phonebook advertising

[Flames_Gimp]

if you guys had a new business goin, do you think running an ad in the Canpages would be a good investment? it's pretty costly... any stories on the subject?

[Neeper]

Is your business porn related? haha

Seriously, I have an ad in the Yellow Pages. I think it's worth it to have an ad for sure. I get a decent amount of business from it, and it more than pays itself off. In my opinion having an ad in the YP some what solidifes you have a real business.

[Hack&Lube]

Many people, for local things will still look to the yellowpages first when in need of a service.

[corporatejay]

I rarely use the yellow pages, but instead use google local, that being said, my mom and people from her generation still go to the yellow pages, hell she still goes to the phone book when googling the phone number takes half the time.

what kind of business is it?

[Ford Prefect]

If your customers are local, it's absolutely worth it. I own a national company though, and in that scenario Yellow Page ads are pointless.

[fredr123]

For what it's worth, I get about 6-10 cold calls per week. Probably about 90% of those get our number from the yellow pages.

[ken0042]

For the love of whatever you consider holy, please do not advertize in any yellow pages besides the one the phone company puts out.

I'm not a Telus fan, but I am even less of a fan of getting 8 phone books per year; each one with a microscopic ad instead of the 1/4 page they could have bought if there was only one phone book out.

[HOOT]

I would say it would depend on the type of business you have. I don't know what the costs are but I know my friend who owns a plumbbing company pays a load for his full page ad. But plummbing is something people look for in the phone book...

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I rarely use the yellow pages, but instead use google local, that being said, my mom and people from her generation still go to the yellow pages, hell she still goes to the phone book when googling the phone number takes half the time.

what kind of business is it?

with the canpages i would have it all listed online as well, and they link to google

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by ken0042

For the love of whatever you consider holy, please do not advertize in any yellow pages besides the one the phone company puts out.

I'm not a Telus fan, but I am even less of a fan of getting 8 phone books per year; each one with a microscopic ad instead of the 1/4 page they could have bought if there was only one phone book out.

well more people get the canpages i heard, as telus gives only to people with telus accounts IIRC.

in the canpages, with a 1/2 page ad, i would be the 4th or 5th ad in my section..YP there is a boatload of competition

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

well more people get the canpages i heard, as telus gives only to people with telus accounts IIRC.

Well, my Canpages went right to into the fire pit. But Telus did drop off a set of books for me even though I have Shaw.

Just keep in mind any company will use numbers to deceive you. More people may get Canpages, but how many use them? You speak of the competition in the Telus pages- for me as a customer- that's the main reason I only look in the Telus yellow pages. I know I will have more options.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, my Canpages went right to into the fire pit. But Telus did drop off a set of books for me even though I have Shaw.

Just keep in mind any company will use numbers to deceive you. More people may get Canpages, but how many use them? You speak of the competition in the Telus pages- for me as a customer- that's the main reason I only look in the Telus yellow pages. I know I will have more options.

making some good points.

do you think a tiny ad, about 20 businesses down the list in the YP is better than half a page ad, 4 or 5 listings down in the canpages? because it basically comes down to cost for me. i'm going get quotes from tYP's as well before i decide.

i know i have used the canpages before simply because of the size of the books.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by ken0042

But Telus did drop off a set of books for me even though I have Shaw.

ya i guess telus yp's changed it because they were missing out all the internet phone customers in the past.

[ken0042]

If you have a pizza delivery business; the bigger ad in the lesser book. However if you offer a professional service like hardwood flooring installs, I would go for the smaller ad. As long as its 2"X3" and not very busy- you'll be fine. Biggest thing is make sure it's apparent in the ad that cold calls to you are welcome.

[RougeUnderoos]

I've got a Canpages (I didn't know that's what it is called, I had to look) book here that has never been opened. The yellow pages get used all the time.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Biggest thing is make sure it's apparent in the ad that cold calls to you are welcome.

Isn't that implied by the fact that you have an ad in the phone book?

"How did you get this number? Phone book? Dammit! I knew I shouldn't have bought that phone book ad, people are always calling me trying to get me to do work for them."


Personally, I think a smaller ad in the bigger (more widely used) book would be a better use of your budget. I don't think I've ever opened a Canpages book, nor have I ever seen anyone use one.

[Flames_Gimp]

lol has anyone in here ever used the canpages?

[Winsor_Pilates]

I don't even know what canpages is.
I'd say go YP

[C Squared]

I am in the "Google" generation if thats what you wanna call it lol. But I still do turn to the Yellow Pages to check for services that I need. IMO I think the Yellow Pages would be a safe bet.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by getbak

Isn't that implied by the fact that you have an ad in the phone book?

"How did you get this number? Phone book? Dammit! I knew I shouldn't have bought that phone book ad, people are always calling me trying to get me to do work for them."

If you only knew how many times I've had similar conversations- or perhaps a better term is "thinly veiled discontentment." One example:

me- Hi, I'd like to get some info about getting a truck load of concrete for residentual delivery.
Them- Are you a contractor?
Me- no.
Them- Well, you need to get yourself a contractor. We won't deal with you unless you are getting several truckloads.
Me- Well, I did buy 2 truckloads from you last year, and now I need a third one.
Them- we don't do that anymore.
Me- well, do you have anybody you'd recommend.
Them- No. Try the phone book. <click>

Funny, because that's where I got their number.

And yes, I do understand that everybody is busy and short staffed and construction is booming. However there was no need to shun a repeat customer.

I ended up calling a company that had a little ad that said something like "No job to small- give us a call." Yes, they were too busy too. But they did also give me another contact.