I used an online service to create a sitemap for a site that I created just to see how it would work. Little did I know what would happen next. Please read on.
It was easy to get it created. It was easy to download. There was no problem with the sitemap. There also was no indication that I would be contacted by a salesperson. The site was SiteMapBuilder and nowhere on that site does it state or even imply that is connected with a commercial marketing entity. Okay, sorry, I don’t mean to rant. After a little research, I was able to find the out that the parent company was OrangeSoda.
It was a little freaky. Within 30 minutes, I was contacted by phone. The salesperson was very professional. I have no issue with her, but I wish that the site had mentioned that I was going to be contacted.
I wanted a sitemap not a sales pitch. I am not saying that the parent company is a bad company. I have had no experience prior experience with them. SiteMapBuilder states that it “is a FREE tool for webmasters that takes the pain out of creating an effective sitemap”. That is true, but I did spend my time talking to the salesperson and listening to her presentation. It actually was a very low-pressure sales pitch.
Is this set up unethical? I think that SiteMapBuilder should state somewhere that it is made by OrangeSoda and that someone will contact them to attempt to sell them on using their services. If I recommend a site that I run to someone (or a software program I created), I promise everyone that reads this that I will disclose that information.
I do think that sitemapbuilder does what it says it will and does it well. But the thing it does but does not say it will do is an annoyance.
