate of $1.83. You can advertise in different media like newspapers and magazines. The rates will differ depending on the medium you choose and how long you want the advertisement to run. Licos is one of the pioneers in the Internet information space and continues to remain ever popular.

Kudzu
URL: http://kudzu.com
Status: Free and Paid

Kudzu is a nationwide online business directory. The website helps local merchants to manage their reputations online by providing necessary advice. It allows you to create customized advertisement programs on a reasonable budget. It varies depending on what kind of advertising program you choose. There are two kinds of profiles, basic and preferred, which is a paid service. To sign up for a preferred listing, the cost is $2,000/year. The website allows you to add your photo and details about your company. The website will update you with the results you achieve and seems to be able to deliver excellent results.

DiscoverOurTown
URL: http://www.discoverourtown.com/NewListing.php
Status: Free

The website allows you to create your business listing free of cost. This is also a local city guide, which provides you with information about the interesting places in your town, different shopping centers and the information about weather. The motto of the website is: “One stop…straight to the point.” The website presents a crisp and clean user interface so that site visitors can locate information easily and quickly. It is a great source of facts and figures for all who wish to relocate, or want to buy gifts for their loved ones. The website provides service nationwide. If you happen to own a restaurant which also provides catering services, this website is for you.

Local.com
URL: http://www.local.com
Status: Free and paid

Local.com is one of the best private label local search engines. The website has separate yellow page sections for every state in the US. To add your business here is simple. You should first see if your business is already listed here. If not, you can easily add your business. The necessary instructions are provided by the website. It has a Pay per Click service which allows you to advertise and pay only if a customer clicks on your advertisement. The website has a live chat service which makes it possible for business owners to submit surveys and respond to customer inquiries.

Local.Ingenio.com
URL: http://local.ingenio.com
Status: Paid

Local.Ingenio.com, a premium business service from AT&T Interactive, uses a highly innovative “Pay per Phone” sales lead generation model to drive business to subscribers. For $99/month, the website claims to provide you 3000 guaranteed targeted hits to your website. The company facilitates business growth through the use of traditional snail mail and e-mail messaging as well. Ingenio is an excellent alternative for those businesses which seek an online-to-offline business model and wish to drive business through the use of both the telephone and the Internet.

YellowUSA
URL: http://www.yellowusa.com/categories.html
Status: Free

YellowUSA is a value rich Internet yellow page directory for locating businesses online. The website claims to provide most up-to-date information about businesses ranging from restaurants to travel agents. It provides you with an opportunity to add your business to the website’s listings free of cost, allowing you to attract customers from all the states in the US. The website helps you to make informed decisions about how customers can spend their time and money in the most effective manner. The directory provides ample opportunities for restaurant owners and catering companies for expansion and growth through a carefully managed online advertising program which won’t hurt your pocket book.

IAF.net
URL: http://www.magicyellow.com
Status: Free

To advertise on MagicYellow is simple. You simply need to complete an online form about your catering business, and a representative will contact you. It’s free of cost. This website provides the facility of a searching tool also. If your advertisement appears on the top pages of other search engines like Yahoo and Google, you will be listed here so that the customer doesn’t have to come to the site directly.

Local Search goes Global
Although this movement is referred to as local search, it is actually global in nature because the Internet is global and presents you with an opportunity to reach out and touch someone globally. Moreover, customers relocating to your community or heading to your area can also locate you through online yellow pages prior to their departure. Managing an online local campaign yourself can be time-consuming. It is still worth the effort you will put in because it is not only mostly free thus helping you to conserve your resources at a time when the economy is attempting to head north, but also because since accessing these websites costs potential customers nothing, they tend to visit these websites by the millions.

About Catering Supplies Depot
Catering Supplies Depot provides a full range of brand name commercial kitchen equipment including all types of catering supplies and catering equipment, commercial restaurant equipment and kitchen supplies. We carry all the top brands, provide courteous customer service and deliver nationwide in the US and Canada. To learn more you can call us toll free at 1-866-613-2632, or write to customerservice@cateringsuppliesdepot.com. Visit: http://www.cateringsuppliesdepot.com for the most exclusive range of catering equipment, catering supplies, restaurant equipment, restaurant supplies and commercial kitchen equipment on the Internet.