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wayne zabel

  • Posts: 1082
Advertising in Thomson Local
« on: January 20, 2010, 08:04:06 pm »
At present I dont even have a one line entry in Thomson Local as I wasn't involved in CC when the last book was printed.

I believe that the next issue is due to be printed in February,as I have a small free entry on the Thomson Local online site will my entry automatically be put in the printed version?

Also do any of you guys advise on maybe taking a small box in the next issue,from a personal point of view if I were to engage a trademan for any job Thomson is normally my first port of call.

slioch

  • Posts: 118
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2010, 08:18:01 pm »
I know directory advertising is changing (losing out to the web) but I still use Thomson even though I have ditched Yellow Pages.  It works for me but there is a clear geographical divide:

I tried in a couple of big city Thomson directories - hardly any response and when the phone did ring it was not the type of client I wanted.

The small market town directories work much better.

Thomson (even more so than YP and web) demands you create a "local" image, so I use area phone codes and name the towns where I work.  I also think you get a better customer (but that depends upon your target audience).  As with any advertising you need to view it as one part of your marketing - it shouldn't define your marketing.

With Thomson you know what you are going to get - the bigger the ad. the better the position and you can't say that about YP or web.

Shaun_Ashmore

  • Posts: 11382
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2010, 08:18:46 pm »
Don't waste your money Wayne Yellow Pages is also a waste now a days although I am in it I wouldn't recomend it now. Go for leaflets.

Shaun

Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)

  • Posts: 1834
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2010, 08:27:24 pm »
hardly any response and when the phone did ring it was not the type of client I wanted


Nuff said !

Steve

wayne zabel

  • Posts: 1082
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2010, 08:41:25 pm »
Does anyone know if I will still get a free one line entry in the next printed edition because I have the free entry on the online thomson site.

slioch

  • Posts: 118
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2010, 08:42:47 pm »
Clinton - what you say was true of the responses I got from city Thomsons but the reverse is true of the ones I advertise in now.

I think we have to accept that any advertising will produce some element of commodity based callers but now I have sussed Thomson I do quite well from it.  As I said before, it is changing and I change my profile of advertising every year.

slioch

  • Posts: 118
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2010, 08:44:07 pm »
Wayne - free line - call them to find out for sure (they will of course try to sell space to you).

Colin Day

Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2010, 10:20:55 pm »
I think we have to accept that any advertising will produce some element of commodity based callers but now I have sussed Thomson I do quite well from it.

Spoken like a true Thomson Sales Rep  :P

Thomson is a cheap and nasty bargain hunter's directory.... YP is for people who don't believe in technology cos they're too skint, old or thick to use it..... They are usually price shoppers too.......!!! (Not that I'm one for generalising or anything ;D ;D ;D)

Shaun_Ashmore

  • Posts: 11382
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2010, 10:36:28 pm »
I have come to the same conclusions as you Colin.

Shaun

MAX Carpets

  • Posts: 869
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2010, 07:51:16 am »
Thomson = peing in the wind

YP Worth a punt

Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)

  • Posts: 2024
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2010, 11:48:31 am »
Does anyone know if I will still get a free one line entry in the next printed edition because I have the free entry on the online thomson site.

Wayne
I have a free line entry in Thompson's. I have no other connection with them. I get it because they phone me up to confirm the details that they'll list (free line entry) and usually try and get me to buy some advertised space which I politely refuse.

Amazingly, I usually get 1 or 2 jobs a year from it, :o. But there again I'm not expecting to get any work from it but I won't refuse a free entry and I won't refuse work that falls into my lap and costs nothing to generate. For me, it's icing on the cake.

I reserve my advertising budget for YP which still pays handsomely for me and one or two other means of getting my name out there.

Roger
Diplomacy: the art of letting other people have your way

murky

  • Posts: 627
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2010, 12:00:47 pm »
My 10pennuth on Thompsons.

I used them for years and had varying results to be honest, price shoppers and some really good jobs out of it. I was in 2 areas so they gave me a discount but was thinking of pulling out because of web etc.

Rep rang me to discuss etc but I said I was not going in, but in the end she came round and set up ads, signed the paper work etc.

She sent them through by email, but I told her time and time again  not to go in and asked her to cancel etc as I would be saving £250 per month.

Checked my statement in July and found money still going out, queried it and was told it was running till Dec. I then checked my Thompsons and found the ad in there despite telling them not to. I of course stopped payment.

Rang them. She wont talk or will her line manager, their debt collectors are after me now, dropped from £1100 to £900 for quick solution!

Funnilly enough the debt collectors rang me last night chasing the money, told them the same story I have told them time and time again.

Debt collector said that they have had loads of the same story from people who cancelled the ads only to find them going in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debt people said I had to cancel by recorded/registerd letter or it doesnt count. I was never told this.

So beware the Thompsons rep. You never know what you are signing up for, or get the artwork done but get them to come back to sign forms etc.

Murky


SteveAllan

Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2010, 01:10:57 pm »
I think we have to accept that any advertising will produce some element of commodity based callers but now I have sussed Thomson I do quite well from it.

Spoken like a true Thomson Sales Rep  :P

Thomson is a cheap and nasty bargain hunter's directory.... YP is for people who don't believe in technology cos they're too skint, old or thick to use it..... They are usually price shoppers too.......!!! (Not that I'm one for generalising or anything ;D ;D ;D)

Brilliant  ;D So true though lol

Doug Holloway

  • Posts: 3917
Re: Advertising in Thomson Local
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2010, 06:23:27 pm »
Murky

If you did not sign for this directory then you are not liable.

You do not have to cancel by recorded delivery because unless you have some rolling arrangement, you have no contract to cancel as you didn't enter into one.

Cheers

Doug