Thread: What's the Deal With TeachStreet?

I know a lot of my friends have gotten e-mails from this new online directory called TeachStreet.com. It appears to be sort of a Craigslist for classes.

Even though I don't teach a weekly class, I threw together a quickie listing for my Harem Parties so I'd get the free backlink to my site. Upon closer examination, though, something seems a little "off:" namely that our info appears to have been farmed from Shira's website. They made me a "starter" listing, complete with Shira's phone number and URL under my contact info....weird.

I'm sure it's a legit site, but at the same time, it feels a little bit sketchy. Just want to know what everyone's thoughts are, and would be especially interested to see what Shira has to say.

Penny for your thoughts?

How do you feel about all the other emails you get that were most likely farmed from Shira's site (or any other, for that matter?)

Are you ever tempted by the classes or merchandise from otherwise sensible folks who unethically skimmed legit sites for your email?

For me, I figure putting my name in a public list, like Shira's or the phone book, is making it available to everyone. I rarely follow up on my junk mail, and think it is foolish for someone to be spamming the world about local classes held thousands of miles away from me, but I don't resent it & if something that does look useful comes up, I do take advantage of it. I usually struggle with it a bit, knowing I am somehow encouraging this kind of marketing, but if it's a service that benefits me, I get over it. That's just my personal take on it, of course.

I got that one too this week and wondered why on earth it said I did Folkloric style... I have not learned enough to promote myself in that style yet (not even close) so I just left it alone. I might go to my listing now though and at least straighten it out. I just figured it was junk.

I actually think it's a pretty good idea, and went ahead and customized my profile/listings

I think they just threw in dummy categories/pics to show you what it could look like. I really like the option for your students to put up reviews--a great way to spread the word to people who may not have made it to the studio yet

I sent them a rather pissy email. I asked to immediately be taken off their site.

Most email solicitations I get for directory companies like this may find me by mining Shira's site, but normally they just use it to contact you and ask you to set up a profile. Teachstreet populated their site with my information without even contacting me to verify that what they put on their was correct. Which it was not, by the way - they listed that I taught Turkish style dance, which I do not, never have and do not have listed as a specialty on Shira.net. You would think if they were going to bogart her information, they'd at least use what was on there instead of making something up.

I did get a response from them, apologizing, and they did remove my listing. But I wouldn't touch their site with a 10 foot pole now.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I sent them a rather pissy email. I asked to immediately be taken off their site.

Most email solicitations I get for directory companies like this may find me by mining Shira's site, but normally they just use it to contact you and ask you to set up a profile. Teachstreet populated their site with my information without even contacting me to verify that what they put on their was correct. Which it was not, by the way - they listed that I taught Turkish style dance, which I do not, never have and do not have listed as a specialty on Shira.net. You would think if they were going to bogart her information, they'd at least use what was on there instead of making something up.

I did get a response from them, apologizing, and they did remove my listing. But I wouldn't touch their site with a 10 foot pole now.

Unfortunately, there are a plethora of other sites which do the same thing but don't bother to tell you you have been added to the site- I've run across at least 3, usually thanks to someone calling & asking about non-existant services. "But I found your information on the web & it said you do XYZ" Why are you getting pissy at *me* because some yahoo is trying to take advantage of *both of us* by skimming & posting inaccurate information? maybe you could check out *my* website...
If you don't think you're already listed on such sites, you might want to go google yourself...

At least teachstreet gives you a chance to correct the information. Which I did, but no, I probably won't be using the site for anything other than that. kind of like merchant circle- I appreciate being able to list accurate information if you're going to be there anyway, but I don't have time to create yet another website/blog/monthly ad campaign when I already have something that's working better for me.

Originally Posted by najla86

I think they just threw in dummy categories/pics to show you what it could look like.

I would be fine with that if they had it set up so you could see it privately, like a mock or test site. But I don't approve of anyone publishing misleading information about my business on the internet.

I was sketched by it. They put up a profile with a phone # for me, which is their phone number, not mine, plus a link to shira's page. And it said I taught private lessons. I don't teach at all - I'm about to go into labor within a few days, and the day before I was notified about TeachStreet, I got a call from a lovely woman who wanted lessons. Luckily I have a friend who teaches down the street and was able to send her the business. Nonetheless, I'm not in the mood to get calls about things I don't even do! Even my website says I'm not dancing right now because I'm expecting.

they took it down and apologized but dude, what's the deal with this? Why not email me and ask me to create a profile rather than putting my name up there and then offering to let me "claim my profile". What if someone else claimed it?

Yeah, like Nepenthe and others have noted, I logged in to find that my expertise is shamadan (LMAO, I wish!!) and my phone number is some 888- number. They linked me to Shira's site. That's why I got the kooky feeling that my info got ripped from Shira.

The site's a really good idea in theory. But I just prefer any sort of advertising to be "opt-in," rather than a company setting up a bizarre-o fake profile about you with wrong information and THEN allowing you to take it down or correct it.

I still can't get it to change my number, so hopefully if somebody wants to book me for a harem party, they'll follow my link straight to my website instead of dialing Shira's number.

I dunno. The whole thing's just weird.

I too got the same email. It seemed kind of legit but then I was upset that they screwed up my info. They had me teaching a finger cymbal class in Dearborn which is not the case at all. In my Shira profile I put down that I can teach finger cymbals and one of my work areas that I'm willing to travel to is Dearborn. But I currently do not have a class in Dearborn.

Anyway here is Shira's official stand:

Teachstreet.com farmed Shira's site! - Belly Dancing - the Shira.net Tribe - tribe.net

Hmmm, interesting to hear what Shira had to say. She must not be too happy!

It's almost as weird as 101ExoticDancers.com. Almost.

Thank you for posting about this! I'm listed on this site as an expert in tribal fusion. Um... not so much. I'm kinda wondering what the real tribal fusion dancers around here would think about my listing if they found it. Heh... I really need to get around to removing myself or at least fixing the info.

I hope Shira doesn't get a bazillion calls because of these listings.

i got the email too. i checked them out, and they had other bmore dancers listed.. with things like specialty in theatrical bellydance. it was just like they tagged a word from someone's bio and went with it.
and i saw that they had found me from shira's site as well. can't they do their own thing instead of taking from her site all the time?

I'm on it and have gotten several students so far. I did decline the pay through teachstreet though, it didn't really work for the way my lessons are set up.

Quite honestly, this happens all the time, and it is our prerogative to make sure we're aware of what's out there about us...Google yourself from time to time, check your listings and rep, in both your private and professional life. You never know what may have gotten relisted where, and no one is going to be able to fix it but you. You might not necessarily want to have a lot of accounts, but people find what they're looking for in many ways and other people will take that information and repost it. It does suck that they did such a shambly job at matching people to their actual talents, but then again...

I work for a museum, and part of my job is to find, update, claim and correct our listings. About 90% of the listings have been created by people other than museum staff, whether they are a website's editorial board or an enthusiastic fan. While people may be well-meaning, they might not always be up-to-date, or they may be relisting from another out of date site. For example, the museum moved buildings in 2001, and I'm still correcting address listings because of re-listings, sites accounts not managed by the museum, etc. It's not necessarily a malicious thing, just something to keep tabs on.

Najla, Awesome point about Googling yourself. That's basic brand management and everyone needs to know where they stand in the marketplace. (Happily, all I see are a bunch of social networking profiles when I Google myself, plus a ton of stone suppliers, as Carrara is a variety of luxury Italian marble).

I wrote to PartyPop the other day asking to be removed from 101ExoticDancers.com. Wonder if other dancers have had success with this....I know there was a thread on this awhile ago.

I'm not a teacher and I am not even listed on Shira's site but this would really make me mad. And to me, to scramble everybody's teaching information is somebody's idea of a sick joke. Since most of you are all misrepresented, it looks to me like it was done on purpose!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I wrote to PartyPop the other day asking to be removed from 101ExoticDancers.com. Wonder if other dancers have had success with this....I know there was a thread on this awhile ago.

I have been on PartyPop and off of 101 Exotic Dancers since sending them an email about it two years ago. IME they have no problem taking you off of there permanently.

So I just Googled my dance name and my TeachStreet listing came up on the first page. They must be shelling out some ad money!

Even more disturbing was finding this listing: Nasila - beYOU.tv

I didn't create this listing. Is this some sort of sister site or something completely different?

ETA I see that they farmed info from the DanceGarden website. Geez!

I went ahead and "claimed" my pages on both sites so that I could keep the info updated. Interesting marketing strategy, signing people up and forcing them to either play ball their way or sit on the sidelines. Curious to see if it will catch on...

seriously, what's up with the missing words when I try to type a sentence? jinkies!

I happened upon this thread and the creepy bit for me was that not only is my instructor listed with the wrong info but the profile pic isn't her!

TeachStreet got even more sketchtastic.

While doing a routine self-Google-inspection, I noticed that I have been listed on this site:

Oodle Classifieds - Search Classifieds and Post Free Classifieds

Looks like a LOT of other BDers are on there, with identical listings from TeachStreet. So shady and so odd....w.:

I didn't 'claim' mine at first, but got an e-mail inquiry today and had to 'claim' my page to respond. There's a pic on there that isn't me, and now that I'm registered I can't find where to respond to the e-mail and I'm wondering if it was just bait....

but I really didn't have time to mess with it today, so I'll have to look further tomorrow

Did anyone else get an inquiry today that enticed them to register?

I got the same e-mail and figured, "Oh, what the heck, I'll sign up so I can get my backlink."

They used a picture that wasn't me, and it was impossible for me to change the fake phone number on my listing. So even if somebody does decide to act on the listing, they'll get Shira's phone. Sorry, Shira ,r:;

I have been using TeachStreet for almost 2 years now, since the site went up. It is a local company and they are very active here, and I like their site. But I am also not a fan of their techniques, though they are common for building up the database of a new site--farming info.

In fact, I got a mail the other day asking me to claim a listing...and I have been listed already of course!

When I first signed up, they put up some placeholder images that were really really really not representative of me and what I teach. A firmly worded mail later and the pics were taken down. I have been happy ever since.

Oodles is just a site which links to other sites. Nothing sketchy there.

WTF??? I just got an automated phone call on my cell from "Julie," TeachStreet's robot, to let me know that they made changes to my profile.

Anyone else getting phone calls from this stupid site? Unfortunately, there was no option to speak with a live customer service rep, otherwise I would have probably ripped them a new one ,m::

Yep, I got a call from Julie today. Way to waste my minutes Julie!

Oh, I was soooooooooooooo upset that I couldn't connect with a real human being, because I was ready to ask why they were wasting my time and invading my privacy.

At least when you register with PartyPop, an actual person calls to see if you have any questions. Then they leave you alone. And at least you register for PartyPop on your own will, and using your own correct information.

I just think this site takes it a little too far. And I'm sure removing my profile will be about as easy as leaving a street gang!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

WTF??? I just got an automated phone call on my cell from "Julie," TeachStreet's robot, to let me know that they made changes to my profile.

Anyone else getting phone calls from this stupid site?

yes, I did today. :/