Yellow Pages

[R. E. Crouse]

Does advertising in the Yellow Pages for those of you who NEED the business help. It is very expensive, but I need the business. What are your thoughts?

 

[PressurePros]

ABSOLUTELY. 75% of my owrk this year came from my yellow pages ad. Be creative and use the right keywords. I only had a small, in coumn ad. I'll take a pic of it tommorow and post it for you if you'd like. advertised under pressure washing and deck cleaning and sealing

 

[R L S]

On the opposite end of the spectrum I got 1 one job and gave out 2 bids from my ad last year. I am in a new book this year so we'll see.

 

[Tim Lynch]

Does advertising in the Yellow Pages for those of you who NEED the business help. It is very expensive, but I need the business. What are your thoughts?

I would be working for the Man still if it was not for the Yellow Pages.
Cost is about right I have 3 Ad's running about $350.00 total per month.
The Newspaper here for service ad's is much more per month and just text.

I ran an ad in the newspaper years ago and on Cable TV's ad channel, what I got were low income callers trying to get something for nothing. Junk decks and dirty work.

The call's I get from the SBC Yellow Pages are direct hits and not much bickering if the bid comes in right. Could you see a guy that makes $100,000 a year plus looking for services in the newspaper?


Edit: You need to be in the right location of the book! Deck Refinishing is the best! IMO Gutter Cleaning you need to stand out more, I find black background with Yellow Text grabs more attention and you do not have to pay extra like those that use color. Open up the YP's and browse you will see what I mean.

It's a game as well! They play the price game after a while, one year I got small then the next year up go big and get deals.

Again look at the areas in your book you want to be in. How many are Advertising? Call some of the ones not in your area and ask them? Are they doing just text or Ad's? Grab some older YP's and see what happens in different years lots of drop outs tell you that area is not working good. Nitch Areas like Deck Refinishing and Gutter Cleaning I know about and get so busy I have to turn work away during peek season.

Good luck in your decision, When does the Yellow Pages in your Area start?

Watch out for the fake yellow pages! They end up as door stops! The real Yellow Pages you need to be in! the phone company is the Main Yellow Pages.

BTW: Heres a TIP allways have a yellowPage book in your truck and car, they come in real handle when somthing goes wrong. Or you need a part or Material.

 

[R. E. Crouse]

Thanks for all of your replies!. I will have to go one more year with no ad as the Yellow Pages are out already for this year. Just getting some ideas. Thanks again for your help...I love this forum!

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Ed,

I will try to attach a picture of an ad that we've run for quite awhile.

Dave Olson

 

[PressurePros]

Here are the pics of ad. Both cost me $80 per month.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/pressurepros/deckad.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/pressurepros/pressad.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

 

[jandjsales]

I ran yellow page ads one year, i may have got 2 calls from it. it can get expensive. I dropped all my pay advertising. my business is mostly repeat, word of mouth, and contractors. I have 4 or 5 contractors that keep me busy, sometimes the rate may be cheaper, but i know i can count on other work from them. they pay pretty good for someone they can depend on and does a good job.

 

[taselton2]

I Spent $2200 Last Year And Made It Back In The First Three Weeks. We Have Two Books In My Town, This Book ($2200) Is The Cheaper One. I Put An Add Under Pressure Washing, Exterior House Washing, And Roof Cleaning. I Have Made Pretty Darn Good Money Off It This Year. 2006 I Am Running Again In This Book,and Also The Real Book. The Real Book Is Over $5k For A Good Add In Pressure Cleaning And Roof Cleaning. The Cheap Book Came Out 4 Days Ago And I Already Have Two Confirmed Jobs To Do Next Week ($700). These Ads Have My Website Clearly Displayed On Them. I Think This Is A Good One-two Punch. If You Want To Get Plenty Of Calls You Gotta Spend Some Money. I Also Get Work From Different Contractors And Plenty Of Repeat Customers, But I Am Trying To Build My Business Up From 3 Or 4k/month To 8 To 10k/month. This Is Sort Of A Part Time Business, I Am A Fireman And Can Only Wash 3 To 4 Days During The Work Week. I Only Work Commercial Jobs On The Weekend. I Am Prepaired For The Business This Year. I Think The Yellow Pages Are The Best Way To Build Your Business. Once You Build It Up Were You Want It WITH A NICE AD, You Can Go Back To Just Listing Your Name. http://www.softwashing.com

 

[Practical_P]

I think it depends on which book you advertise in too. There was two directories in my area, one of them was much cheaper to list in and the directories were pretty much the same in size, appearance and quality. Advertising in the cheaper one had its drawbacks though it pitted me against other contractors who had also taken the cheap route and man they were bidding their jobs CHEAP! The "premium add" didn't generate that many calls and the ones that it did generate were not good leads. The phone book is where alot of people go to call around and find the dirt cheapest price so you end up running around doing alot of estimates without a great turnover ratio. I don't advertise in any phone books now, if you're just starting out you gotta do something to spread the word but if you can get by without it.... I'm liking it much better.

 

[Dave Olson]

A copy of my current ad at this link.

http://content.ypsolutions.com/images/Dontech/DTCM05/01222653.gif

Dave Olson

 

[Cat Powerwash]

I agree. I spent $3900.00 for yellow page ad in my area and had very few calls. I do better with the local papers. Also postcards work good too!