Discussion
My only knowledge of bark is that I'm getting a lot of enquiries for something I don't do. I haven't added my contact details to their site or signed up with them in any way, so they've obviously found our web site, not read it properly, and put us in a category that means they send us enquiries for things that are vaguely similar to what we actually do.
On the one hand, that's a bit frustrating, and as soon as I'm completely sure we don't do what they're asking, I'll email them to ask them to stop. On the other hand, it does suggest they're quite conscientious about finding suppliers for their enquirers needs, as they are contacting us each time by filling in our "contact" form on a web site - we have no exposed email address.
On the one hand, that's a bit frustrating, and as soon as I'm completely sure we don't do what they're asking, I'll email them to ask them to stop. On the other hand, it does suggest they're quite conscientious about finding suppliers for their enquirers needs, as they are contacting us each time by filling in our "contact" form on a web site - we have no exposed email address.
droopsnoot said:
My only knowledge of bark is that I'm getting a lot of enquiries for something I don't do. I haven't added my contact details to their site or signed up with them in any way, so they've obviously found our web site, not read it properly, and put us in a category that means they send us enquiries for things that are vaguely similar to what we actually do.
On the one hand, that's a bit frustrating, and as soon as I'm completely sure we don't do what they're asking, I'll email them to ask them to stop. On the other hand, it does suggest they're quite conscientious about finding suppliers for their enquirers needs, as they are contacting us each time by filling in our "contact" form on a web site - we have no exposed email address.
They know you're a company website, and they're doing this to entice you in to signing up. It happened to me.On the one hand, that's a bit frustrating, and as soon as I'm completely sure we don't do what they're asking, I'll email them to ask them to stop. On the other hand, it does suggest they're quite conscientious about finding suppliers for their enquirers needs, as they are contacting us each time by filling in our "contact" form on a web site - we have no exposed email address.
Once you're on there, you're using your credits to bid for work. I stuck a few credits on there a while ago and I tendered to different clients but I got nothing back.
I think though it depends on your niche and what you offer, but me as a developer found it hard to win work as everyone + india are doing it. Builders might have better look with it, but I don't know.
Yes that's how it works -0 they sucked me in with one of those "Oh go on then" offers, Buy 200 credits (£175) and get a full refund if you don't get any jobs out of them. Worth a punt, just need to make sure anything I do win pays more than £175...
I'm looking for photography and videography jobs and there's plenty listed, so looks promising.
I'm looking for photography and videography jobs and there's plenty listed, so looks promising.
sgtBerbatov said:
They know you're a company website, and they're doing this to entice you in to signing up. It happened to me.
Cheers, I thought it would be something like that even though the emails say ", and if you respond quickly there’s a strong chance you’ll secure the business. It’s free to do so, " among other things. Thing is, we're not a company, and the web site clearly shows that we're not - we're a club. That's why their emails irritate me.
I signed up 5 months ago on the 'get your money back if you don't get any business' basis. 60% of my credits used and several leads responded to but no business done. I'm fully expecting to be asking for my money back in due course.
I suspect, as it's a free service for the consumer, that a lot of people use it to just check out prices and some of the details given are dubious to say the least.
I suspect, as it's a free service for the consumer, that a lot of people use it to just check out prices and some of the details given are dubious to say the least.
I tried Bark a few years ago, cost £75 I think. Most of the leads were junk, people just wanting cheap stuff. I got one job which covered the cost and didn't renew.
So silence from Bark for a while, then like the poster above, suddenly more have arrived. Still bottom of the barrel stuff; I'm not getting out of bed to photograph a baby!
If you want wedding work, I found Hitched to be excellent; I got 75% of my work from there and it paid back many times over.
So silence from Bark for a while, then like the poster above, suddenly more have arrived. Still bottom of the barrel stuff; I'm not getting out of bed to photograph a baby!
If you want wedding work, I found Hitched to be excellent; I got 75% of my work from there and it paid back many times over.
I've tried it from both sides.
As a business we bought £150 worth of credits, got some very poor responses, no business done and a refund of the total amount paid. Pretty much a waste of time and effort.
As a consumer I asked for some roofing quotes. Guy rang me, said he was from one of the companies I'd put in the request. No signwriting on his van and I checked back, not on the mobile he gave me but with the company. They claimed to have never heard of him, So quite how that scam had worked I don't know. To be sure, I sent him packing...
So, it's a no from me.
As a business we bought £150 worth of credits, got some very poor responses, no business done and a refund of the total amount paid. Pretty much a waste of time and effort.
As a consumer I asked for some roofing quotes. Guy rang me, said he was from one of the companies I'd put in the request. No signwriting on his van and I checked back, not on the mobile he gave me but with the company. They claimed to have never heard of him, So quite how that scam had worked I don't know. To be sure, I sent him packing...
So, it's a no from me.
Out of curiosity, I signed up to this yesterday morning. Listed services were photography, video, graphic design, social media campaigns, advertising campaigns....
Went out. Returned early afternoon to over 200 emails from people wanting these services. All of them utter dross!
Two thirds showed a contact email which was clearly @gmail.com and I have a blanket ban on engaging with anyone in a business scenarios with such an address. Several wanted work doing for which they had no money but offering 'exposure'. Plus my geographic reach stated on my profile seemed to have been ignored. The one request that seemed promising was in Edinburgh and I'm in Chelmsford.
I'd imagine if you're a high-street photographer pitching to the public or freelance designer, there may be some benefit in this but I really can't imagine any of my potential clients using it.
Went out. Returned early afternoon to over 200 emails from people wanting these services. All of them utter dross!
Two thirds showed a contact email which was clearly @gmail.com and I have a blanket ban on engaging with anyone in a business scenarios with such an address. Several wanted work doing for which they had no money but offering 'exposure'. Plus my geographic reach stated on my profile seemed to have been ignored. The one request that seemed promising was in Edinburgh and I'm in Chelmsford.
I'd imagine if you're a high-street photographer pitching to the public or freelance designer, there may be some benefit in this but I really can't imagine any of my potential clients using it.
StevieBee said:
Two thirds showed a contact email which was clearly @gmail.com and I have a blanket ban on engaging with anyone in a business scenarios with such an address.
Interesting - so gmail is the new Hotmail?Perhaps Bark needs stats on how many 'eager photographers' have been contacted - without bothering about the details.
Simpo Two said:
StevieBee said:
Two thirds showed a contact email which was clearly @gmail.com and I have a blanket ban on engaging with anyone in a business scenarios with such an address.
Interesting - so gmail is the new Hotmail?StevieBee said:
My thinking is that I tend to prefer to do business with those serious about what they do and operating on a gmail.com email sends a message that they've not yet reached that point..... unless it's the head of Marketing at Google.
Who won't have a gmail.com address anyway: Googlers have corporate google email addresses. 
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