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sgreanbeans

Treeaculterologist
Joined
May 4, 2001
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Location
iowa
So I have just let my last phone book rep know that I am dropping out. I have taking a pretty close look this year at where all my calls come form. For the $9000 that I spent,on 3 different books, I signed $4000 in work, $700 of it was from one of the salesmen. Most of my work came form the internet or ValPak, then of course word of mouth and neighbors looking out the window. What about yall?
I have talked to a couple of media specialist, their thought was that people don't really use the phone book, they google it, whether it be their pc or smart phone. I have it set to where if you see my website, and you click on my number, it will automatically dial and save the contact in your phone. Its a new deal that my web people set up. I think in today's age, the phone book will be a thing of the past very soon. But I must admit, I am kinda nervous about it, always like seeing the adds and comparing them to mine!
 
So I have just let my last phone book rep know that I am dropping out. I have taking a pretty close look this year at where all my calls come form. For the $9000 that I spent,on 3 different books, I signed $4000 in work, $700 of it was from one of the salesmen. Most of my work came form the internet or ValPak, then of course word of mouth and neighbors looking out the window. What about yall?
I have talked to a couple of media specialist, their thought was that people don't really use the phone book, they google it, whether it be their pc or smart phone. I have it set to where if you see my website, and you click on my number, it will automatically dial and save the contact in your phone. Its a new deal that my web people set up. I think in today's age, the phone book will be a thing of the past very soon. But I must admit, I am kinda nervous about it, always like seeing the adds and comparing them to mine!
Cant use the internet in a tornado or hurricane very well now can you?I like to use both!I think you should keep something in the book but not spend a fortune.Old timers use books not internet as much.I think you are right the internet is good but it is not the full share of the market yet but close.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, people that pay on home services afford internet services as well as automobiles, shoes...... Really you're doing them a favor by saving your money for ads where they look.
 
So I have just let my last phone book rep know that I am dropping out. I have taking a pretty close look this year at where all my calls come form. For the $9000 that I spent,on 3 different books, I signed $4000 in work, $700 of it was from one of the salesmen. Most of my work came form the internet or ValPak, then of course word of mouth and neighbors looking out the window. What about yall?
I have talked to a couple of media specialist, their thought was that people don't really use the phone book, they google it, whether it be their pc or smart phone. I have it set to where if you see my website, and you click on my number, it will automatically dial and save the contact in your phone. Its a new deal that my web people set up. I think in today's age, the phone book will be a thing of the past very soon. But I must admit, I am kinda nervous about it, always like seeing the adds and comparing them to mine!

Funny, I went the other way this year. Prior to this spring I was only running small ads in our three phone books. Somewhere in the vicinity of $8K a year combined. I just upped 2 of the phone book ads to $5K and $9K. The $9K ad hit earlier this year and were it not for that I would have lost a TON of work during all these storms. The $5K will be out in a few months. The older generation still uses phone books for most everything. Sucks, but that's the way it is here at least.
 
So I have just let my last phone book rep know that I am dropping out. I have taking a pretty close look this year at where all my calls come form. For the $9000 that I spent,on 3 different books, I signed $4000 in work, $700 of it was from one of the salesmen. Most of my work came form the internet or ValPak, then of course word of mouth and neighbors looking out the window. What about yall?
I have talked to a couple of media specialist, their thought was that people don't really use the phone book, they google it, whether it be their pc or smart phone. I have it set to where if you see my website, and you click on my number, it will automatically dial and save the contact in your phone. Its a new deal that my web people set up. I think in today's age, the phone book will be a thing of the past very soon. But I must admit, I am kinda nervous about it, always like seeing the adds and comparing them to mine!

Yeah I get most of my traffic through online advertising as well, word of mouth 2nd, yellow pages third. There has been an influx of guys with pickups and wild things around here lately, but they can't afford paper to put ads on! That being said with our equipment they can't compete on the bigs jobs around here anyways!
 
I think it's good to have a small ad in the phone book so old customers and referrals can find you if they need to. I'd say more of my work comes from target advertising and the referrals. If you have a website the yellow pages will link the site which can bring jobs. The thing about the phonebook is it's so darn expensive, you'd be better off advertising elsewhere on a big ad that targets your customers with little competition from the other tree services.
 

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