Online Yellow Pages, anyone use them?

[speeder]

I got a call from them to advertise my small business, (vehicle hauling), are they at all relevant? I've never used that site but of course everyone and their goldfish used the old YP before you know...the world changed.

Just curious. On a side note, I sometimes haul cars or pull trailers for $$.

[cabmandone]

You'd be better off starting a FB page for your hauling business.

Oh and to your question, nope! I don't use them. Or maybe I do when I say "hey siri... find me..."

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I would be talking with admins on every single specialty and used car forum on FB about advertising your services. Porsche, Datsun, Fiat all have very active groups.

[Rot 911]

No one I know uses the Yellow Pages any longer. I’m not even sure that they have a yellow pages where I live now, in Lincoln Nebraska.

[A930Rocket]

What are the Yellow Pages?



With Google, nobody uses the Yellow Pages.

[Rick Lee]

I sold YP ads for Verizon for a bit around 2000-2001. They saw the writing on the wall and started shifting to website building, but I don't think it really went anywhere. It was a super lucrative job before online ads took over. The way their sales pitch works is they have their YP folks call anyone with a business name or business phone line. PI lawyers and plumbers were always the ones who paid for the huge ads, sometimes could be upwards of $40k PER MONTH. But lots of churches or anything with a name that would immediately explain what they did would get by with a "bold listing."

Anyway, these days FB and CL are the way to go. I had a plumbing emergency a few mos ago and could not get anyone to pick up the phone or return my call. An independent guy on CL wrote the best ad ever, picked up the phone and was at my house in an hour, saved me thousands. Didn't cost him a dime to run that ad either.

[Neilk]

I am so glad they stopped throwing them on our doorstep 5-6 years ago. They went straight into the recycling bin.

Rick, how did you vet the plumber? I would be so nervous about getting a sheister.

[cabmandone]

Denis,
Off the subject of advertising and more to the job you're doing, how are you insuring what's behind you? My policy only allows me to pull what I own. And then if I'm pulling "for hire" I have to get a CDL because I'm taking part in interstate commerce and I have to get DOT numbers. I looked into doing what you're doing but decided against it because of the costs associated with getting up and going. That and I really don't enjoy driving around with a trailer behind me.

[speeder]

Everything is properly insured.

[cabmandone]

I figured it was. I'm just curious how you did it without needing to get a CDL or DOT numbers. Or do you have both?

Oh! And if you use Uship at all, make sure that is known. A lot of haulers on Uship are not insured with commercial freight insurance. That's HUGE if you have an educated shipper.

I had a lot of haulers offering to haul my shipment for lower numbers. When I asked for proof of insurance and DOT numbers to verify they are a legal hauler... things went silent.

[masraum]

No. At least, not in a long, loooooooooong time. Maybe 20-25 years ago?

[cabmandone]

^^^
I swear my brother is the only person keeping 411 alive. When I told him I could just google that sh.t, he started calling me to get phone numbers. I'm gonna have to start charging a fee now.

[cstreit]

Never. Create a good basic webpage using a free service. Get listed on Angies list. FB Page.

Definitely use Google Business. https://www.google.com/business/ Set your service area. This will prioritize local businesses when people in the area search for your services.

That will cover 95% of all inquiries.

[john70t]

I use yellow pages.
Even got a phone book stuffed under the car seat.
Because electronics fail.