Worth knowing before you launch your first site. Most trades aren't told this — and they only find out the hard way.
What happens
Within a few days of a new trade website going live, a small wave of phone calls starts. Friendly-sounding people from companies you've never heard of: so-called Google specialists, web designers, business directories, accounting software, vehicle tracking, the lot.
They all say roughly the same thing: “I noticed your new website and thought I'd give you a quick call about getting it found on Google.”
It's not a coincidence. New domain registrations are public information. There are scrapers that watch the register and sell the lists to call centres. The day you go live, your number goes onto a list, and the list gets dialled.
Why it bothers most tradespeople
Two reasons. First, you're trying to work. A call from an unknown number while you're up a ladder isn't welcome.
Second, the calls are persuasive. The person on the other end sounds like they know what they're talking about. If you've just spent money on a new site and you don't yet know how it's performing, an offer to “get it ranking” can sound reasonable.
Most of those offers aren't worth what they cost. Some are outright scams.
What a good builder does about it
When I register a web address for you, I use a setting called WHOIS privacy by default. It means the public record shows the contact details of Krystal — the UK domain company I register addresses through — instead of yours. The address is still 100% yours and registered in your name behind the scenes, but the cold-call list scrapers can't see your phone number.
It's the difference between getting 15–20 sales calls in the first fortnight and getting roughly zero.
I also keep your phone number off the public registration record at all the major directories I submit your site to, where the option exists.
What to do if you've already got a site and the calls have started
If WHOIS privacy wasn't switched on when your address was registered, the damage is done — your number's already on lists. Two things help:
- Switch WHOIS privacy on now. It costs £5–£10/year and stops new lists picking you up. Doesn't undo the lists you're already on.
- Use call screening on your phone. iPhone and Android both have settings that send unknown numbers to voicemail. Most cold callers don't leave one. Genuine callers do.
What to say if you get a call
The fastest answer that works: “I'm under contract with my current web builder, thanks.”
That's it. They're trained to handle “I'm not interested” with three more rebuttals. “I'm under contract” stops the script.
What's actually a real opportunity vs. a cold call
A genuine opportunity will come from someone you've heard of or been referred to, mention something specific about your business, and never need you to decide on the call.
A cold call will be from a number you don't recognise, use vague phrases like “get you to the top of Google,” and push you to commit to something in the same conversation.
When in doubt: take their company name, hang up, Google them. If they're real, they'll still be there in an hour.
Last updated: May 2026 · If anything in this guide is out of date or unclear, drop me an email — I'll fix it. nick@neobookworm.uk
If you’re about to launch, I’ll make sure your web address is registered with the right privacy settings.