Do People Use Paper Phone Books Anymore? - Page 2 - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

**PaulChristenson** · 07-15-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougster

When we were vacationing recently in and around Woodstock, VT, the locals all told us that they do virtually ALL of their important shopping across the line in the glorious sales tax free land of "Live Free or Die"! Is this true or were we being goofed on???

Dougster™

For those close enough to the line, that is true...

White River Juction, VT really gets hurt by that mentality, since its just across the river from Lebanon, NH
Too far for me...

I only do it, if I happen to have a reason for being in NH

Dougster · 07-15-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulChristenson

For those close enough to the line, that is true...

White River Juction, VT really gets hurt by that mentality, since its just across the river from Lebanon, NH
Too far for me...

I only do it, if I happen to have a reason for being in NH

White River Juction was a damn ghost town when we visited. Very disappointing to see how that town has just died.

Of course, here in Taxachusetts we have plenty of our own examples of hurtin' towns as well.

Dougster™

Mickey · 07-15-2008, 03:15 PM

I have a stack of phone books, still use them from time to time but not as much as I used to. For the most part I'm a DYIer and rarely go looking for services. For some of the few things I would use someones services I typ look first in the local paper.

Our local paper is owned by a co that owns and operates a number of small town papers. Their ads cover about 20 miles sq. For farm related things I can always go to the Capatial Press a fram focused weekly. It's circulation covers the whole NW, 4-5 states including N Cal. Know this doesn't help you Doug but does give an idea where some people look.

Doug ya gotta go with what works for you. If the yellow page ads are not bringing in business, ya got to drop them and find something else that does bring in business. Well at least that's my thoughts.

Dougster · 07-15-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey

Doug ya gotta go with what works for you. If the yellow page ads are not bringing in business, ya got to drop them and find something else that does bring in business. Well at least that's my thoughts.

Understood... but the question is: Will newspaper advertising be the answer? It is very expensive and the strange shaped "buy area" is such that most of my ads will be delivered in places that I cannot possibly service. This is the problem of limited mobility of my equipment and living in a location that happens to be right on the edge of four very different geographic, business and sociopolitical regions.

Dougster™

**LoneCowboy** · 07-15-2008, 06:07 PM

craigslist, webpage, local rural living weekly (the fencepost), those bring in most of my work.
The Fencepost is expensive, but I get good results, so that's worth it.
Craigslist is of course the best return on the dollar.

I started a phone book ad this year. "lawn maintenence" and snow plowing.
costs $55 a month, i can live with that. Nothing yet, but you never know. very local area, and only Dex.

I run a classified "services" ad in a local small town weekly paper. That I get decent results off of and since I pre-paid for like 6 months it wasn't bad at all.

HOwever, for 5 years i've been running a classified in our daily paper (80,000 pop) and the next town north daily paper (pop about 100k). It costs $150 a month for the pair.
I get nothing. I've gotten one job and I've been running that ad since late April. I finally gave up and pulled it. too expensive, no returns not worth it.

oh, and I run an ad in the thrifty nickel (those free "ads" papers in restaurants, etc)
I'ts $80 every two months, I certainly pay for that ad.

But basic newspaper? no, dying business, wasted money IMHO

**PaulChristenson** · 07-15-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougster

Understood... but the question is: Will newspaper advertising be the answer? It is very expensive and the strange shaped "buy area" is such that most of my ads will be delivered in places that I cannot possibly service. This is the problem of limited mobility of my equipment and living in a location that happens to be right on the edge of four very different geographic, business and sociopolitical regions.

Dougster™

Not according to this list of vanishing items...Yellow Pages, Newspaper classifieds...et cetera...
Top 25 Things Vanishing from America - WalletPop

Dougster · 07-15-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneCowboy

craigslist, webpage, local rural living weekly (the fencepost), those bring in most of my work.
The Fencepost is expensive, but I get good results, so that's worth it.
Craigslist is of course the best return on the dollar.

I started a phone book ad this year. "lawn maintenence" and snow plowing.
costs $55 a month, i can live with that. Nothing yet, but you never know. very local area, and only Dex.

I run a classified "services" ad in a local small town weekly paper. That I get decent results off of and since I pre-paid for like 6 months it wasn't bad at all.

HOwever, for 5 years i've been running a classified in our daily paper (80,000 pop) and the next town north daily paper (pop about 100k). It costs $150 a month for the pair.
I get nothing. I've gotten one job and I've been running that ad since late April. I finally gave up and pulled it. too expensive, no returns not worth it.

oh, and I run an ad in the thrifty nickel (those free "ads" papers in restaurants, etc)
I'ts $80 every two months, I certainly pay for that ad.

But basic newspaper? no, dying business, wasted money IMHO

Sure wish we had some of those little free publications around here. Unfortunately, we don't. The town's full-size weekly newpaper is free... essentially a weekly summary version of the area's daily papers... but to advertise in it, you are dealing with the area's largest newspaper publisher outside of Boston and it sure ain't cheap.

I'd be looking at over $200 a month for the most basic contractor's display ad. Classified would be cheaper (how much cheaper they couldn't/wouldn't tell me without seeing the proposed text), but probably not as effective... if effective at all... either.

Dougster™

Dougster · 07-15-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulChristenson

Not according to this list of vanishing items...Yellow Pages, Newspaper classifieds...et cetera...
Top 25 Things Vanishing from America - WalletPop

Here's a slightly more direct link to the full Yellow Pages article...
Top 25 things vanishing from America: # 24 -- The Yellow Pages - Walletpop Blog

This may answer my advertising dollar dilemma more succinctly. If there are to be no more Yellow Pages, I don't have to worry about whether or not to spend money on them!

Dougster™

**Ducati996** · 07-15-2008, 07:48 PM

I only use phone books when I have to soften some folks up when they are late in their payments -

**Ducati996** · 07-15-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dougster

Here's a slightly more direct link to the full Yellow Pages article...
Top 25 things vanishing from America: # 24 -- The Yellow Pages - Walletpop Blog

This may answer my advertising dollar dilemma more succinctly. If there are to be no more Yellow Pages, I don't have to worry about whether or not to spend money on them!

Dougster™

We call them "pennysavers" which are weekly publications - picking out the 5 or 6 neighboring towns provides me with more than I could ever need for the entire season. Craigslist is a great tool, and nothing is better than word of mouth. Websites also help bring in traffic (and referrals for info). Driving around with flyers in plastic bags with some counter weight for thowing on driveways is another good way of getting the message out there.
Overall very little outlay (nothing of consequence) and maxium return...