Do you use the Yellow pages

I use the yellow pages especially for food/restaurants. I look for hours, delivery, and food types. I think it may be a decent investment if they will negotiate the price. I also like the web presence If I can provide a good picture of my food, and a copy of my menu along with the ad in the phone book, what is that worth? Heck what does a billboard cost a month, or a decent flight of commercials on a radio station for a week?
Jack

So what do you use?

Radio

TV

Newspaper

Mail

EMail

Billboards

Other and if so what is it?
__________________
The Doctor of BBQ
www.DrofBBQ.com
Jack@DrofBBQ.com

I am an ad guy.

I NEVER USE THE YELLOW PAGES ... as a consumer.

My only experiences as and advertiser have been disappointing.

A simple menu is better than pictures ... by that I mean pictures that are not very professional, usually look terrible ... show pictures of the food being served instead.

I, as a consumer, am influenced by billboards ... (no professional images though ... unless you want to emulate Cracker Barrel.)

Radio: Good.

Newspaper: Must work. I NEVER am influenced by the newspaper, except if there is a good offer from a valid establishment that does NOT require a coupon.

... but that is just me.

I'm going to speak on my regional knowledge only.. What happens here may not happen where your at. We've done it both for food service and Lawn/Landscape ads. Yellow page ads want a monthly payment from you, and the return was not worth it (Your phone company gives you a free space to begin with, but if you want an extended ad or extra category listing, it costs ya). You may generate a couple customers, but in the long term it was considered a major loss. Then we have a company that stuffs local ads in an envelope (like 30 or so flyer's), and that was not worth the cost. Again, 2 or 3 customers, but not cost effective either.
The most cost effective ad I've found is in those free little papers they hand out (deliver) once a week or once a month, be it a news thing or music/arts deal (You have to pay for the ad, but it's normally cheap, plus many people read the free stuff). JMHO.

As a consumer I use the Yellow Pages and news paper.
If I am out of town and do frequent a spot I find that way I mention it to my server. I've been known to get a free cocktail on occasion for mentioning that. I will never support a buisness that advertises with
Clear Channel. Chow Jim

I use the on-line yellow pages on Yahoo occasionally. But since I live in one of the city's that is featured on menupages.com, when I am looking for a restaurant or basic information about a particular restaurant, I go there. They've got address, phone, reviews, hours, menu, etc. for everything from hot dog joints to the finest upscale restaurants.

I look at the resturant section that gives a copy of the menu-just to get some idea's of were to head out to.

What a timely topic...I was just thinking about this subject this morning, as in the last 3 days everyone's front porches and the front stoop of every business in town was littered with those bright yellow bags containing the yellow pages. And when I just took the trash out from my office, I noticed the dumpster was FULL of the things. I get the feeling that most people now find everything they're looking for on the internet.

Jack

you may want to check out your local convention & visitors bureau
http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/

They can help you get things into your 36 some hotels there in Springfield. They may have a guide they produce that gets put intoeach hotel room, then when someone is looking for something to eat, they look at that guide.


They may also do those colorful placards that go in information areas around town, they are usually a minimal cost.

You may also check with your local cable company, our does local commercials that they insert into various cable channels. You pay for the commercial production, and for the number of times the commercial is ran.

The cost is usually cheaper than radio, at least in my market it is.

Billboards is all about location location location, and the best locations are $$$$$$

Figure out how many sandwiches or whatever you'll have to sell to pay for any ad. That'll stop most people. You're better off spending the money on free samples. This is my 3rd business and I haven't found any advertising that is cost-effective. The ad sales-people are full of it when it comes to telling you how your business will increase. If you try it and it doesn't work, they'll tell you that you have to run the ad for 1,2,3 or twenty years or whatever until people get used to seeing it. Big B.S.

No Yellow Pages. If you're not on the Net I don't know you. Unless you're within four blocks of me.

I think this is common in the city where I live. I live in an 8 unit building. The YP got delivered a week ago. There are still seven left.