[ICG]

I used to use YP for my business & gave it up as a bad job because of the rest of the bandit element who will undercut you for the sake of it.

I now rely on word of mouth & a decent website. You really cant beat the personal approach, if you have enough hours in a day to spend canvassing for work.

[rjswindowcleaning]

I have been in the yellow pages for 10 years now .I would say i have got 90% of my work from it But i am looking for commercial Window Cleaning and sub contact work and it cost me £1800 a year i do not know if that makes a diffence

[Windae Cleaner]

Been in yellow pages for two years now since got my wfp . have got 3 big commercial contracts and numerous houses from yp
after initial special offer which gave me a decent size box , i now pay £18.00 per month for 3 line box.
for a while i was only getting houses in areas i did`nt clean . told them to ask their neighbours . but know i go to see everyone who phones.
reason - picked three houses at £25 and and one at £35. all done and dusted in 3 hours.
now plan to cover whole area door to door which is still the best way , to get houses . but people phoning your advert in yp could start you in areas you dont think to canvass.
get a few lines and keep it in year after year. it will pay and could land you the big contract .
go for it.

[dave0123]

hi

Does anyone advertise in the business pages  as well as yellow pages. i had yellow pages ring me up the other day asking me if i want to advertise in the business pages am not sure is it any good for commerical work?

dave

[WavieDavie]

i had yellow pages ring me up the other day asking me if i want to advertise in the business pages am not sure is it any good for commerical work?

According to them, it's solely for commercial so you shouldn't get any residential customers calling you from it. That's the plus point if you're chasing business prospects.

The minus point for me is the way it's set out. Get a copy for yourself and take a look at the area it covers. The one for me covers the WHOLE of Scotland, and everyone is listed alphabetically - so if you're looking for someone in your area you've got to trawl through every single entry to find out who's close. Great for Aardvark Window Splashers, but tough if you're Zetland Scrubbers.

If I was a business looking for any trade, supplier, what have you - I'd look at that and think "Where's the nearest Yellow Pages!" If you know the name of the folk you're trying to find that's great, but you'd find them in the ordinary phone book or Y/P - so what's the point of Business Pages? Apart from the salesman selling you a box entry so folk will find you easier.

Just to prove me wrong - anyone on here use the BPs?

[gary evans]

hi there, recently joined forum, so working through slow. i am interested in logo,s for BRITISH WINDOW CLEANING ACADEMY & SAFE CONTRACTOR APPROVED displayed on some members entries, ie Poleman please could you come back with more info.
Finding useful info & tips, hopefully i can pass on some too.

[windows_chepstow]

Hi,

I've been in the same position, advertising both in the British Telecom book and the local pages.

For the past eight months all I've received is calls from domestic customers in areas I don't clean.  I've passed them onto other window cleaners who I know do their areas; or just said 'sorry mate - ask your neighbors who does theirs'.

However, and I don't know why, recently I've just ended up getting phone calls from five large businesses to give 'em a quote.

I've already just bagged one of them (the biggest and best - a large, posh hotel - they made me jump through hoops to get the job with method statements, risk assessments, safety policy etc), and waiting to find out if I've got the others!  It means I've got the potential to have lots (and I mean lots) of inside work too.  Just right for winter!

I think you MUST advertise to get large commercial work, but at the end of the day - IT'S PURE LUCK - if a potential commercial customer phones you.  Remember also, if it's a large site, he (or she) will be phoning at least three other competitors for quotes too. 

Then it comes down to price, selling your company and the professional image you give during the quoting period.

Well that's my thoughts, but I still am very inexperienced!

[Malcal]

Hi all

Lots of wind and rain here in Northumberland last week. So got on the net looking at adverts etc. Saw some cleaning directories inc 1 with Terry Burrows on it. Are they worth it ?.

Cheers Malcal

[WavieDavie]

However, and I don't know why, recently I've just ended up getting phone calls from five large businesses to give 'em a quote.

Maybe they rang Yell.com? I got an enquiry today, and the chap said he found me in Yell. As far as I'm aware, I've never asked to be in there - in fact, I looked at it some time ago and turned it down after finding that once you get an enquiry you go down to the bottom of the list and then have to climb back up. You could get a whole office block, or the granny round the corner in a one-bedroom flat.

Anyway, I'm in there now somehow, and I can only presume that it's because I'm in the Yellow Pages book.

[Terry_Burrows]

Just canceled most of the yell.com yellow pages all not working,simply not worth going in,we are in 3 different areas and books,we cover a great amount of area in adds,waste of money,they will not get nothing for 2005

[Ian Rochester]

Just had a read through all your various comments and thought I'd add mine to them:

BT Business - Waste of time, cost me £175 last year, not a sausage from it.  Cancelled for this year, lot of grief from BT salesman!!

Yellow Pages and Yell - costs me £52/month for two small boxes and enhanced yell adverts, one in Window Cleaning one in Carpet and Upholstery. 

On average I would say I get at least one or two jobs from these each week (always ask customer where they got my name from).  Quite happy with the response.  Picked up a commercial wc job last week from it which is worth £150 every 3 weeks and then a recommendation from them which got me another £60 every 3 weeks.  Given them both quotes for contract & carpet cleaning.

Never tried any of the directory enquiries, never been approached about it.

Still believe that customer will always go with recommendations first, yellow pages and any other search is a stab in the dark for them and they will try and avoid it.  Therefore make sure you do a good job and leave a business card with them.

Potential customers are lazy, so go knocking on doors, introducing yourselves to them, it gives them a kick up the arse to get things done, they know their windows or carpets need to be cleaned, you've just saved them the job of looking for someone!! 

[Terry_Burrows]

 ;)the last of the yellow pages adds got cancelled today £1000,will not waste no more time or money with them,I have been on both forums and see many of you have the same results,not much

[pjulk]

Give it a couple of days they will be on the phone to you offering a discount.
They did when i cancelled one of my ads still didn't take them up on the discounted offer tho

Paul

[Terry_Burrows]

 ;)yes paul I feel the same way,I know it will get me nothing in return :Pbeen there done it,time to move on :

[Cascade Home Maintenance]

I am in British Columbia, Canada in a small city, Victoria. There appears to be alot of competition in the book.  My first ad in the book was a "logo ad" same logo that is on the company truck. The ad was 1 1/2" by 2". I paid $1500 Cdn. for the ad and it had generated about $6000 in my first year in business. Make sure that if you place an ad that you incorporate your logo in the ad. People will see you round town and see you in the book. I also did alot of flyer/leaflette distrubution and have noticed that when the flyers get old they will look you up in the yellow pages, at least alot of the clientele that I have now have come from yellow page calls. I am currently in my 3 rd year of successful business. Each year my business has at least doubled, proper selection of advertising is crucial. Make sure you get your name out there as much as you can, referalls carry alot of weight in the industry. Hope business is good!

[Terry_Burrows]

 ;)well done to you fellow window cleaner,I do think its your area as well,but for us its not worth it,nice to hear someone is doing ok with it shiners unite across the globe

[SteveTruman]

My opinion for what it is worth. The yellow pages is a fast track for someone wanting the cheapest job, folks ring around until they find a price they will pay...... Packed my ad in this year after 17yrs.

Steve