Do you have a yellow pages phone book and do you use it????

[kahpets]

Phone books and Yellow Pages go directly to recycling. I can't remember how we lived without the internet.

Me too.

 

[prncess674]

You need to embrace social media. Here is a list to start you off:

Create your Google Page (different than a web page) This will help you when people enter their zipcode on a map and then use the "search nearby" function.
Create your business Yelp profile. You can upload photos, menus, etc. Tons of people write reviews and this will drive business to you.
Create a FB page. You can post your daily specials (you don't have to always offer a coupon, but the easiest way to get an initial group of followers.
Twitter (same concept at Facebook)
Foursquare - offer some sort of discount after X amount of check ins.

 

[Tistal]

When our YP arrives I take the one from the year before (it's usually in the plastic wrapper still) and toss it in the recycle. Search engines are just a lot more efficient for phone numbers now.

Are you near a university? If you are, you should look into advertising in the school's paper. The cost usually isn't very much, and it gets out to a lot of people.

 

[beansmom]

Thank you everyone!
We are a Mom and Pop shop who has been in business 16 yrs but we took a hard hit with the economy. Just looking at more ways to boost business back up again and if it means big discounts then that's what we are willing to do. Yellow Book was going to be some money monthly so I'm glad we got some feedback. Majority of people now use the internet (myself included) but the sales guy seemed so convincing. Guess they are struggling too

Well, he's a salesman...they make their money by commission. And, yes, as i said the YP is a dying media...i think the only people who really still use them are the elderly because a lot of them don't do computers, etc. I am afraid the next decade will be the end of the YP.

 

[Azrael]

If you would've asked me this maybe 3 years ago, I would've said yes. I can't tell you the last time I picked up a phone book. It is so much easier for me to go online to get the information I need.

 

[Mkebound]

I haven't cracked a phone book in years.

The only way I try a new pizza place is if I have a coupon.

 

[sk!mom]

Haven't used a phone book in years. Every August 3 separate ones get dropped on our porch- 2 go straight to recycling and DH sticks one in a desk drawer, "Just in case."

 

[kimsuenew]

We use ours constantly! My DH & DS use it in the house... I often use the internet however.

We do use any coupons that interest us every year (that come in the back of the phone book).

Also, we keep the previous years books in our cars and while out... if we need a # we look it up (as opposed to paying Verizon to do so for us). Often we order pizza or chinese take out this way!

 

[Bearvet]

We own a business and we do continue advertising in the Yellow Pages. We are in a very rural area, so many homes don't have internet!

I would make a flyer (include a coupon to cut out and a menu) - ask area hotels if you can leave some in the lobby. When I travel I often look for those.

Maybe your Chamber of Commerce or another group does welcome packets for people moving to the area? Realtors? If so, get your flyer included.

Not sure how much it would cost to do the flyer as an insert in the local paper. If too expensive, then maybe do an ad in the paper.

Advertise in local school programs - I've worked on the ones for football games and music concerts - ads are relatively inexpensive.

Tape the flyer or a coupon to all of your pizza boxes that go out for people to use next time.

I also agree with all of the internet suggestions too - we are just now working on a Facebook page!

Good Luck!

 

[monorailsilver]

Sometimes I use it but only if I forget the pizza places number.

I do use it though. For me I find it easier to do a search for ABC in the phone book then on a computer/phone because I then have to click again to find the number.