yellow pages v Yell.com v Google v anything else!

[matz]

What trades on here use what and how successful is it for you?

People are saying yellow pages has had its day and people now use the internet via Google or Yell.com to find a tradesman but I'm not convinced.

Others say for tradesmen, Yellow pages is the only way to go.

I offer a specialist trade service to the general public and my website is top of page 1 Google for all local searches for my trade. My stats tell me hardly anyone is using Google etc to search for my trade in my area.

So now I'm thinking its Yellow pages that works and am wondering about Yell.com but can't help thinking if they aint using Google why would they use Yell.com.

any thoughts?

 

[breezer]

it will only be number one in google if you type in what your page is.

for example.(regarding google)


i type in forums diy not is, well i couldnt be bothered.

if i type in diy forums, guess what is number 1

 

[matz]

er not with you there, My sites No 1 on Google if someone types in the trade they are looking for in my area, eg someone living in Brighton needing a ballcock fixed might type in to Google 'plumber Brighton' .That would bring up my website as No 1 (thats an example, I aint a plumber nor am I in Brighton )

 

[breezer]

yes but your example is specific

plumber brighton

put your website in your profile. you are allowed to do this

 

[matz]

what my website is is irelevant. If I was a plumber in Brighton and I'd had my website built properly, my website would almost certainly be in the top three if not No 1 in Google results if a householder in brighton keyed in 'plumber Brighton' I'm using this as an example. My own trade is more specialised than plumbing, therefore its easy for me to get my site top of Google for a local search for the type of service I offer. Seems black and white to me, I dont understand where this exchange is going or am I missing something?

Anyway, any tradesperson here got views on the original question? what have you found is best for you?

 

[breezer]

i was going to see what yo do, and type in a word connected with it.

plumber following your example, i may type in boiler fitter, (i know its wrong, but its only an example)

still if you do not give specific information how do you expect specific help

 

[matz]

having a site ranked highly for 'boiler fitter' is a complete waste of time. A tradesperson usually wants work in their locality, usually around their nearest city, town or county. Therefore, their website would be optimised for amongst aother terms - boiler fitter (insert relevant town/city/county here)

 

[Thermo]

we advertise with both yell.com and yellow pages. still cant make up my mind if its worth it though. i think a lot of people at work in an office etc will use the internet to look stuff up and will still use yell.com over google etc as it is locality specific. i think many people at home and older people still prefer to look through the yellow pages. there is also the big advert must mean expensive rates syndrome, where people may avoid ringing you. We dont get a massive amount of jobs from them but it certainly pays for itself and some.

By far the biggest return we get is on the friday-ad. we use a photo ad with the company logo and links to the website, both on the web and in the printed edition. you can see exactly how many people look at the advert on line, and you can chop and change the length of advertising and the wording time and time again.

Avoid 118 trades and similar and anybody who has work already for you in your area.

 

[WoodYouLike]

As with Matz example, our websites rank very high on google and other search engines results (not the pay-per-click ones, not worth it!) on various keyphrases (not just wooden flooring Kent, I've got Statcounter on all websites and see over 100 different search phrases daily and with 70% of them we end up on page 1 - effective webmarketing )

Yellow pages: we have a small grey-white-black ad (stands out between all the colour ones ), for the next renewal date we're already thinking of telling Yellow pages what we are willing to pay for it - not the other way around. Very expensive and not really bringing in the right customers.
Yell. com - not sure about that one, not very many hits coming though that site - we have enhanced listing with weblink. So, will be scrapped at next renewal.

Websites work best for us (besides WoM of course - roughly 50/50 at the moment) but you have to keep working on your website if you want your website to work for you.

 

[Softus]

What trades on here use what and how successful is it for you?

I use my existing customers, and I don't advertise anywhere. I have more work than I can do.

 

[solo]

I use the local press. I'm usually the third listing of anywhere between five and ten other companies. It's expensive but I've tried Yellow Pages and the calls just didn't come in. The last six weeks or so most of my work has come from returning customers or their recommendations. Seems I'm finally getting there after two years.

 

[Thermo]

only thing with returning customers is it does take time to build up that customer base. Were gettin a lot now, both repeat custom and recomendations, but its taken three years to get to the point where its a viable source of work jcompared to advertising. Someones got to know you are out there to start with.

wood you like, have youy managed to haggle with yellow pages...or has anyone for that matter?

 

[corgiman]

Yellow Pages has definatly had its day

Our new one has hit the streets recently and we have had nothing from it, dont think that the guvnor will bother next year

 

[noseall]

i think, for the trades, word of mouth sends the most effective message.

 

[Thermo]

i agree with you noseall, but you still have to look at pushing forward and getting in new business from different sources