Yellow Book

shuddleston

shuddleston

New member
I have looked through some old posts on here about yellow book but wanted to get an updated temperture on this subject. Honestly, it's a little late anyway since I purchased a small add already but do you get more price shoppers than anything? I picked up a small add and there are only like 4 other detailers in my circulation area that had an add, so I figured why not $28/mo isn't too much if it brings me any work at all. Of course the tunnel wash had the biggest add but i don't have that kind of cash flow and I didn't see spending that kind of money initially. Just curious on how much business anyone actually pulls from a Yellow Book add.
 
shuddleston said:
I have looked through some old posts on here about yellow book but wanted to get an updated temperture on this subject. Honestly, it's a little late anyway since I purchased a small add already but do you get more price shoppers than anything? I picked up a small add and there are only like 4 other detailers in my circulation area that had an add, so I figured why not $28/mo isn't too much if it brings me any work at all. Of course the tunnel wash had the biggest add but i don't have that kind of cash flow and I didn't see spending that kind of money initially. Just curious on how much business anyone actually pulls from a Yellow Book add.
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for $28 per month it might be worth it ... Yellow Book is good for local business's i know i pick up mine when I need something local :rockon
 
I can't answer that question because I've never used the white or yellow pages for a listing.

I am taking the liberty of quoting one of Troy's posts from another thread. Check the last paragraph. < I could not figure out how to link to a single post from another thread. I'm sure there is a way. Troy if you object to this, obviously you can delete. >

ArmstrongDetailing said:
I get an average of 3-4 calls a week that I can tell come from the website. I don't advertise anywhere else. It's very cheap and pretty effective advertising.

There aren't many guys in my area using the internet to get business. My site pops up number 1 with most relevant searches. I'm actually surprised I don't get more calls. I'm hoping the redesign helps those numbers.

It blows the phone book away for me. Phone book callers are mainly price shoppers. People who call from the site are much more likely to use me and not waste my time.
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Thanks for that post - well I guess now I'll also get the hits through the internet searches as well. If they are price shoppers I guess I'll just have to sell them on the service while I have them on the phone! I don't think any of the other detailers are mobile anyway - one said he was but in the add it said they will pick up your car and take it to their shop. I think my repeat customers and word of mouth will be best but maybe I can score a few jobs through this as well.
 
shuddleston said:
Thanks for that post - well I guess now I'll also get the hits through the internet searches as well. If they are price shoppers I guess I'll just have to sell them on the service while I have them on the phone! I don't think any of the other detailers are mobile anyway - one said he was but in the add it said they will pick up your car and take it to their shop. I think my repeat customers and word of mouth will be best but maybe I can score a few jobs through this as well.
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Best and most cost effective :bigups
 
Just be carefull on which "yellow book" you use.
They all use the same type of name and logo. So you need to do research on if it's the "real" yellow book or not. Or you could be in for a surprise and a lighter wallet.
 
Ronkh said:
Just be carefull on which "yellow book" you use.
They all use the same type of name and logo. So you need to do research on if it's the "real" yellow book or not. Or you could be in for a surprise and a lighter wallet.
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Funny marketing slogan, but not really all that effective since I couldn't even tell you who has the "real" yellow pages as touted by the ads. AT&T and Verizon are probably equal players in this market, but we also receive at least 2 or 3 other "regional" books that I may use before either of the two big boys.
 
Mr. Clean said:
Funny marketing slogan, but not really all that effective since I couldn't even tell you who has the "real" yellow pages as touted by the ads. AT&T and Verizon are probably equal players in this market, but we also receive at least 2 or 3 other "regional" books that I may use before either of the two big boys.
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What I meant are there are a "bunch" of different books. When I had stores I got a call from the "yellow pages" confirming my ad as what I had in the book. Thinking it was the book I already had ads in I said yes.

Very expensive lesson.
 
So was it a scam and you got nothing for your ad money? Or was the ad in a lesser known/distributed book? I'm probably still unclear on the issue.

But as I mentioned, I use a couple of those lesser known books ahead of the "big 2".
 
Well he gave me a copy of the book when I purchased the Ad and he also gave me his business card, which both are at home. I am supposed to be in the on-line yellow book search pages within 30 days and the book comes out in March. So I guess I'll just have to do some research or just wait and see if my name is in the book that gets delivered to my house as well as the one that is suposed to be delevered to the company that I work for. He knows my chripractor and said that he places an add in the book as well, so I guess I can call him and ask him if this guy is on the up and up!
 
Mr. Clean said:
So was it a scam and you got nothing for your ad money? Or was the ad in a lesser known/distributed book? I'm probably still unclear on the issue.

But as I mentioned, I use a couple of those lesser known books ahead of the "big 2".
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Pretty much a scam upstart book.
 
shuddleston said:
Well he gave me a copy of the book when I purchased the Ad and he also gave me his business card, which both are at home. I am supposed to be in the on-line yellow book search pages within 30 days and the book comes out in March. So I guess I'll just have to do some research or just wait and see if my name is in the book that gets delivered to my house as well as the one that is suposed to be delevered to the company that I work for. He knows my chripractor and said that he places an add in the book as well, so I guess I can call him and ask him if this guy is on the up and up!
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Hopefully it is a legitmate deal and you receive more than your investment in the form of new business. :bigups
 
If it is a scam then I just won't pay I only gave them like $56 up front. I am pretty confident it is ligit the only real concern I have is if they actually deliver as many copies as they said they do to every business and every household. However, I do appreciate all the input and I will look into it and post back my findings.
 
$56 wouldn't be too bad of a hit, but I don't know anyone these days who has money just to throw out. Again, hopefully it will be a worthwhile marketing investment for you.
 
Mr. Clean said:
No recourse through your payment services group?
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Payment services group?

They were charging like 3 times what the "true yellow pages" were charging me.

The atty general of md took the whole thing to court and won. They did this to tons of people.
 
Ronkh said:
Payment services group?

They were charging like 3 times what the "true yellow pages" were charging me.

The atty general of md took the whole thing to court and won. They did this to tons of people.
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Accounts payable or the credit card company.
 
I used/use

Yellow Book 163.oo/Month
Dex 160.00 MOnth
Smart Search book 150.00 Month
702 Communications 205/ Year
Golf Course Golf Card 200/ Year season
Website 100.00/ Year

For the first few years you may want to advertise till your biz builds up then start to down grade as the years go by..

I do about 16,500-21,000 in sales/Month for wholesale/Dealers and only 1000-5000.00 /month in retail...

I dont think advertising in all books is worth it my .02
I get new calls everyday from the phone book and you best have your sales skills ready on every call..
You can always talk them down in price also...
 
Just posting a follow-up on this topic.

I received the yellowbook and the Ad looks good. They even bolded my phone number an increased the font not sure why but it cannot hurt to have your number being the largest on the page.

I received my first call today for a quote - lol a full interior detail. However, I was able to seal the deal with a price range not a quote and will be detailing the interior on Saturday.

The yellowbook hit doors on March 1st, so hopefully I'll catch some more business from the yellowbook Ad.
 
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