Verification of local map listings

[SEOcean]

I have been given the wonderful gift of a job during this challenging period of the economy, however, it's a job I am learning while it sometimes feels like I'm barely keeping my nose above the water.

It's an SEO firm who is very kindly willing to let me learn as I go, but are very busy and sometimes I don't get all the info I need to feel like I'm doing my best for them, which I really want to do!

I'm really grateful for the job and the people are very kind. It's kind of stressful, but I figure if I just keep at it, I'll learn and get much faster.

Right now my task is to create local map listings in Bing, Yahoo, and Google. It's all fine except for the verification process.

The only way I see to verify the listings is through the client (who I never talk to) getting a letter or phone call from the search engines so they can get a pin number.

Here is where I'm having trouble. I have several clients I am listing, none of whom I have access to, I fill out the forms using their address and phone number for the listings, and the verification is sent to them. One, in Hawaii, I know received an immediate phone call with a number. I can just imagine some pizza delivery boy getting a quizzical look on his face when he hears four numbers read to him, he hangs up and the listing is dead!

As many as I could, I used the letter option, but my boss seems to be confused by this and keeps asking me for the pin. Oh no! I have been waiting for HIM to give ME the pin. AUGH! LOL My response:

"I don't have any pins. All the entries were submitted, but needed to be verified with pin numbers which need to be obtained through the search engines contact with the client via phone calls or letters. Two letters were sent, one phone call, as a letter option was not available for that search engine.

None of the pin numbers are coming to me. The search engines only deal with the client contact info for verification. The clients will get them and need to give them to you."

I've not heard back from him yet.

Am I not getting something, or is there an easier way to accomplish this task?

[dburk]

Hi SEOcean,

Why not just call the phone number used for verification and explain to whoever answers that you are about to generate a verification phone call and that you need them to answer the call and write down the pin number? Tell them you will call them back 2 minutes later for the PIN verification number. If they don't agree to that then let your boss know the client's staff isn't cooperating with the verification process and ask if he can communicate with the client to ask for assistance.

The whole point of the verification process is to prevent third party's from claiming a listing without the knowledge and cooperation of the business establishment. In other words, the purpose of verification is to stop you from doing what you are trying to do without the consent and cooperation of your client.

[SEOcean]

Yes, that would be stepping over my boss' toes, as he has not given permission for me to contact the clients. I'm just the assistant to the assistant. I am hoping to hear from him and be able to do just that.

So you think I am doing it correctly and there is no other way around this? That was my concern, that maybe I'm flubbing it up somehow and there is a better way.

[dburk]

You are correct, the only ethical and legal way to accomplish it is with communication and cooperation by your client.

[SEOcean]

Thank you, so much!