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sweetwaterfish · Guest

Wish I would have listened.....

AC Lockyer · none

swee****erfish wrote:

A few months back I asked the RCIA about Yellow page ads. The overwhelming response was to save my $$$$, but being a new co. and keeping my demographics in mind, I decide I needed to advertise there.

Book came out yesterday....in my city of 175,000 there are 47 entries for PW/cleaning companies. Wish I would have listened and saved my $$$$, kind of hard to stand out among that many ads.

Yes and now every call you get from those YP will turn into a low ball fest. Call me on the phone and I will tell you how to deal with the aftermath.

AC

Roof Cleaning Virginia 540-949-6277 · Roof Cleaning Institute of America Premium Member/MODERATOR

swee****erfish wrote:

A few months back I asked the RCIA about Yellow page ads. The overwhelming response was to save my $$$$, but being a new co. and keeping my demographics in mind, I decide I needed to advertise there.

Book came out yesterday....in my city of 175,000 there are 47 entries for PW/cleaning companies. Wish I would have listened and saved my $$$$, kind of hard to stand out among that many ads.

I think you posted that well before my membership here. I too would have said the same thing. Years ago I advertised remodeling in a small town phone-book. Plenty of competition, but I thought it would help keep the crew busy. I did get a few jobs but the word of mouth was working better. All the ad did was increase my work load, going to the home, meeting with the low baller shopping for price and spending hours doing estimates (back when we had floppy drives and no estimating programs). After that lesson, never again!

garyw · Nov 23, 2010

A GOOD yellow page rep would have told you how much competition was going to be in the book. Thats the problem!!! Finding a GOOD yellow page rep.

OSM-Jo · guest

It has been my experience that the only way to be effective in a phone book is to out-do your competition with large ads that co$t a lot pushing your ads placement to the front. If you're looking to just get exposure you'd be better off with a minimal listing and putting the money you'd save into alternate advertising and website enhancements.

Things most sales reps never tell you about:
Most phone books now offer a coupon section...
There is usually ad space available in the front of the book... (table of contents area)
Cross marketing your services in other areas of the book...
Discounts for multiple listings...

But really, the phone book is OUT and the Internet is IN. Today's problems lie in keyword searches and SEO. This was one of the great things about this forum, the link backs...

Just my 2 cents.

gutterdog · Nov 23, 2010

I did the yellow book for 3 years. Nothing!!!

Guest

Aren't they totally getting rid of the paperbook anyways?

Ugly Shingles LLC · Nov 23, 2010

AC Lockyer wrote:

swee****erfish wrote:

A few months back I asked the RCIA about Yellow page ads. The overwhelming response was to save my $$$$, but being a new co. and keeping my demographics in mind, I decide I needed to advertise there.
Yes and now every call you get from those YP will turn into a low ball fest. Call me on the phone and I will tell you how to deal with the aftermath.

AC

Yep... and they all start out the same... Do you give free quotes?

Guest

I saw the original thread a day after I was sold YP. I'm not kidding. A day after I made the mistake, everyone says "DON"T DO IT"!!! I am in YP in three towns for several months and ZERO calls. Plus the ad looks like crap. I was kinda trapped into it. The rep shows up at my house when my wife was home and it just so happens my wife works with rep's sister. I try to get out of the whole thing citing YP's current irrevelance and wife gives me "the look". Caved in.

The only good news; I'm the only roof cleaner in those Yellow Pages in three towns!
No other roof cleaners in the area, or none silly enough to buy YP ads?

WEBSITE WILL HAPPEN SOON!

TBD · Guest

Wow good thing i look at this post, I was going to do a yp ad this spring....
Any suggestion on getting some attention on this matter?

I read some of you created flyers and threw them in peoples lawns lol.
Not really my style to do that, Yes word of mouth is the best, But besides that! How is one to broaden the field and get recognized without ads esc....

Suggestions?

Nov 23, 2010

Ray thats a real shame,but real nice of AC to help you out.

OSM-Jo · guest

T.B.D.
There are a lot of ideas in the marketing section of the forum... You might find some that fit your style there. Networking with other people like lawn care companies and Realtors is a good way to get others involved in helping you find people that are really interested in having their roof cleaned. Necessityis the mother of invention, be creative and don't be afraid to try something new. You never know, you might be the one telling us about a cool new way of marketing. Best of luck in all your business endeavors.

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

Read the contract with the YP , we had signed with them one year, way back, and they reran our ad automatically the following year with a significant increase. They had told us that if we wanted to discontinue we were to have submitted a removal from YP in writing. 3 months prior to the new publish date. The strange thing is they faxed us the contract and ironically we never got the one page detailing that information. Back then if you did not pay it off went your business line. Hopefully things have changed but make sure you read and confirm all pages of the contract.
TC
KIM R

Guest

I think all of us has tried something like the yellowpages or superpages. It just doesn't work well. I did a few over the years and not much in return, as others said next year they will increase it on you. I do not know if you have a Angies list in your area, check them out. I have used them for 2 years now, they have a book that go's out every other month. I have a full page ad and it runs my 84.00 dollars a month and I usually get 5 plus roof jobs a month and multiple pressure washing jobs. They also have a grading system on there that people can see, check it out and good luck.

TBD · Guest

Sweet information guys...I'm always looking into new ways and ideas.

Thanks
Have a wonderful TURKEY Day!

Guest

OSM-Jo wrote:

It has been my experience that the only way to be effective in a phone book is to out-do your competition with large ads that co$t a lot pushing your ads placement to the front.

Not necessarily, but somewhat valid. We get about 30-40 jobs per year from YP. Anyone who wants to know about YP ads, PM me. Sorry, I just refuse to post this little secret about directory advertising.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"