Who reads the phone book anymore??? Anyone?!?!

[DarrenX]

So my fiancee and I opened a salon/day spa together in early September. So far, business has been very good until the past week or so, where it has been pretty light. We just paid the 5 grand monthly rent on the place for the first time yesterday, taking our business account down to almost nothing (first 3 months free rent). I suspect we'll be fine and able to keep up with the bills, but my fiancee is interested in generating more advertising.

We're currently listed in a monthly coupon magazine in our area (as we will be through March), and are adding an additional sign out front of our strip mall to generate more awareness.

Yesterday a guy from Donnelly directory came in and tried to sell us ad space in the phone book. A few questions:



Thanks in advance.

[Yeti]

If you had put a 'No idea' option on the 3rd question, this would have been a perfectly a constructed poll. As it is, it still deserves a 'well done'.

[lighterjobs]

darren,

when looking through the yellow pages for some sort of company I usually go with the one that has the 1/4 size of the page picture. it shows the business has gumption.

[vexvelour]

I'm not sure how it works, but I would suggest looking into advertising with the yellow pages ONLINE.

[JTrout]

Next week "Yellow Book" will come by wanting to sell you space, too.

Or is that just a local thing?

[DarrenX]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure how it works, but I would suggest looking into advertising with the yellow pages ONLINE.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, online I would think would be the way to go, but wanted to see the results of the poll. So far, I'm pretty surprised at the number of yeses for the phone book...

When listed in the phone book (with or without ad) you'll automatically be listed in several on-line directories- however, with the ad you'll get "preferred status", which I'm told means when people do a search you'll be listed before any others who do not have ads. Haven't discussed getting an ad in the on-line yellow pages just yet, though, but something to consider, thanks.

[vexvelour]

I see. Then I think it would be a great idea...$300 for mixed media advertising is a damn good deal. I worked for a small ad company a while back, and that is a really good deal.

Those damn billboards are like $16k/mo for one in a crappy location.

[trevorwc]

Just so you know - you get a free listing in the yellow pages. They HAVE to list you in at least one category just in their alphabetical listing - regardless of whether or not you purchased a larger ad.

[DarrenX]

Gumption, eh? Not sure if there's any sarcasm here, but it does bring up another point. As I read your response to my fiancee, she said the same thing, she goes with the big ads.

They were offering a dollar bill sized ad for $500/month, and a 1/6th page ad for $300. Again, the $500 ads receive "preferred status" when listing (top vs. bottom of page). Worth the extra $200? Again, just a small company started out watching our bottom line closely...

[Alobar]

you gotta spend money to make money!