yellow page ads

[gll]

Just to help setting an argument how many of you pro photographers have a yellow page ad ?

[texkam]

Yellow pages .... wasn't that something a rotary phone sat on?

[dracula02]

Originally Posted by texkam

Yellow pages .... wasn't that something a rotary phone sat on?

yeah, and now it's used to weigh garbage cans down so they don't get knocked down by the wind on trash day

[bondarnes]

I do.

[Cajungaltx]

I don't even have a phone book in my house. The ones that get dropped off on the frontporch, get put into the recycling bin that day.

[jdickson01]

I've had no luck whenever I tried the Yellow Pages...

[gll]

What I'm curious about is if your photography business is listed in the phone book and if you think its worth while. I know that most people that use the forums are computer, internet oriented people and would go to the net for almost everything. I think most of the 20 something and 30 something age group use the net and they are the ones getting married but I also feel that the 40 and 50 something group uses it to a lot lesser degree and they are the ones paying for the weddings and they are the ones using the phone book. Where I work I am amazed at how many people of all ages have never made an online purchase of any kind.. none and most would not dream of putting a credit card over the net and although I think they are missing the boat I'm wondering if a web only presence is missing a large population that's looking for a photographer.
This is just a discussion with my 30 something daughter that's trying to get started in the business, I don't do or wanna do weddings, I just want her to be successful. I don't know I could be wrong....... I guess

[dmcantrell]

Your location says Dumas. I've driven through there and I stayed the night there once. From my brief time there, your comments about the local consumer patterns fit with my expectations.

I don't have a yellow page ad, but I live in a huge sprawling metroplex. I would consider a different marketing strategy (for any business) in a town with a much much smaller and less urban population. You have to know your customers.

[Howard Barlow]

I tried YP when I first went into business 30 years ago. After about two or three years, I gave up on overpriced display ads. They were always printed other than what I submitted, with no price adjustment. I refused to pay for the last one, when the image did not show up in the double space ad. YP insisted that I pay, since my name and number showed up. They lost that battle. Since then, nothing but the free listing that comes with the phone line.

There have always been a few who had the displays, in our book, but mostly the newbies. Never more than a couple any year. Now, there are no photog display ads in our book.

99% of all YP responses were, "How much is your cheapest..." I actually had one bride call and ask if I sold wedding dresses. When I said no, I am a wedding photographer, she said she didn't want pictures.

Nope, YP was never worthwhile around here. With websites, they are totally useless, IMNSHO. YMMV.