Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M.Acorn on April 12, 2011, 06:10:46 pm

Title: Pulled out the book
Post by: M.Acorn on April 12, 2011, 06:10:46 pm
Been thinking about it for a long time,had different Yellow pages rep each year,all pretty dire,and trying to bump up their commission rather than please their customers.
So have bit the bullet,only time will tell,should reduce those annoying sales calls a bit,well that and t.p.s .
Going to stick with Yell.com for 1 more year,my number was supposed to be one I could monitor,but the rep told me yesterday that my last rep didn't set it up,I told him I have seen them stacked up on people door steps months after delivery..He left with his tail between his legs.........
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: markpowell on April 12, 2011, 08:51:52 pm
I pulled out 3 years ago and now just have the free listing, invested in the internet and never looked back, our book came last month half the thickness and now A5 so seems more and more people are giving them a wide berth
Mark
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 12, 2011, 08:56:30 pm
I'm getting more enquiries this year than last year in my YP's there are less advertisers so perhaps that's why I'm profiting.

Shaun
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: markpowell on April 12, 2011, 08:58:39 pm
Good point Shaun, never looked at it like that. The last year i was in i did not even make my costs back mate
Dont want to hi- jack the thread but thanks for the advice this morning as well  ;)
Mark
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on April 12, 2011, 09:07:53 pm
Call anytime

Back to thread, everyone should know their figures and if you are getting a decent return you keep on if not then bum it off.

Shaun
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: M.Acorn on April 12, 2011, 09:58:37 pm
My Yell.com add had 3000 views,which generated 30 calls,and possibly a few e-mail enquiries,worried It may damage my google ranking if I drop that too.
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on April 12, 2011, 11:03:26 pm
Another reason you may wish to continue with Yp is that an existing customer may just look in it to find your number. You, obviously thinking they are an existing client may not realise that they didn't have your card to hand and therefore simply looked in YP to find you.

At the same time they may simply be checking that you are still in business. If you're not in it the client may conclude you have ceased trading and phone another cc in YP.

Rog

PS My figures more than justify my 1/6 colour page advert. But there again it may simply be that South Manchester being a large dense (population-not IQ, before anybody jumps in  ;D) conurbation means there are more likely to be greater number ofprofitable  leads  with minimum driving to pursue.

PPS Can anybody explain why in the last year I have generated so many leads from Thompson Local when I don't have any paid advertising in it-just my free one-line entry?
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: M.Acorn on April 13, 2011, 08:11:15 am
Still got a free listing DC,so hope they will see that if they look,or there is always Google,going in a the little village mags this year instead.
And the money that would have gone on yellow pages will go to getting the van signed,which more people will see hopefully
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: clinton on April 13, 2011, 03:41:26 pm
Some good posts from shaun n roger.

Me too am going to go back to the old days n get half a page add in yell pages ..

 ;D
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on April 13, 2011, 04:45:15 pm
How much will half a page cost these days Clinton? John
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Steve Gunn on April 13, 2011, 04:57:08 pm
Had Yell rep round £48 a month for yell.com and small box ad no thanks,especially as our friendly £10 a carpet guy has expensive sponsored listing
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Dave_Lee on April 13, 2011, 05:00:30 pm
Re: Free YP listing. Check out your new sized YP book, if you already have it or when it arrives. They have stopped the 'Free Listings'.
If you don't have a paid for ad, you will not have a listing at all.
Dave.
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Steve Gunn on April 13, 2011, 05:08:07 pm
She told me the free listings had finished too
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: Jamie Pearson on April 15, 2011, 03:52:39 pm
I was put in charge of our advertising this year. I downsized a few ads and took some additional ones in other books around Scotland for different services.

For wood floor sanding we are the only listing in the phone book, thomson local, yellow pages in certain areas now as the others have pulled.

New phone book came out beginning of the month in Fife. That ad has now paid for itself.

I was all for dropping them to focus on our online activity and some other advertising as we were always 100% book advertising but have decided now that these methods are still profitable for us in certain aspects of our business.
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: M.Acorn on April 15, 2011, 04:15:30 pm
Yeah I am going to see how it goes,with me now I am getting the majority of my work without needing to advertise.
But will be looking at the smaller publications and village mags,getting the van sign written,and getting a new site built....I am going to just keep on ploughing all my spare cash back into the business,while I have loads of work....Hoping it will stay that way.
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: clinton on April 15, 2011, 05:18:21 pm
Looks like your on a roll mate good on ya..

Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: M.Acorn on April 15, 2011, 06:13:59 pm
Yeah getting there Clinton,really picked up
Title: Re: Pulled out the book
Post by: john aitken on April 17, 2011, 06:39:01 pm
Had Yell rep round £48 a month for yell.com and small box ad no thanks,especially as our friendly £10 a carpet guy has expensive sponsored listing

tell me about it    hes like a boil on the bum of life
mate who works for yell.com said he would have paid more that £3000 for that
spoilt it for everyone