Just about had a stroke today!

[kartracer2000]

Not for real, but, for the first time I put my business into the Yellow Book. I got a 1/4 page ad and the internet part with my business name and number in bold in the white pages. I had never advertised in the book before and the yearly cost was $2640. At first I was like are f-ing kidding? But, I guess if I get more accounts it will be worth it. I hope it will be worth it. I am going to aske people how they heard of me and keep track of it to see if it pays for itself.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Not for real, but, for the first time I put my business into the Yellow Book. I got a 1/4 page ad and the internet part with my business name and number in bold in the white pages. I had never advertised in the book before and the yearly cost was $2640. At first I was like are f-ing kidding? But, I guess if I get more accounts it will be worth it. I hope it will be worth it. I am going to aske people how they heard of me and keep track of it to see if it pays for itself.

Good luck! I crashed and burned with mine. $3k down the drain...

[tb8100]

Not for real, but, for the first time I put my business into the Yellow Book. I got a 1/4 page ad and the internet part with my business name and number in bold in the white pages. I had never advertised in the book before and the yearly cost was $2640. At first I was like are f-ing kidding? But, I guess if I get more accounts it will be worth it. I hope it will be worth it. I am going to aske people how they heard of me and keep track of it to see if it pays for itself.

Do you have a web site? If not, you might look into that as well as doing newspaper advertising if you have a good widespread local newspaper near you.

[Grits]

I agree about getting a website. I have gotten a lot of jobs through mine.

[Green Finger]

Try to have more than one method of advertising. It seems like when you are looking for work, someone is going to call you out of the blue with a big job. Never fails.

Plus when you advertise you don't come across as a fly by night. It allows you to charge top dollar because customers know that if you are advertising in the yellow book you are making money.

[gene gls]

Not for real, but, for the first time I put my business into the Yellow Book. I got a 1/4 page ad and the internet part with my business name and number in bold in the white pages. I had never advertised in the book before and the yearly cost was $2640. At first I was like are f-ing kidding? But, I guess if I get more accounts it will be worth it. I hope it will be worth it. I am going to aske people how they heard of me and keep track of it to see if it pays for itself.

Be prepaired to do a lot of traveling. Its OK for landscape construction business but not a mowing business.

[lawnman_scott]

Be prepaired to do a lot of traveling. Its OK for landscape construction business but not a mowing business.It depends on your area as well. I do maintenance and my yellow page ad has always done will for me.

[DutrowLLC]

I found internet advertising far outperformed the physical yellow pages

[Varsity L&G]

I used the Yellow book one year actually requested a refund half way through the year. Was given the refund and will never use them again. received one call from the yellow pages. BIG JOB! the only problem is they also called everyone else in the yellow pages as well.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

The only problem is they also called everyone else in the yellow pages as well.

that was why it didn't work for me. My chemical services are premium, but the folks who shop with the phone book are the die hard price-shoppers. Didn't make one red cent when you factor in all the wasted fuel and time for dead end bids...

[Brianslawn]

that all? around here where more than just cows and pigs use the yellow pages.... something like that would run around $6000.

[Brianslawn]

that was why it didn't work for me. My chemical services are premium, but the folks who shop with the phone book are the die hard price-shoppers. Didn't make one red cent when you factor in all the wasted fuel and time for dead end bids...


and how much gas are you using on the phone????


awww.... there in lies your problem.

[KGR landscapeing]

that was why it didn't work for me. My chemical services are premium, but the folks who shop with the phone book are the die hard price-shoppers. Didn't make one red cent when you factor in all the wasted fuel and time for dead end bids...


and how much gas are you using on the phone????


awww.... there in lies your problem.

you cant give a price over the phone if you have never seen the property. they can be like its only this mnay SQft but that dosent factor your PITA charge in

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

awww.... there in lies your problem.

Yeah. I'd lose MORE if I just gave bids over the phone... Lawns aren't at all alike around here...

[zemzabob]

So it sounds like the yellow pages are not what they are cracked up to be for mowers.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

So it sounds like the yellow pages are not what they are cracked up to be for mowers.

Not necessarily. My ad was on spraying - the mowing just sorta comes to me... I guess it all depends on how you're priced and how well you close sales. The yellow pages will give you lots of SALES OPPORTUNITIES - but it's up to you to land the accounts...

[Mrs. H]

Are you talking about "Yellow Book"? I have avoided that one all together and just used our local yellow pages through our phone company.

Internet dosn't really do much good here unless you get an occasional out-of-towner who needs help at a vacation house. In our area we still see a lot of people without computers or internet access.

You just need to know your area and the people before dropping that much on advertising.

[Lawnworks]

you cant give a price over the phone if you have never seen the property. they can be like its only this mnay SQft but that dosent factor your PITA charge in

You can easily screen the calls before you go look at the job. If they are not in an ideal location or are not a monthly contract just refer them to someone else.

Advertising is a great way to grow, the more money you put in... the better your returns.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

...the more money you put in... the better your returns.

Not always. $1500 on radio and not a single call. $3000 on phone book and maybe 5 calls...

Cheapo door flyers are the only advertising that's ever done squat for me...

[Lawnworks]

Not always. $1500 on radio and not a single call. $3000 on phone book and maybe 5 calls...

Cheapo door flyers are the only advertising that's ever done squat for me...

That is really not that much money. I spend 15-20k on advertising... and it reaps large dividends.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

That is really not that much money. I spend 15-20k on advertising... and it reaps large dividends.

I envy you, then. I don't have anywhere near that kind of money to throw around...

[Mrs. H]

The free one-liner in the local yellow pages = more calls for new business than we can handle. People just pick up the book and start calling. It helps that we are the second listing, I guess, alphabetically.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

The free one-liner in the local yellow pages = more calls for new business than we can handle. People just pick up the book and start calling. It helps that we are the second listing, I guess, alphabetically.

I have to pay $90 for mine!

[Mrs. H]

I have to pay $90 for mine!

Dang, I have a deal.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Dang, I have a deal.

I must be dealing with small town extortionists...

[Lance L]

12k yr for my yellowpage ads, run in at&t book. yellow book sucks in this area... but plenty of new customers for me, just to have a ad in the book doesnt mean you get calls, it has to be catchy and attractive, and offer something the others dont, mine is a good design, good colors, attractive services, simple, and also the biggest(helps the most). one book im in, the largest is too expensive, would be 1/2 page or full page, err well it was close to 700/month what ive got now is 425 in that book, but leader ad and 1/3 page, on the 3rd page of lawn services... went out in april/may have i think 8 new customers off of it, not bad seeing that this year is hot and dry and we had no spring. and its not completely about getting the customers, you need to get a name as well. people need to recognize you. they will start to come, but the quality of the season, your competition all play into it, yellow pages are great but you need to know what to do with them, direct mail, door hangers, door to door, are more effective, but they cost more too, the only downside to the yellowpages is having to advertise all year, even though you dont run all year....

but hey, you have to pay to play =)

[Brianslawn]

around here they name a neighborhood... all the yards in there are same. most neighborhoods are same too. go with an average... bit on high side. if one is worth $5 more... raise it second year and charge a bit extra on other services.

as for pitas... we dont get many... we tell them this is how its gonna be like it or not. most sign up. the rest call you guys for an "estimate"

[Brianslawn]

The free one-liner in the local yellow pages = more calls for new business than we can handle. People just pick up the book and start calling. It helps that we are the second listing, I guess, alphabetically.

thats cause people call everyone in book till someone answers the phone. if ur gonna advertise in yellow book and want a return on your investment... hire a secretary. otherwise youll have lots of missed calls and no voicemails.

[Mrs. H]

thats cause people call everyone in book till someone answers the phone. if ur gonna advertise in yellow book and want a return on your investment... hire a secretary. otherwise youll have lots of missed calls and no voicemails.

Yes, that's true as well. I think I'm the only one in town that answers these calls. Or it seems that way. If I don't answer all of David's incoming calls, he thinks I'm ignoring the customers....I'm just ignoring him really...I answer all the customer calls. (Caller I.D. is for screening your spouses calls!!:laugh: I need to tell him to stop bothering me at work!)

Anyway, yeah, David has always made it quite clear that customers like talking to a person, and that is another reason why the yellow page ad works nicely. But, it would be that way with any advertising form.

[Brianslawn]

whats the old saying??? mrs H knows best? lol

[bohiaa]

I got in touch with them, they called and I couldn't get a price range from them " with out listning to a bunch of BS for 45 minutes,,,

So I hung up on'em

a week later here they come back........ again I told them I WANT A PRICE RANGE.....

she said what do you mean.... I said does your ad cost brtween 2 cents and 1 million dollars......... she said well YESSS... I said ok now we have a range to work with,,,,,,,,

now is it cheeper than .5 million she said let me tell ya about our ads....
I SAID GIVE ME A PRICE RANGE....

she couldn't so I hung up.... about 2 weeks later a manager calls....
I say no one there can give me a price range..... GIVE ME ONE...
she says let me tell ya about our service....

I SAID..by.....

a month later a superviser calls..... he said I'm haveing problems with his people.....

I told him NOONE THERE CAN GIVE ME A PRICE RANGE.... he said let me tell ya about our service....
I SAID CLICK.......

I havent herd anything for a while now... but I wonder who's gonna call me next.....

I hope I never here from them

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

...I told them I WANT A PRICE RANGE...

I'm the same way. Don't give me your stinkin' sales pitch - I can think for myself. Give me the bottom line and then I'll decide if it's worth it.

The other thing I love is people who tell you what it'll cost per month!! I hate that! I didn't ask for that! I ask, "what's the cost!!"

[Mrs. H]

whats the old saying??? mrs H knows best? lol

Some days I just need to feel like I know best.

Others, I just don't care.

[Lance L]

well the cost per month is the price...? x 12 is the price if you want to pay all upfront and seeing that they dont charge interest i dont know why u would pay it all up front. in my area they dont give discounts for payin up fron either

[Brianslawn]

i swear.... phone book companies are popping up faster than the lawnboys. even some mexican only book where its all in spanish, and covers whole state. whos gonna advertise in a book thats 10 pages and covers whole state? they all are rip offs.

[JohnnyRoyale]

If you havent tried yellow page advertising, I suggest you invest in it. In some cases they will even discount your first ad to prove to you it works. We have landed mucho work through the ad, but will agree on a few points already made. We advertise inground pools and landscape design/build in the Yello Pages, and the items are big ticket enough to justify the ad costs. It may be expensive for you if yoru only after the residential maintenance or grass cutting client (smaller ticket items).

A-You have to answer the phone, or be able to get patched into the conversation should you have a receptionist or an answering service. When a potential client calls us, we drop whatever we're doing and speak to them...first impressions really count. These people are so hot and ready to buy and frustrated cuz no-one is answering and you'd be suprised how many say "thanks for answering!" I know when I'm looking for something NOW, I want to address it NOW, not whenever some sales rep decides to call me back, and like everyone else, hang up and move on. Voice mail isnt good enough anymore.

B-You have to screen the client. In most cases you will be wasting your time depending on what it is you are looking to gain from your ad. We dont do any residential cutting or yard work, and get all kinds of call for that all the time. I pass them off to some of the smaller guys that do. Tire kickers will be calling. Its important to screen these guys out of the equation immediately. You'll know who they are if you ask the right questions. Don't be afraid to ask them either.

C-Link to your website. I have had to repeat so much so often, that now my website does it all for me. Almost everyone is online, and people do their homework and research there prior to calling. having a website has landed plenty of work for us.

D-Buy the biggest ad you can afford. If your after $30 mowing accounts, its not feasable to buy a full page. If your landscapes are huge and can justify a half page, or full page, then do it. People are funny, and respond to big beautiful pictures.

E-Dont tell them what you do. Rather tell them how they will benefit from your service. They already know we do pools, cuz they're looking under the Pool Category. By lookiing at our ad, they will know that our pools are manufactured so that maintenance is minimized, and by purchasing our product, they will have more time to spend in it than around it.

We have been leaning our inserts into the Yellow Pages over the years because of referrals, and the website, but it was and still is an important marketing tool in our arsenal.

Theres so much more, but gotta go now.

[willy1361]

I had my best luck with radio

[andyslawncare]

yellowpages hasn't gotten me anything but my money.