[Dave_Lee]

The YP rep is coming to see me next week. Not sure what I am doing as yet.
Looking through on the YP Direct site, I see that with new smaller book, they have removed all free listings, so as to drive all inquiries to paid advertisers.
Good thing if you are a paid advertiser maybe not if your not.
Dave.

[garyfindlay]

I spoke to the rep this week, and seemed good, but how much is a good conversion rate for your money,ie £1000 per year getting you 100 calls, is then £10 a call. Is this a good conversion rate, or are there better ways, and I know some areas will be poo hot and others well just poo.

[Matt Seymour]

Yellow Pages is dying on it's @rse and their online presence isn't all that it was either.

I reckon they are still worth a punt at the moment, but they need to lower their prices to a more realistic level.

[Neil Williams]

They will have to change somehow.
In it's basic format Yell is just a search facility which is just what Google, MSN etc etc are, the paper version is just a waste of paper. So why bother paying thousands to advertise on a search facility.
I'll be saving those thousands this year by dumping the fan-dobey all singing advert I have with yell and just have the basic listing which will at least give us some presence.

[Paul Heath]

Had our Yellow Pages delivered this week...thrown on the side still in its bag...so not even looked in it.....if i have done this how many "potential customer" have done the same.
If i need to find anything i look on the internet first
Now its all about being on google..YP your history

[SteveAllan]

Not bothered, never had much from it anyway free and paid ads.

[Len Gribble]

In its heydays the bee’s knees let your fingers do the walking, would not be very happy with .com the 1st three came up with e14, br6 and HSS

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

There are obviously reasons why some editions are better than others but there are 2 general reasons why I will still persist with YP.

Firstly it works-as fewer cc's advertise in it there is less competition for me when people look in it.

Secondly there are clients who remember my name and want to find my number quickly and easily and to look in a book can often be quicker than booting a computer then googling.

Thirdly, ah yes, I knew there was an extra reason; "grey power". There are many, many older people who are not into computing and who will persist with paper directories. Of them, there is a very good percentage with high disposable income. If you know how to "stroke" them then they are a lucrative source of business and referrals which more than pays for the cost of advertising.

If many of you want to give up your adverts in YP then that's fine but could those in Manchester South directory get on with withdrawing their adverts to leave the field entirley to me please.

Rog

[happy mondays]

There are obviously reasons why some editions are better than others but there are 2 general reasons why I will still persist with YP.

Firstly it works-as fewer cc's advertise in it there is less competition for me when people look in it.

Secondly there are clients who remember my name and want to find my number quickly and easily and to look in a book can often be quicker than booting a computer then googling.

Thirdly, ah yes, I knew there was an extra reason; "grey power". There are many, many older people who are not into computing and who will persist with paper directories. Of them, there is a very good percentage with high disposable income. If you know how to "stroke" them then they are a lucrative source of business and referrals which more than pays for the cost of advertising.

If many of you want to give up your adverts in YP then that's fine but could those in Manchester South directory get on with withdrawing their adverts to leave the field entirley to me please.

Rog

very true, the old school do not use iphones blackberrys google yahoo... and most of them wont expect you to clean a lounge for £30

These are the customers any business needs, YP and other directories will always work

[happy mondays]

Sorry but I was going to edit my last post, but thought I'd post again

Paper advertising may not "always" work, as IMO in the near future it may very well be a thing of the past as the old school will be gone 

[Matt Seymour]

Yep, I agree. There is no longterm future for the Yellow Pages.

You can attract the older customers using parish magazines as they seem to be the only people that read them.

[ianharper]

yell online will give your site social juice with google maps

[jsm]

Im with Doctor - im in the pages been in for 12 years now i think ,

i only have a small black and white ( yellow ) add,  i think cost no more than £470 - it's paid monthly £ 47 over ten months .

£ 12 a week ........  i probley get a min two jobs off it a week so for me it's a no brainer .

Im next to the Chem dry's and service master adverts  - but my advert's heading is LOW COST ... so they probley phone them for a lounge carpet quote !!!!   --- so £55 i give is low cost to the custy..  

i do well from the pages.

[clinton]

Looks like you have a good client base too john.

You have a good cleaning round and also c cleaning to keep you in business going.
Some the yel pages does work and some it sounds like it doesnt.

[jsm]

true Clint , after 21 years on the window's i wish i could do carpets 100% but like you say all them £8-12 houses pay the bill's week in - week out , if i get the carpet wand out or not ,  both parts work well ... i go and clean windows and they say Oww didnt know you do carpets also  - the new Carpet cleaning jobs  , Oww i didnt know you did windows ....  : 
so all helps 


if you need some tip's clint on window cleaning WFP , you not far away , pump, tank, hose & reel, 18ft brush/pole your off earning .

[clinton]

Looks like you have set your stall out john and thats good mate.

Have you gone truck mount john

Its hard graft what you window lads do and also the collecting so you earn your dosh

[Neil Williams]

i go and clean windows and they say Oww didnt know you do carpets also 

Very true but one word of warning.....If you pack up the window cleaning you'll soon find out how quick those customers dump you for others.
We had the same arrangement and it worked well until we packed up the windows. I honestly believe those customers believe they 'own' you and got the hump with us after we stopped doing their windows.

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

When I was doing both,the main problem I had was,,,,,,,,,well
If you’re a window cleaner,what do you know about carpet /
Upholstery cleaning.? ? The customers attitude I mean.
To perceve the professional element,and be a professional as
A carpet cleaner,,,,,a person`s carpet ya cleaned last week see`s
Ya cleaning shop front windows the next week it dos`nt look
Too good in their eyes.

Lewis  Doubtfire

[jsm]

Looks like you have set your stall out john and thats good mate.

Have you gone truck mount john

Its hard graft what you window lads do and also the collecting so you earn your dosh

yes Clint - picked up a cheap Spitfire 4.0 a while back , just incase the ninja blows a motor ....
apart from now having to buy a big van to put it all in , so far happy , tho think ill get it LPGed asap as not used to feeding my carpet machines .... liked the , use the custys money and  plug in the wall method   

dont do the collecting on the windows , not done for about 10 years now , its all set up for cheques sent back in S.A.E or BACS payments


going back to the yellow pages advert bit --- yellow pages we found didnt work that good for the window cleaning side - you got calls all over the book area - not worth driving 40 miles to do one £10 house

[garry22]

I've just had this letter from Yell this morning.

They are offering a staggering 11 CALLS a month from combined Yell.com and Yellow Pages ads.

How much is that per call (call, not customer).