Yellow Pages Ad - Suggestions, criticisms, etc

oneness

oneness

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Here in Gainesville, we have three phone books...the BellSouth pages, The Source Book, and a local book called the "MegaBook". It is the same format as the BS pages, and comes out in October, a couple months prior to BS and the other book. This will be my first ad, and I'm going big...A 1/2 page ad will cost me about the same as a 1/8 page ad in the Bellsouth book. It'll be the largest ad in the PW section, and will be at the top of the page. This is what I've come up with so far, and I'd like any suggestions or criticisms. Don't hold back!

The picture of the rig will be different...I'm going to take a better pic with a nicer background.
 

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Mike, as a distributor I advertised in 3 different publications here in Louisville, Bell South, User Friendly, and 6 TransWestern books for regional areas. The TW books did NOTHING for me, and I cancelled my ad. UF has blown BS away for me, although BS rep doesn't see how statistically. As far as ad size, how many competitors are listed with you? How many have display ads? Here there are many listed but only 2 with display ads (contractors not distributors) and both displays are business card size. Watch out next year, that 1/2 page could cost a lot. Prices go up every year. The ad looks great by the way. Track your calls by asking where they got your name and see if the ad pays for itself.
 
There are probably 30 listed, but only four other display ads. One is 1/4 page, the other three are about the size of a business card. My ad is the biggest in the section, based on the current book Of course, there's no way of knowing who else is going to run a display ad this year, or who might increase their size. Either way, this is th biggest ad I'm comfortable with. The next size up is a full page ad, and I don't see that as a smart move, both placement-wise and cost-wise.

The one thing I found out is that they have a pretty wide range of negotiating room regarding price in this book. The price I got for the 1/2 page ad is almost 1/2 the originally quoted price.

If the price goes up next year, I'll at least know whether it is worth it.
 
Mike

A little late to reply, but I think your ad is great. I like it a lot.

Have you received a good response from it?
 
It hasn't hit yet. That book comes out in October, so it should help keep the phone ringing during the slower times. I suppose I won't have a true picture of how effective it is until spring.

I have another very similar (though smaller) ad coming out in December in the Bell South book. Hopefully between the two, I will be able to slow down the direct mail part of my marketing (or add another trailer and hire someone). I can't wait for them to hit.
 
Let us know - I think you will get a great response.
 
Pressure Wash This Inc.

Looks good, thats the point I'm at right now, but my advantage is that I'm in the third largest area in ILL. and no one else is listed, and I've only seen a few fly by nights.
I'm big on vehicle lettering, this is your billboard for your business's and you don't have to pay for those traveling around signs on trucks. My vehicles match my ads and match my business cards, so that when you see one it has corolated with the other advertising you have.
 
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