Yodel - Anyone have insights into their process?

[BedeFahey]

Does anyone have experience cleaning up Yodel claimed listings or issues created by past Yodel campaigns?

Do you know if they're in the habit of creating Google+ Local listings for their clients?

I definitely appreciate anyone's response, but specific insight into Yodel's process would be extremely useful.

Long story short, busy client with little time is unsure if work Yodel did in the past resulted in these duplicate listings, or if staff created them, and where we might get access to them. Attempting to track down access and sources before I dive in with reports.

Cheers!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bede,

I confess, I don't have any strong direct experience with Yodel, but, from what I've read in the past, they do appear to have a rather direct relationship with Google and there have been some complaints in regards to their creating new Google+ Local listings (some even with taboo call tracking numbers - uh-oh!). *Remember, I'm just repeating what I've read from other Local SEOs - not what I've experienced first-hand.

Your question made me recall a thread I'd read months ago at Linda Buquet's Local Search Forum. I managed to find it again and I think it will be helpful to you:

http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/4181-yodel-claims-clients-places-listing-but-dashboard.html

What's surprising to me, honestly, is how little overall documentation there appears to be from third party sources about Yodel's process, Bede. Here's an old thread from Mike Blumenthal's saved version of the old Google Local Business Help Forum:

http://places.blumenthals.com/thread3eeb.html

And there is stuff from Yodle like this:

http://www.yodledentalmarketing.com/blog/post/claim-local-search-listings/

But the main thing that I recall about this particularly company was a rash of complaints years ago that their sales reps were somehow convincing business owners that they were calling from Google in regards to AdWords. Do you remember that?

At any rate, my take on this is that there just isn't a ton of 3rd party documentation from the Local SEO community about this company, but that your client may well have had his listing claimed by Yodel, given all of the above. I hope my reply is at least somewhat helpful!

[BedeFahey]

Hi Miriam,

Thank you for such a thorough reply. The link to Linda's forum was very helpful (if a little bleak in its prognosis).

I'm surprised about the lack of information as well.

The good news, in this case, is that there's no incorrect call-tracking number on the listings, so I've got the client looking into whether Yodel can get them account login details or not (Since Yodel can't or won't talk to me).

Thanks again!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bede,

That IS good news that you don't see a call tracking number. Good luck with this client. Sounds like an adventure!

[cogbox]

I just got off the phone with a customer -- they have the same exact problem.

Their Google+ Local listing has been taken over by Yodel. URL changed to the Yodel template page, and phone number changed to a tracking phone number.

I'm sure they duped someone at the business into entering the verification code for them. I'm uncertain how to fix this, but I'll have to figure it out. Did you every get it sorted?

[MiriamEllis]

Sorry to hear that Chris. Bede, would you happen to have an update on what you reported about your client on this back in March? I'd love to hear, too.