Online Advertising

The more places you are listed online the greater the chance that potential consumers and clients will find you.  There are many yellow pages and business listing type sites. Some will allow you to post a free listing. 
Blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter are all additional sources to get  your name and website out there. 

Qurkl was started as a site with all free listings so where you rank on Qurkl has no  connection to the money you spend.  We are trying to have every business out there listed.  So, if you would add or edit your site and pass the word to businesses and consumers we would appreciate it.  Also, please join our Facebook page.  We will be adding new features as time goes by but will always continue the free listings.

When listing online try to include as many keywords and descriptions as fit your business while leaving out those which do not.  Also, include your street address, web address, Facebook page, hours, payments accepted, and other information which will help consumers decide to do business with you.

If you do not yet have a website you can at least begin with a free site and list basic information about your business such as what you do and where you are. 
A few sites where you can begin: Webs.com,  FreeWebsites.com,  Weebly.com

Paper Phone Books

I once used the paper phone book many times per week.  For the past several years I rarely use the yellow pages.  I receive so many and yet none have the same listings.  Communities around the country are implementing opt out programs to reduce the waste created by unwanted phone books.  Seattle is one city working on this problem.

Katie Couric also recently commented about a program related to the white pages however business phone books would still be delivered.  The article says that Verizon estimates eliminating most white pages phone books could save 5000 tons of paper.  How much would be saved if the yellow pages were only delivered to those who request them?

From Yellow Pages Goes Green:
"Over 500 million of these directories are printed every year. That is nearly two books for every person in the country! These directories produce a staggering amount of waste, not only in terms of misused natural resources but also in filling of valuable landfill space.
To produce 500 million books:

• 19 million trees need to be harvested
• 1.6 billion pounds of paper are wasted
• 7.2 million barrels of oil are misspent in their processing (not including the wasted gas used for their delivery to your doorstep)
• 268,000 cubic yards of landfill are taken up
• 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity are squandered

The cost associated with the delivery and disposal of these books is exorbitant. Unfortunately, these unsolicited costs fall heavily on consumers. Why are we paying for something that was delivered to our homes and offices that we did not ask for?"

Sites for opting out info:
Enviromom
Paperless Petition
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages Goes Green
Various phone directories

Why Qurkl?

Every year I receive 4 or 5 phone books.  None of them contain all businesses in my area so I have to look through all of them to find what I want.  What if I could easily find businesses in my area at a website?   What if all those paper phone books were no longer printed? 
Qurkl is a new online business directory where you can find businesses in your area instead of businesses located in places where you were not looking.  We will be making improvements on a regular basis.  You can help us by editing your business so consumers can more easily find it and searching our site when looking for a business.  Listing, editing, and searching for businesses is free! 
So, take you phone books to the recycle bin and ask the companies to stop delivering them.

Tesla Motors goes Public

Tesla Motors has gone public with an IPO offering to raise money to put electric cars into full production.  I would like to get one of their Roadsters or maybe a model S in 2012. You can find a local Tesla dealer and pick one up on a lease for about $1600 a month.

New Businesses Added

We have added over 2 million businesses.  We invite all business owners to check their listings for correct information.  Adding additional descriptive information will help consumers to find you site.  Also, adding payment methods, delivery options, hours, your web address, and other information can help a potential customer decide whether you are the best option for them.