24
Aug
2015
By Calvin at 15:27 GMT, 10 years ago
Today I sent my first batch of individual emails out to the operators of 36 Neighbourhood Watch websites around the UK. Some of them are in counties where my site is already linked up with the local police website; others are not. It will be interesting to see what response I get.
I am simply requesting that they place a link to my website on their websites and that if they agree to do this I will place a link back to their sites from my Partners page. I will also run a news story about their Watch on my News and Facebook pages and in my Newsletter.
In the message I’ve told them about my very successful Home Security Survey application and I’ve pointed out that’s it’s all free and that I’m a retired policeman. I’ve even suggested how they might check out my credentials.
I do this task about three times a year and so I’ve got a pretty good handle on what responses I’m likely to get. This is my forecast
Over the next two weeks:
- 3 of my messages will get bounced by spam filters
- 7 messages will be answered (this does not include auto-responses which are not replies)
- 26 messages will be ignored or read and deleted
- 3 or 4 Neighbourhood Watches will agree to a reciprocal link with my website
My message gets ignored or my invitation to link is declined for the following reasons, which always fall into the following categories:
- My message is treated as spam by their software or by the human operator
- The website can’t be giving free advice – no such thing – so must be a scam
- My website is not ‘official’. True, but ignores the links I have from 15 UK police forces
- My website has not been sanctioned by Ourwatch – the ‘official’ NW website
- They don’t need my information because they’ve got it all covered on their own website
- My website is not linked to by their local police
A thick skin is required when you run a site like mine, so you can see why I don’t bother doing this very often!
I’ll give you an update in two weeks’ time
It’s easy to link to us: http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/about/688/link-to-us/
