http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ernet.html

mmmmmmmmmmm,i worked for yellow pages for 6 years(for my sins)working major account spend on these were between £5k and £25 k and the book is almost dead.
Yell at the moment are wishing they were google and now according an old yell friend i spioke too they are concentrating 80% on interenet and 20% book.
They are offering bundles on google ad words,118247 and the book but staff are dropping like flies!!!
Currently We spend over 3k on yell,next year it will be £500 tops,thats why there share price went from 647 and dropped to 10 p 12 months ago................say no more!!!!!

Norm

www.drballoonman.com

I dropped my ad this year for the first time, I was spending £2400 a year, but now it cost me just under £600. I don't get any 'new' work from YP, I would estimate that 95% of my shows are from those who have already seen me work.

I do still feel I need to be in there as people still occasionally use YP to find my number.

What bugged me and probably every entertainer in the UK is when YP decided to split the Entertainers into two sections . . . 'Entertainers' & 'Children's Entertainers'!!! Why? Because it makes them more money as many of us put ads into both sections for the fear of missing out. Not any more for me though, they can get stuffed.  :evil:

Had the rep call last month saying they have a great package that will link up with the web.

Looked at some examples looked good so big question when is it live?....Don't know.

They keep pushing that they are Google friendly but what is the point of searching for a product but your web link is not there.

My last year add had just my web address with NO phone number.

This year I am considering making it smaller or not advertise at all.

Fuzz

Quote from: "Fuzzy"My last year add had just my web address with NO phone number.
Fuzz

Hi Fuzzy, Why no phone number? Wouldn't that will lose work if they don't have a computer.  :shock:

Yep, I dropped out too, WAY too expensive! Internet is the future!

QuoteHi Fuzzy, Why no phone number? Wouldn't that will lose work if they don't have a computer.

NO

What do people want to know when they call you/ what do they say?

How much for a party is the opening line.

So I tell them in the advert for prices go to my website www......

When people call I do not quote prices I get their details and fill the form in myself whilst they are on the phone, then tell them to check their email as it in there now.

They few that do not have email will never be a Fuzzy client.

Fuzz

personally fuzzy i think if people are picking up a yp they need both....................................
i mean it is a tel directory so people need a number and a local one, no 0845 crap!!!
But some people like to check u out online before calling,it gives them a flavour of what your all about!

We now buy specific numbers that are connected to our main number so we can truly monitor our advertising and make sure we get a good return on investment these are itemised and quite cheap !

Quote from: "Normski"personally fuzzy i think if people are picking up a yp they need both....................................
i mean it is a tel directory so people need a number and a local one, no 0845 crap!!!
But some people like to check u out online before calling,it gives them a flavour of what your all about!!

I agree with that, I've thought about what you've said Fuzzy, and I just can't see any gain from leaving your phone number off the advert.

Regards

In my eyes the people who use the book, dont use the net! So why put a net advert in the book! Ok maybe there are a small amount, but for me.... phone number for the book would be better, and your web address.

I dont use the book anymore anyway!

My old system was they call, I take their details and send a brochure.

Then I follow up with phone calls which during the day often went to voice mail.

The phone scripts I used were very successful for the genuine prospect, however it showed there were a lot of looky loos, hence calls from people going through the list of numbers, asking the same question "how much".

I decided that as that was the information they wanted most, lets make it easier for them to get it.

My web base system gives them the information they want instantly.

Note: They get a firm price & what they will get for their money, no "from" prices or call me now on 000000 for a quote. Some Mums are searching late at night so they have the option of calling late & getting the voice mail or waiting till the next day and finding time in a busy schedule.

How many calls do you get at the weekend when you are working?
You cannot answer the call (driving or doing shows) so it goes to voice mail some do not leave a message and move on to the next number.

At least I have not wasted their time by giving a number in a y/p advert saying call now for details (I'm reading it at midnight so do I call then?) but they can get the information they want now by gong to the web.

Fuzz

I had the yell rep around yesterday, not sure what to do, it is the most expensive form of advertising I spend £700pa with them but only got £400 worth of work from them.
Word of mouth is the best 2nd is ukentertainers it's only £110pa for gold plus it has more benefits than Yell.
3rd is National pages which is £35pa and they give free web site.
The rep showed me the new book, it's smaller and all free listings are going in the back with out categories. So this should save them money? I find out how much it will cost me in 2 weeks as rep has gone away to sort package if it's more than £400 I think it's good bye from me.

Quite frankly if they shove the majority of the ads in the back of the book because they are free why bother offering the free adverts?  I only have the free line in the book because I got it when I registered on line.  

Up until this year I have had pushy sales people trying to convince me that the book is the way to go and how many people still use it.  I cannot see how my target demographic would use the book instead of the internet.  I know very few people who have children or who are looking at getting married or hell anyone under the age of 60 in most cases who doesn't have a computer and use that to search for trades people before even considering looking in the book!

I did notice this year that I have had one call (voicemail message) asking me to call them and since I never did I have not had any further contact from them!

To put it simply it's cost more than the work it generates.

I was in the YP last year. Got nothing from it. Now I'm not in it, I'm getting more calls....

Steve