[SteveTruman]

Just had BT on blower today wanting to know if i was interested in advertising in next years phonebook. First off i said i wasn't interested as i advertise in YP, but then the lady started telling me that BT had sold the Yellow Pages side of the business and that they were putting a yellow pages in the front of the phonebook. You get same size ad as YP at half the price, a free ad in another area directory and free bold lineage in the phonebook also a free listing in the A-Z, as i don't get a lot of work from YP i have given her an appointment to see what deal they can come up with. So my questions are how many of you advertise in the phonebook and do you think that this could be the way forward by BT putting everything in 1 book, also could it mark the end of YP as we have known it for the last decade..

Cheers

Steve    

[Glynn]

Personaly I wouldn't go in it.
imo YP is and always will be the only one.

Regards

Glynn

[Big_Fish]

Hi,

Until it gerts established like YP, you have to try to judge how much potential work it will bring in.
The prices and offers may be very attractive but that is because they need to work hard to sell advertising space in the new format.
How many members of the public will think to look in the Phone Book when looking for a service? In a few years time it may be worth doing but for now, who knows?

BFN

[paul@ctcs]

Not yet fully aware of the prices for the various sizes of ad in the normal phone book, but may well be worth opting for a small one and see how it goes. Also a good idea to buy ad space as close to print as possible to get a good deal. I think i,ll give it a go.

Paul

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys,

Being BT they put me in the wrong section for domestic cleaning and I get about 1 call every 2 weeks which is quite irritating.

As for paying for an ad. I would upgrade your YP.

Thompson have spent years trying to displace YP with limited success, I c'ant see BT doing any better.

Cheers,

Doug

[Big_Fish]

Hi Doug,

I think you are right.
A recent independent poll showed that YP is used by 60% of the public and the other 40% is shared by all the other directories (Thompson are 2nd).

BFN

[scott.]

hey big-fish
youre in my part of the world...do you get much response from yp? Im due to go in there in feb...was wondering if it's good enough to enable the termination of dreaded leaflet drops...based on requiring one or two jobs a day.

[Big_Fish]

Hi,

We still do leaflets. The directory YP won't keep you going by itself. Yell.com is better than the directory (with a website & enhanced listing).

YP will tell you that you will get on average X number of calls a week. Remember that includes:
People shopping on the phone for a cheap price.

Sales calls from everybody

Surveys asking you what coffee you drink, what supermarket you use and how many kids you have etc..

Recorded messaged telling you you have won  a        holiday, a car, a boat etc.

Time wasters wanting a whole house cleaned for £20.

Silence calls and other idiots.

Charities wanting you to give them/ sponsor an event etc.

Wrong numbers.

But hey, a bit of good old work too!

BFN

[littlejack]

You can list on Yell.com for free, the downside is that YP then ring to sell you more advertising.

I have just received the "New" B.T. book with their Y.P section.

It will save someone having to look for the other book.

As to whether or not it is worth advertising in as well/in place of Y.P.   Judgement call of your own.

[mark_roberts]

Already Ive seen customers getting mixed up between the YP and the yellow business section of the BT book.

I think the BT book will get used because as people already use it for private numbers and as they will get it mixed up with the YP.

I think at the very least you should have your name in it.

Mark

[Dave_Lee]

I went in our Phonebook the first year it carried its Yellow pages section. I know it was the first year, but I expected some response - which I got - one job, in the entire year from it. Dropped it after that.
Dave.

[adl]

We have a different freephone number for each place that we advertise in, we use companys like buzz networks and telecom plus they send us a monthly statement that itemises all calls that have come in so we know exactly how many we have had on a monthly basis and how many have been converted into apps, the only snag that we have is that we get alot of cr#p calls from local advertising companys that try and sell us advertising and such like we tend to deduct a set pecentage to allow for this

regards Dave ADL

[David_Annable]

In my opinion there are to many directories & to many carpet cleaners in them.

The only adverts that work are big one which are expensive (£2000+) & insisting on a survey and obviously a higher price .

Dave

[SteveTruman]

Ah well gone in it for next year , cant resist a pretty face. Good sales pitch saying about multi million pound  advertising campaign on tv. 2 directory listing for the price of 1 and for just over £300 whats to lose. Dont know about where you boys are but our YP has 12 pages of carpet cleaners. The phonebook only has half a page of em.Anyway we'll see how it goes next yr.

Cheers

Steve

[Doug Holloway]

Steve,

Here's hoping that fortune favours the brave.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Doug

[paulchambers]

Is the BT version of yp a more localised one. They havnt contacted me yet   Paul

[SteveTruman]

Paul it is the local phone book which they are putting a yellow section in.

Steve