Is it worthwhile advertising via a Yellow Pages internet listing?
I'm sure we're all aware that the Yellow Pages has an online equivalent, and advertising in it is certainly something to consider when you're putting together your advertising ideas for the year.

At Petals over the past 14 years, we have actually found that it hasn't been particularly successful for us to advertise in either the yellow pages book, or the online equivalent. Using a simple cost benefit analysis model, we've tried to estimate sales and measure them against our response rate. We have consistently found that the advertisements have had a very low response rate.

However, this is only our opinion, based on our own personal experiences.
We're only one business and there are lots of others out there who may have found something different! We'd like to know what others think, and we'd love to hear from you! Add your comment today!

On is it worthwhile advertising via Yellow Pages internet. Since June this year 2006 I have had 2 orders through this way. If we do not get many more,I will not use this way to advertise next time. I am a small shop having started up in January this year, you can't sit around waiting for customers to come to you. Has any one any ideas please?

Edited by author 09-09-2006 10:21 AM
Yellow pages is very costly and can really eat at your business financially. I don't think that it is worth the amount of money that we pay for the yellow pages book or online. I have been in the yellow pages for over a year now and to be honest I didn't see any fruit come out of it. I haven't even recieved a copy of the book and haven't even seen one at the local post offices. So, we can't even be sure that our ad is actually seen by our local potential customers. As for online,the number of calls that I have recieved in the year doesn't amount to what I have spent. Your better off setting up your own website, It's worked for me.

I definately will not be advertising with the yellow pages again, try the Pink pages it is more cost effective and more local.

Having been in retail floristry for 20 years, I am a believer in Yellow pages book adverts, some years ago I had a 1/2 page ad - yes it was expensive $12,000.00 - but it certainly gave me a high profile & alot of work both locally and for NZ & Worldwide. I was a very high sending member(top 20) of Interflora for a number of years. The yellow pages internet listing, I don't think is as good as the book but I think you have to be seen there. of course the best advertising is word of mouth and repeat business.

I have found that Yellow Pages online is helpful - but you need to make sure your advert looks professionl and stands out. I dont like the fact you can never get a higher position - for Sydney CBD florists, I am 20th and can only ever be that unless people before me pull out - which they are not likely to do. I think you should be able to pay more to get a higher ranking. The Yellow Pages sales rep told me the bigger companies were buying out small florists just so they could take their listing space, which doesnt seem fair. I have an ad going in the book but it hasn't been printed yet so not sure of the benefit...I think it depends on your customer base. Being in the city, my customers are much more likely to be online (I have never kept a yellow pages book in the house...) and I am guessing that more elderly people and those in more outlying areas are the ones I will see from the book (also the ones not likely to spend much money on flowers)....but it will be worth a try.

Edited by author 12-29-2006 09:53 PM
I'm a very small home based business in a small Queensland town on the darling downs & there are 2 of us here. I find it very hard to compete as the other retail florist has a small shop up the town. But I feel word of mouth is probably your closest friend. Yellow pages has given me some work & Iv'e had a lot of repeated business for flowers but I don't get the passes by for such things as gift items which I do have in small amounts & woukd dearly love to sell more of.Another thing I have found is flyers in letter boxes have had a certain success. Xmas time is always flat for me but being the day before xmas eve I will drop of 5000 of them around the town & will stay open all tommorrow. I may even take orders by door knocking. Its all worth ago. Even if its just in your local area. Good excerise for the kids & a bit of poket money too. Its worth ago. What do they say. "When the times are tough the tough get going.

Regards Helen

Internet Yellow Pages! couldn't do without them. As in Helens case small suburb florist just 2 years old and most of my orders are through website via internet yellow pages and I am just in the process of rehashing the add ready for Valentines Day. Our area in Papamoa New Zealand is in a huge growth spurt so hopefully my orders into Petals will gradually increase
cheers - Shirley

Hi Shirley,

So good to receive your e-mail from our Quick topic daily digest. It was emailed to me personally via Petals.

I haven't got a personal Web site other than the one that Petals has set up thru their relay. Haven't had any response out of it so far since its running which is a little disappointing. I think I will have to get Yellow pages to help me build one too. I have a resisted domain with Domain Registration in NSW but I haven't been able to afford to build one as yet. Can I ask you whether or not Yellow Pages Bills you in installments like they do with their normal listings as I get to pay my telephone book listing off in 6 installments thru the year. How much did yours cost if it's not a rude question.

If you ever get to send any orders thru to Toowoomba please think of me, & I will also you for Papa moa. Are you also close to a main city where you can also deliver.

Kind Regards

Helen 9667

< replied-to message removed by QT >

HI AGAIN EVERYBODY,
 Anyone out there that has any more thoughts on yellow pages advertising. I have a rep comming to see me next thurs, I guess to get me to upgrade my present online advert. I am reluctant to go higher as there are only the two of us here in our small town & so the only other competition besides is in a bigger township 42ks away which is in our delivery territory but operate much bigger based business & way out of my financial legue.Will spending more money help or just cut my profits. Does anyone have any advise thats in a simlar situation.

Hi Helen It is well worth having your own website to show case your own work. Have you ever thought that there has got to be a better way, where you recieve 100% of every order? Well why not consider the world newest online florist directory where you recieve just that! This way you recieve your money thru your e-commerce site immediately no waiting, no relay fees You sign up and pay an annual membership fee and a small fee each time you use our e-guarantee service. The regonition you will recieve for your work is astounding, as is the repeat business. The money you save by not paying relay fees should well and truly cover the costs of your own website.

Feel Free to contact me at info@vuzien.co.nz You can view our site at www.vuzien.co.nz

Not really sure about not using Relay Services. They are a great asset to our business. For the small fee we pay we get lots of benefits from Petals such as free websites, free directory listings, promotional material, help on the phone when needed, guaranteed payment, quality control and lots more.

Hi Dianne
Free Website is not really free at all that is how Petals takes their commission from the customer before you get the order and don't you also have to wait until the end of the month to get your money. The customer pays and so do you.

I think I'll still with Petals. They are offering me and my customers a great service.

I think I'll stick with Petals. They are offering a great service to me and my customers.

< replied-to message removed by QT >