[Teddycare]

As the conversation has drifted from Thompsons to Yellow Pages, here is a picture I took a couple of years ago at some flats in Walton , needed something to hold the door open and there they were, the caption I put on later thought it very apt. 

[Simon Gerrard]

If you're just starting out then TL and YP, regardless of the fact that they are nowhere near as good as they were in the past, is probably essential to get your name out there. If other carpet cleaners (your competitors) are advertising there then so should you.

Simon

[Hilton]

If you're just starting out then TL and YP, regardless of the fact that they are nowhere near as good as they were in the past, is probably essential to get your name out there. If other carpet cleaners (your competitors) are advertising there then so should you.

Simon

No I wouldn't agree with that at all,, if other CC are advertising there its probably because they have been mugged off by the sales rep or quite simply don't know any better,.

If you're just starting out pile your scant resources into your Web and networking sites, YP and Thomos is burnt money.

[Simon Gerrard]

Clearly there are certain customers who still use directories and not the internet otherwise the directories would have died a long time ago and I doubt it is now only populated by idiots who known no better. We maintain a presence with small ads in both directories purely for past customers to find us if they used a directory to find us in the past and sales figures show that it more than pays for itself.
It is however true to say that directories are nowhere near as effective as they once were and the internet is now king but for start-ups you need to spread yourself as wide as possible because you, unlike the established firms, are totally reliant on new business and the more rods you have in the water the more fish you will catch.

Simon

[*Hector*]

the more rods you have in the water the more fish you will catch.

Simon

Perhaps if you tried carpet cleaning instead of fishing Simon................... 

[*Hector*]

If ... as a new starter you put an ad in YP or Thompsons, you stand more chance of getting a customer than if you don't. Once you have that one customer who wouldn't have found you any other way, you have a referral source, and as such, it is a building block for your business.

Any method that brings in a customer, is a good business tool... If the cost of bringing in the customer is more than the worth of that one customer, then you do the best job you can and work that customer for referrals and get the value higher.

The advert will have done the job, IE get the customer, it is up to you to get the value out of said customer..

[TheWindowManChris]

Yell - there debitors took over there  asset last year and ThomsonLocal went into administration in August to be bought by 118 directory enquires.   There no money in printed directories however a lot these firms will sell your data to companies for marketing and TL data is one of the BEST business data out

[Steve Chapman]

Was going to pull out of thompson local last year after being with them for years as I didnt seem to get many calls, but then so many carpet cleaners pulled out there was only three left so get quite a bit of business from it now 

May be worth holding on and being one of the few in there still .

Although ultimately they're a dying breed.


Steve

[rich123]

Thats right Steve. The more businesses bail, fewer there are, so they find us easier.
That was my thinking, and thats why its worth it for £170, another cheap way to get ur name out there.
Im in the BT book as well, only £80 colour ad!!
Cheapy cheap!!

[david@zap-clean]

Right guys - I've been checking out Thompson Local (on-line) and this is what you're paying for:



...and no, it's not a problem at my end!

[david@zap-clean]

One hour later, and it's still down. 

[Kriss]

TL. I pay 50£ a month for first position on TL online, and coloured pic in a book since february. Not even one customer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Can't wait to come out of it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kriss]

Yell.com  I'm with them for one year, and can't complain. They're not brilliant but getting me some customers. But this is only me. Regards my friends.

[TheWindowManChris]

Yell.com  I'm with them for one year, and can't complain. They're not brilliant but getting me some customers. But this is only me. Regards my friends.

Do you use a different phone number for Yell?

I started using a company called SaltireTelecom who gives me a Free 0333 number or Local number and I found it great to find out where I get leads from.   I just have to pay the call per min.   Does mean I now increased my Newspaper advert as I get more calls via that.

[Kriss]

I have seen that option with a number, but never used it. Is this option giving you lot more work???

[TheWindowManChris]

I have seen that option with a number, but never used it. Is this option giving you lot more work???

It just means I know how many calls I get from Thomson Leads as I only use it on ThomsonLocal.    I have started to go over onto a landline number and getting more work and better work too.

[Kriss]

Aaalright, thank you Chris. I might try do that aswell. Have a good day

[TheWindowManChris]

Aaalright, thank you Chris. I might try do that aswell. Have a good day

Good way to get your way with these firms.   I got Yell to give me a half page Colour listing for £50 as Last year I got 50 calls from Yellow pages and at first they said No we don't change prices and so I said that is fine,  I will not be on Yellow Pages as I only got 50 calls and they asked how I knew that and I said 'My number was ONLY used on Yellow Pages as I use different number for different forms of marketing'