• hold down the Alt key while keying in 0153

To create the Registered symbol ® on a PC:

• hold down the Alt key while typing in 0174

To create the Copyright symbol  ©  on a PC:

• hold down the Alt key while keying in 0169

For the past year I’ve been receiving calls from an automated message from 29 Prime (I know it’s them specifically and not a affiliate as I talk to the representatives each time they call me) asking me to “Press 1 to update your free Google 411 listing”.  Since I know there is no Google 411 listing anywhere (proof = http://lmgtfy.com/?q=google+411) and  I’m always curious to what they are trying to sell so I press 1 to talk to a representative.  In the past year of getting these calls (around 1-5 per week) I’ve heard so many promises about rankings but many representatives that can’t answer questions.   I’ve even been mysteriously disconnected when I start to ask the hard questions about what would actually be done.  When I try to call back the number it never connects to the company.  It seems very elusive in my opinion.  The website says they have a “Do not call list” but guess what… my number has been on it for 9 months now and I still keep getting calls which I’ve verified as 29 Prime with the representative that answers.

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Read what Google really says about SEO companies:

“Be wary of SEO firms and web consultants or agencies that send you email out of the blue”
“No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.”
“Be careful if a company is secretive or won’t clearly explain what they intend to do. “

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291

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Here’s a list of the phone numbers that I personally have been called from and I’ve tried to call back:

859-740-2334
619-704-2766
503-468-5227
915-996-2895
405-283-8500
949-797-7199

As I suggest with all people that have been called out of the blue, read the reviews from others that have used that companies service.  Many of the reviews seem false (but I can’t be sure) but I do know from just my little blog here that people are posing as customers that really aren’t.  I have the emails and comment ip address’s to prove this.

Here’s a couple places where I found reviews:

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/9159962895
http://www.yelp.com/biz/29-prime-newport-beach-2
http://complaintwire.org/complaint/eqQBAAAAAAA/29prime-com-or-29-prime-scam-fraudulent (includes information about their previous companies and scams)
http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/29-prime.aspx

UPDATE AND EDIT —– 5/13/12

I received a letter today (5/13/12) asking me to cease and desist internet defamation of a certain company.   I’ve edited my post to make sure that all of my statements and opinions are fact that actually happened to me.  I must disclose that I’ve never used their services so I can’t comment on them.  My issue isn’t their service but the way of robotically calling phone numbers that are either purchased or scrapped from web sites.  The representative’s I’ve talked to told me they “got my phone number from my website that isn’t ranking highly”.

I must state that I never encourage or promote any defamatory statements and all comments on my blog.  All comments belong to and are owned fully by the person making thecomment.  Just the same as Google, Yelp, and a million other review based web sites around the internet.  Here is a link to exactly what a defamatory statment is – http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/what-defamatory-statement#perSe. As stated above all of these statements and opinions made by me are fact thus not defamatory at all.  Also another good read on substantial truth – http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/substantial-truth

ANOTHER UPDATE —— 5/13/12 —-

I just got off the phone with a representative there (after three calls from me which two were dropped and the third was just a message to get back to me).  I told them I had received the Cease and Desist letter that they sent and I had revised all of my reviews and postings to make sure that everything I said was FACT.   The original post was opinion based which I’ve willingly now changed to all fact based.

I’ve decided to make my blog here DoFollow.  I moderate every comment and run Askimet anyway so I feel this is a good move.  It’ll encourage more comments which is something I’d be happy to have.

Think going DoFollow isn’t a good idea?  Why?

When no one seemed to be enforcing the rules for this what else are you going to do to get to the top of the 7 pack (local results) when everyone else is? So I knew I wasn’t in the right here but what are you going to do in this dog eat dog world… sometimes the nice guys finish last.

As for my listing (Azunga is the only one in that places page account for that account that was suspended) that got suspended it actually never comes up on the local results anyway… I’ve realized and through my testing that web design, web development, and many other computer related services aren’t considered local search terms. That’s even if you include the local town or city name ie. “portland web design” the search isn’t counted as a local search and the normal, more global, search results page comes up. That surprises me a bit because in my experience people prefer to go local with their web / computer needs as a face to face meeting is just so much easier… we’ll see if the Big G changes that anytime soon.