Would people pay for this?

13 replies
I'm working on an offiline project that requires me to complie names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc for different offices and their support staff....it will end up being a few thousand contacts once I'm finished with the research. Although you can readily find this information online you have to spend hours doing it just like I am.

If I complied all of this info together into a PDF is this something that people would pay for?

Just wanting to gather some thoughts.
#pay #people
  • Profile picture of the author duncanb
    The list would need to be a list of people whom all fit into an target buying group for it be be of any real value.

    Also if you have not recieved the named people's permission in including them on this list then you could run into trouble.

    Personally i wouldnt be too hot on the idea.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1656890].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rezbi
    It sounds to me like a list of businesses with information about their staff - would that be right?

    If so, you may need to check the legality (I'm no lawyer) as duncanb states.

    Not sure it's something I'd be looking for.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1656895].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DejanM
    Into a pdf? I highly doubt it. Into a searchable database? Probably, but don't count on high prices.

    In our country we have a few free online registers with all the main public company info (+ paywall for financial data and similar). Would you create something like this (and isn't there something like it already in your state)?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1656897].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SoEasyMoney
    Thanks for the insight guys. Never once thought about legality being an issue since it's all info that's on the web! That's why I love this place!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1656942].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author butters
      I don't get what your saying... You are getting a list of companies information and putting it in a pdf and want to sell it?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1656951].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author SoEasyMoney
        Butters---I'm compiling a list, for my own use, of various companies (all in the same niche) along with their names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addy's and their support staff. I figured if I was doing that work to make contacts for a venture that I'm doing offline that maybe I could sell the list for a few bucks. Looks likes the concensus is that it's a bad idea.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1658255].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ben Bridges
    This is defiantly a bad idea i would advise against selling it although for personal use may be fine.
    Selling it would break Data Protection Act 1998 and you would get into a hole stack of trouble!
    Best keep that for your self
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1658277].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
      Originally Posted by Ben Bridges View Post

      This is defiantly a bad idea i would advise against selling it although for personal use may be fine.
      Selling it would break Data Protection Act 1998 and you would get into a hole stack of trouble!
      Best keep that for your self
      As far as I am aware, if you are compiling data from public sources i.e. information on their website in plain view or listing from yellow pages, then you can sell this compiled list as the information was in the public domain.

      If the companies are giving you their details directly, say over the phone or through an email then you have to ask for their permission to share their details with third parties if you want to sell it.

      Perhaps try calling a few list brokers and see if you can find a friendly one that is willing to give you a helping hand.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1658644].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Krish2007
        That list you are compiling without the permission of the Individuals will certainly land you into Problems. No one has the time to search a PDF Document.

        Krish
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1658838].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by SoEasyMoney View Post

    I'm working on an offiline project that requires me to complie names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc for different offices and their support staff....it will end up being a few thousand contacts once I'm finished with the research. Although you can readily find this information online you have to spend hours doing it just like I am.

    If I complied all of this info together into a PDF is this something that people would pay for?
    Possibly, especially if it is a targeted group that some marketers would like to have. As others have mentioned, though, it will likely be of more value in database form, rather than a PDF. For example, if I want to send a mailing to those people, in PDF form, your list would have to be manually entered into a new database. A better option may be to offer it as both a PDF and an Excel or CSV file.

    You do need to be careful of telephone numbers, especially if they may be on the Do Not Call list. If these are business contacts, however, then I do not think the Do Not Call list applies. Still, something you should check into.

    While you should check with a lawyer or other professional as to the legality of your potential product, you are probably okay, depending upon how you compiled the data. The Data Protection Act of 1998 that others have mentioned is a law in the UK, not the US. So, if your list is for the US market, the UK law will not be applicable to you.

    Still, check with a professional to be sure.
    Signature

    Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!

    Dan also writes content for hire, but you can't afford him anyway.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1658344].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SoEasyMoney
    Thanks for all the advice guys....it's kind of funny that everyone mentions that I should check with a lawyer....the list that I'm compiling is law firms, sorted by speciality, with information they provide on both their website and the bar associations in their respective states....
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1663483].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jasonmorgan
    essentially you are doing this

    they offer this information... or at least they did back in my hollywood days in printed book form.

    It's a directory of studios, agents, producers, names, addresses and numbers etc...

    sounds like you are doing essentially the same thing.
    Signature

    I'm all about that bass.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1663500].message }}

Trending Topics