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Yellow Page Advertisers: Your Calls are Going to Decrease - Here's the Remedy

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Advertising only in the Yellow Pages is no longer a safe bet

- Over half of all customers go to the Internet first to find product information and sources - even if they intend to spend their money locally

- People increasingly trust the Internet as a source of information about major purchases (and has overtaken the newspaper for used car sales)

- Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) are kept up to date

Response rates to Yellow Page advertisement are declining

There's no getting close it, traditional Yellow Pages are in trouble. Fewer people use them every year. Even the best- pulling ad in the section isn't getting the number of callers or sales it used to. At the same time, the monthly cost to maintain your same-size directory ad keeps going up.

Simply tinkering with ad size (or options like color) can't compensate for the opponent developments. Declining usage impacts each directory grade differently. Some (like contractors and lawyers) are declining more steeply than others. Emergency service providers (tow trucks, plumbers) are holding their own. While categories like cell phones and lawn furniture are growing rapidly, with increased consumer demand.

Advertising only in the Yellow Pages is no longer a safe bet

- Over half of all customers go to the Internet first to find product information and sources - even if they intend to spend their money locally

- People increasingly trust the Internet as a source of information in re major purchases (and has overtaken the newspaper for used car sales)

- Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) are kept up to date (unlike print directories) and can be searched from anywhere - their usage is growing 25% a year

- Local Search lets search engines (like Google) include small, local businesses in their search results (even without them having a website) - over 25% of all search queries request Local Search results

- A large percentage of young adults or office buyers never consult the Yellow Page directory at all - and they control an expanding sum of dollars spent

Rethink the role Yellow Page plays for your enterprise

Take a serious look at how much you rely on the Yellow Page directory to revive new business. Are most or all of your promotional dollars spent there? Do your expectations match the number and kinds of customers your ad without doubt brings you?

Your strategy needs to consider all the ways you attract new customers. Recognize degenerate customer preferences and hire purchase habits for your specific type of operation. The issue isn't whether or not to mention to in the Yellow Pages. If you've been there you should continue. But switch some of those dollars into marketing methods that connect with buyers who won't look for you there.

Follow these steps, with them all sending a clear, consistent message

1. Get listed in Internet Yellow Pages (IYP); there are many of them; some are free

2. Make sure your website provides the information search engines require for Local Search. Learn how to do that at http:www.yellowpagesage.com/localsearch.html

3. Beef up your website with the information customers look for (or join a portal of local businesses)

4. Submit articles most your enterprise online; find extensive subsidy at http://www.promotewitharticles.com

Keep track of what's delivering new business. remand to asking every new customer and uninvited guest how they found you. That's the only way to know which method is winning; or where to shift emphasis and money for the next year.

Pursue ways to increase business establishment from your existing customers

The value of Yellow Page promotion is mainly to attract new customers. People who know you then as previously are more likely to find your number in the homage white (alphabetical) listings. Start working harder to strengthen those relationships so they stay loyal. Efforts spent to serve them superiority (or to get referrals from them) does more for profits than constantly wood carving new customers can.

Get started well before now the directory deadline

Some day soon it's time to renew your directory listing for another year. Let this be the year that you've figured out your strategy well in advance. Make your new strategy a front-burner, squeeky-wheel priority. Yellow Page Smarts, http://www.yellowpagesage.com/smarts.html explains how to make your Yellow Page ad and Internet marketing support each together effectively.

If your next directory deadline hasn't come yet, there's still time to split hairs your ad for next year (like add your website allegation hello - a study found 60% of directory users only call Yellow Page ads with a website!). If you're already committed, spend the next year getting the rest of your strategy in place. Your timely efforts can compensate for the decline in Yellow Page advertising's effectiveness. And you won't be moored off guard.

© 2004, Lynella Grant

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