Chris1971

Poll ????

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I'm innocent. I did nothing wrong. I'll take the fifth.

electrictim510

Is it possible to change poll vote? Sensitive darn iPad.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

Chris1971

Good question, I think the vote is final.

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I'm innocent. I did nothing wrong. I'll take the fifth.

electrictim510

Well I stick by my vote then. I ain't no quitter! Even though it's a lie cause we spend more on books.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

CADPoint

I thought Angie didn't except self "Company" advertising... what do I know

wendon

Word of mouth advertising doesn't cost a dime!! Maybe I spend my advertising dollars on new, exciting power tools

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Ive seen burnt up outlets, chard neutrals, and shorted wires.
Uncfesta

electrictim510

Angie is a (insert insult). They say contractors do not pay to get on their site... Lies!

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

Theriot

I have been considering buying a company tent with my logo on it and loaning it out for parties and local functions. Pay for it once and it will last for years and it will be at mostly health benifits for thing like cancer and stuff. A lot of doctors and upper in clients. A lawyer friend of mine aka the devil has one of those space walk jumping things he loans out for company parties and functions with his logo on it and people really appreciate it. Shave them hundreds of bucks.

HARRY304E

Same here.

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ES2 Flat Rate , The best $99 I've ever spent ..

HARRY304E

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ES2 Flat Rate , The best $99 I've ever spent ..

MarketingPros

3 out of 5 people who voted are using the Phone Book. I didn't know people still did.

electrictim510

A huge amount of our customers call from it.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

flyboy

Are you formally tracking it? If so, please share the numbers.

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"It is as impossible to withhold education from the receptive mind, as it is impossible to force it upon the unreasoning." Agnes Repplier, American essayist

flyboy

Your right, fewer and fewer consumers are using the YP's. You don't want to spend what it costs to get them to call you. The cost per call is too high. It has been for several years.

Every business owner I've talked to in the trades over the last several years (nothing new here) using the YP's and formally tracking it, has a cost per call over $175. My own data, gathered through years of tracking has that number over $225 per call.

Quality of the lead (call) is another conversation. These are typically low quality leads. The business that you do get just costs to much to generate.

Nothing new here by the way, it's been like this for years.

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"It is as impossible to withhold education from the receptive mind, as it is impossible to force it upon the unreasoning." Agnes Repplier, American essayist

electrictim510

Numbers can range all over the board depending on how branded/established a company already is. Size, placement and quality of ads make a HUGE difference also. If you place a common business card size ad it could be a waste of money, I'm not sure never seen numbers from smal ads but I'm sure tey get a lot of "free estimate" calls. Most companies I work with that specialize in service have large 3/4 to 2 page ads and it generates lots of good calls and is usually the main source of advertising.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

yrman

Last year we had a 2 color 1/8 page ad that cost $410/ month. We don't track cost per lead (yet) just lead source for each job. In 2011 we had about $75k in revenue from YP. I was not unhappy with that return. I find that lots of elderly folks (like me ) still use the YP.

electrictim510

Without looking at the numbers I can confidently say that at least 35-40% of our business came from y/p last year. We had 3/4 -full page 2 color ads in our books. Our customers would specifically say they called us because they liked the ad and it was easy to see. I find that if you are placed well (first or second page typically) and your ad says the right things to catch the eyes of the right customers then it can work well. You have to pay for these ads hefty but they produce.

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

yrman

I agree that much has to do with the content of the ad. 99% of them have exactly the same message and content. Our callers always reference a phrase in our ads because it spoke to their own needs. We are very specific in our message and don't claim to do everything. we pursue a specific niche and those are the people that call us. We don't say free estimates, free service calls, 1 hr service or 24 hr service nor do we say "no job too large or to small". It was a risk to narrow the message but it is working for us. I am still tweaking it. People are looking to solve their specific problems and if the ad seems to address THEIR own personal concerns they are more likely to call you. JMO.