My wife used them a couple of years ago because they were much cheaper than YP and Thomson
Advert worked no worse than the others (but then again, the others didn't work well either)
Come renewal.... guess what ? Price has doubled.
Rep says "oh well, you were on a promotional price for the first year"
Wife says "goodbye" (actually I cannot print what she said)
In my opinion directory advertising is a waste of time because
1) there are hundreds of people advertising the same thing, so your advert is lost amongst them
2) people who use directories are the ones who make 20 phone calls asking for the cheapest price
I used to use Thomson Local and YP, and one year I got 0800 numbers for both (different number for each)
The TL phone data showed over 100 calls a month. TL used my call data (without my permission, and that cost them dearly, but that's another matter) to persuade other people to advertise with them.
What TL didn't say was my own data.
100 calls =
90 calls from reps trying to sell me something
9 calls for the cheapest price
1 call that led to a job
If you want the result of 20+ years in business......
Directories= waste of time
Leaflets= good for if you have a small catchment area, but make sure they go through letterboxes, not into dustbins
Local Radio= absolutely brilliant response, and every time you hear your advert you get a big smile!
My wife has used local radio for the past 3 years for her day nursery, her advert starts "good morning charlotte, you look pretty today"
The local dj's are now mimicing her with "good morning listeners"
Just as public figures used to say "you're not famous till Mike Yarwood has done an impression of you", when people take the mickey out of your adverts you know your adverts are working. After all, who over 40 can forget "NAAH.... LUTON AIRPORT"
Quick Quiz..........
1) who said "naah, luton airport"
2) who said "you have truly wafted in from............"
3) and where from
4) finally, what was the product?
(and I bet you that 4 is the hard one!)
email your answers to
woodlandscp@aol.com and there will be a prize!