Is it worth the money?
- Thread starter BruceH
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Re: Is it worth the money?
Yellow Pages are the best advertises along with tv ads.
We get great results with our full page ads in large cities and half page ads in smaller towns.
These can be expensive when first placed but they pay for themselves within a year from increased calls.
Yellow Pages are the best advertises along with tv ads.
We get great results with our full page ads in large cities and half page ads in smaller towns.
These can be expensive when first placed but they pay for themselves within a year from increased calls.
aelectricalman
Senior Member
- Location
- KY
Re: Is it worth the money?
I strongly disagree with Willy. I think the yellow pages is a complete waste of money. I've tried it twice. Each time I did it with the help of a marketing team who laid it out for me. I had half page ad in a 1,000,000 person market. My add was second in the list of adds and my name is alpha electrical which was the first number in the list of numbers. I only receivecd 20 calls all year. The bad thing is that all of the calls were the type of work I did not want. Ceiling fans installed, old crap that no one else wanted, and a little old lady who cant figure out why her breaker won't reset. Even though I've told her three times to cut the breaker all the way off before turning it back on. Then I get to her house only to find out that she did not turn her breaker all the way off before turning it back on. When I tryed it, it worked, but when she did it, it didn't. It makes you want to cry thay you invested 7000 per year to receive $2500 in work .
If you are competent in your work and you do a good job, you will get work. Word of mouth goes further than any form of advertisement. It is free and generates 100% of my business. I now have 6 GC's and have alot of business from people who see my "catchy yardsigns" and catchy logo. Don't waste your money.
I strongly disagree with Willy. I think the yellow pages is a complete waste of money. I've tried it twice. Each time I did it with the help of a marketing team who laid it out for me. I had half page ad in a 1,000,000 person market. My add was second in the list of adds and my name is alpha electrical which was the first number in the list of numbers. I only receivecd 20 calls all year. The bad thing is that all of the calls were the type of work I did not want. Ceiling fans installed, old crap that no one else wanted, and a little old lady who cant figure out why her breaker won't reset. Even though I've told her three times to cut the breaker all the way off before turning it back on. Then I get to her house only to find out that she did not turn her breaker all the way off before turning it back on. When I tryed it, it worked, but when she did it, it didn't. It makes you want to cry thay you invested 7000 per year to receive $2500 in work .
If you are competent in your work and you do a good job, you will get work. Word of mouth goes further than any form of advertisement. It is free and generates 100% of my business. I now have 6 GC's and have alot of business from people who see my "catchy yardsigns" and catchy logo. Don't waste your money.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Is it worth the money?
There is a dishonest way i was told about to get a full page free.You install 2 phone numbers but buy add for only one.As soon as you know they are already printed and being distributed you cancel the number in add,your other number will still work and they will see it.No i never did this but a guy i know did it for his TV repair buisness and had great sucess
There is a dishonest way i was told about to get a full page free.You install 2 phone numbers but buy add for only one.As soon as you know they are already printed and being distributed you cancel the number in add,your other number will still work and they will see it.No i never did this but a guy i know did it for his TV repair buisness and had great sucess
aelectricalman
Senior Member
- Location
- KY
Re: Is it worth the money?
Not that I am considering this but how does canceling your phone number get you the phone add for free. You still have to pay the phone co. regardless .
Not that I am considering this but how does canceling your phone number get you the phone add for free. You still have to pay the phone co. regardless .
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Is it worth the money?
They can not charge for the ad if you cancell the number.When they call they hear that number is no longer in service.They then ask for directory assistance and guess what,they get the other number.Sneaky yes
They can not charge for the ad if you cancell the number.When they call they hear that number is no longer in service.They then ask for directory assistance and guess what,they get the other number.Sneaky yes
aelectricalman
Senior Member
- Location
- KY
Re: Is it worth the money?
If I call a company and the number says disconnected, i would call another company. I think most would.
If I call a company and the number says disconnected, i would call another company. I think most would.
coppertreeelectric
Senior Member
Re: Is it worth the money?
The Verizon yellow pages makes you sign a contract stating that you will hav pay for the add even if you cancel the phone number.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Is it worth the money?
well this was about 20 years ago so maybe they got wise.Good reason that they would want a contract.Bet it happened to often to them
well this was about 20 years ago so maybe they got wise.Good reason that they would want a contract.Bet it happened to often to them
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Is it worth the money?
There are better ways to advertise and cheaper too.Put your sticker on the panel of every house you wire or work in.Met a EC one day at parts counter,we talked a bit and he told me and my helper if we ever need a job call him.He also handed us each a small pocket calculator with his logo.Smart move,very few people will just toss it away.That was about 3 years ago,and guess what ?,i still have it.
Offer a free or cheap check up on the electrical service.Shame on you if you cant find anything thats not needing repairs and if nothing else put that sticker on panel.Only offer this when your not busy anyways.
There are better ways to advertise and cheaper too.Put your sticker on the panel of every house you wire or work in.Met a EC one day at parts counter,we talked a bit and he told me and my helper if we ever need a job call him.He also handed us each a small pocket calculator with his logo.Smart move,very few people will just toss it away.That was about 3 years ago,and guess what ?,i still have it.
Offer a free or cheap check up on the electrical service.Shame on you if you cant find anything thats not needing repairs and if nothing else put that sticker on panel.Only offer this when your not busy anyways.
Re: Is it worth the money?
The one inch ad will cost about $100 a month and will serve all neighboring towns, 120,000 phone books. I called around and the local papers and weekly retailer actually charge quite a bit for advertising. Of course, the yellow pages rep. says "Unless they have a cousin or somebody they know in your business, most people are picking up the phone book when they need something". I know he's a salesman, first and foremost, but I know I pick up the phone book for the same purpose. Still not committed to one way or another, just looking for input. Anyone else have any experiences with yellow page advertising?
The one inch ad will cost about $100 a month and will serve all neighboring towns, 120,000 phone books. I called around and the local papers and weekly retailer actually charge quite a bit for advertising. Of course, the yellow pages rep. says "Unless they have a cousin or somebody they know in your business, most people are picking up the phone book when they need something". I know he's a salesman, first and foremost, but I know I pick up the phone book for the same purpose. Still not committed to one way or another, just looking for input. Anyone else have any experiences with yellow page advertising?
Re: Is it worth the money?
We have invested $48,000 in Verizon yellow page ads this year alone, they certainly work for us.
There is a big difference between advertising and sales. An ad give you name recognition sales is what gets you the job.
So you can have the best looking ad but if it doesn't say anything then it does nothing.
Have the ad express what you do. Offer 24 hour emergency service, state what makes you different from any other EC.
Millions of people move from city to city or from state to state every day they don't take their EC's with them they look in the yellow pages for a new one.
Don't let any ad execs. tell you what to put in your ad, They don't know your business you do. They can give you ideas but the final layout has to be yours.
We have invested $48,000 in Verizon yellow page ads this year alone, they certainly work for us.
There is a big difference between advertising and sales. An ad give you name recognition sales is what gets you the job.
So you can have the best looking ad but if it doesn't say anything then it does nothing.
Have the ad express what you do. Offer 24 hour emergency service, state what makes you different from any other EC.
Millions of people move from city to city or from state to state every day they don't take their EC's with them they look in the yellow pages for a new one.
Don't let any ad execs. tell you what to put in your ad, They don't know your business you do. They can give you ideas but the final layout has to be yours.
speedypetey
Senior Member
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
Re: Is it worth the money?
Man, $48k?!? In yellow pages alone?! I guess you do some volume, eh?
I myself as a one man shop will NOT even put my name in the yellow pages. I think they are useless for a small time guy. I continually hear what a waste it is to run an ad in them. A plumber friend has a box ad and he says it is a waste of $1200 a year. If I need the work that bad I will find another way to spend $100+ a month.
All they are around here is a list of guys to call and leave a message and see who calls back. 90% tire kickers asking "How much?". Word of mouth, business cards, panel stickers, shirts, etc. are more than I need to stay real busy.
Wow, that's just around what I did last year with the yellow pages.....yeah right!!
Man, $48k?!? In yellow pages alone?! I guess you do some volume, eh?
I myself as a one man shop will NOT even put my name in the yellow pages. I think they are useless for a small time guy. I continually hear what a waste it is to run an ad in them. A plumber friend has a box ad and he says it is a waste of $1200 a year. If I need the work that bad I will find another way to spend $100+ a month.
All they are around here is a list of guys to call and leave a message and see who calls back. 90% tire kickers asking "How much?". Word of mouth, business cards, panel stickers, shirts, etc. are more than I need to stay real busy.
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Re: Is it worth the money?
There is a general perception that the larger a Yellow Pages ad is the more expensive and deceptive the company is and the more apt they are to operate on volume and low quality.
Even if this isn't the way you operate, you are known by the company you keep. In my area I can go through the book and see half and full page ads for shyster 24 hour plumbers and locksmiths who I know the unsuspecting wind up paying three or four times the quoted price to. Then there are the "slip and fall guys" (PI attorneys), cut rate dentists, and on and on.
-Hal
There is a general perception that the larger a Yellow Pages ad is the more expensive and deceptive the company is and the more apt they are to operate on volume and low quality.
Even if this isn't the way you operate, you are known by the company you keep. In my area I can go through the book and see half and full page ads for shyster 24 hour plumbers and locksmiths who I know the unsuspecting wind up paying three or four times the quoted price to. Then there are the "slip and fall guys" (PI attorneys), cut rate dentists, and on and on.
-Hal
bradleyelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- forest hill, md
Re: Is it worth the money?
I have gotten customers that have paid for the book they found me in for the year due to the repeat nature of our business and they will continue to use us, but we get a lot of calls looking for the cheapest guy. We do not intend to be the cheapest guy or first out of business. Our best marketing was me stopping at businesses and introducing myself and giving a couple business cards. We get a lot of word of mouth and stay busy and am growing our business through that and bidding with generals on small commercial jobs. I do continue to look for new marketing.
[ April 07, 2005, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: bradleyelectric ]
I have gotten customers that have paid for the book they found me in for the year due to the repeat nature of our business and they will continue to use us, but we get a lot of calls looking for the cheapest guy. We do not intend to be the cheapest guy or first out of business. Our best marketing was me stopping at businesses and introducing myself and giving a couple business cards. We get a lot of word of mouth and stay busy and am growing our business through that and bidding with generals on small commercial jobs. I do continue to look for new marketing.
[ April 07, 2005, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: bradleyelectric ]
coppertreeelectric
Senior Member
Re: Is it worth the money?
WHAT???
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Re: Is it worth the money?
Willyj, I'm not going to disagree with anything you say, apparently this works for you with your business model but I think you are the exception.
I don't see how most EC's would be able to justify the cost of a full page ad nor do I think it would do them any good anyway. Advertising like this might be appropriate if you are after the smaller service type jobs from homeowners and such and are geared to handle it in volume so you can make a decent profit.
Most of us of course do this kind of work but we rely on larger jobs from people and companies who would not be looking in the Yellow Pages for our services.
To suggest that the bigger the ad the more money it will generate is plain wrong and sounds like something you will hear from the advertising salesman.
-Hal
[ April 07, 2005, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: hbiss ]
Willyj, I'm not going to disagree with anything you say, apparently this works for you with your business model but I think you are the exception.
I don't see how most EC's would be able to justify the cost of a full page ad nor do I think it would do them any good anyway. Advertising like this might be appropriate if you are after the smaller service type jobs from homeowners and such and are geared to handle it in volume so you can make a decent profit.
Most of us of course do this kind of work but we rely on larger jobs from people and companies who would not be looking in the Yellow Pages for our services.
To suggest that the bigger the ad the more money it will generate is plain wrong and sounds like something you will hear from the advertising salesman.
-Hal
[ April 07, 2005, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: hbiss ]
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