| |
| |
|
Advertising Information |
|
|
|
Is Your Yellow Pages Ad Putting Cash in Your Pocket... or Sucking Cash Out?
Any idea? It's a question that more than a few Yellow Page advertisers ponder. If you are currently spending money every month to run an ad in your local directory, you don't want to wrestle with that question. You want to know that your investment is generating a consistent flow of new clients to your business. So what can you do to maximize returns and stop worrying? First of all, know this-Yellow Pages Advertising has incredible potential. As a business owner, you have few other ways to reach prospects who are as targeted, and ready to buy as these. But naturally? your success depends on the quality of your ad. And when it comes to ad content, far too many advertisers are quite simply? lost. "The red-hot commodity of the Information Age? Why that would be the Yellow Pages? It's like shooting fish in a barrel."
There are few places to turn. It makes for an unpleasant situation for the honest businessperson trying to harness the tremendous potential of such a perfectly targeted medium. And so, most advertisers rely on the Yellow Pages design department, who, as it turns out, develop most of the ads in their directory. It's hard to differentiate your company if that's the case, don't you think? That situation doesn't need to be one that you find yourself in. While many advertisers fail to develop an ad that draws a strong response, it's not especially difficult to do. In fact, the basic mistakes that "riddle" just about every subject heading provide a fantastic opportunity for the business owner that does his homework. If you're reading this article, you're doing your homework. "How come we still have the Yellow Pages? They Work. You don't go to the Yellow Pages and look up pizza unless you're planning to order pizza."
What Yellow Page success boils down to is ad content. Not color. Not professional design. Sure, those things matter too; but they are nowhere near as important as the words you use to fill your ad. People turning to the Yellow Pages have already determined that they need you. They just need to know whether they should call company A, B, or C. Their choice doesn't depend so much on color or design, as it depends on what you offer that your competitors don't" the policies you hold yourself to that give consumers faith in you and your business. Here is a point you need to understand? Listing the brand names you carry and the "laundry list" of products or services you offer don't build credibility. They don't set you apart from your competitors who offer the same thing! Plenty of other things do. And chances are you embrace those policies and those hassle, and risk removing, motivators already. You probably do quite a bit for your clients that make their lives easier, more lucrative, more pleasant, and so on. You probably have credibility boosters that you've never considered including. And that is because you may not realize the power they have in motivating an eager prospect to act. Iron-clad guarantees? customer testimonials? rock-solid offers for new customers? a headline that goes well beyond your logo and company name; these are things that work wonders in a targeted, ready-to-buy medium such as the Yellow Pages. Since so many of your competitors are focusing on their company name and their laundry list of products and services, the copy points above will differentiate you! They give you the credibility that your competition likely lacks, and they make a strong case for many a prospect to choose you with confidence. That's what the Yellow Pages are all about, right?! About The Author Alan Saltz, the author, teaches Yellow Pages Advertisers how to boost their response and return on investment, using simple, but extremely effective techniques. To learn more about how to improve your own Yellow Pages ad, visit: http://www.YellowPagesProfit.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Advertising - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
7 Questions to Ask Before You Advertise Most business owners and managers keep a fairly close eye on their marketing budgets.And nothing throws a budget out of whack faster than advertising. Raising Funds For Your Nonprofit Using An Annual Direct Mail Program A good annual direct mail solicitation program can produce unrestrictive operating funds for your nonprofit organization year after year. And such an annual direct mail program, if done right, should produce more funding for your organization each year. What Do Your Ads Say? Make a list of everything you think should be included at one time or another, in one of your ad, be it radio, newspaper or Little Jimmie's class play program.Everything. The Truth in Advertising Most of us have seen at least a dozen different toothpaste commercials that claim, "Three out of four dentists recommend.. Add More Pizzazz To Your Ad For More Profits I recently completed a Marketing Makeover for an Ad that wasn't generating results for the owner of a Piano Tuning Business.Here is the original ad:======================================== A BETTER PIANOA well tuned and adjusted piano is a beautiful instrument. How To Make Your Yellow Page Ads Work I hear it often, "advertising in the Yellow Pages directory doesn't work!" I smile knowingly and wait for a pause in the conversation, and this is what I say in response to their claims?"It's not the medium - it's the message?and it's probable the market too!" Blank stares often accompany that opening statement. But they do work - and they work well? IF you know how to use them. What Makes A Winning Online Ad? Most people who have been involved with sales & marketing for any length of time have heard the axiom, "Sell them what they want. Then sell them what they need". The Forgotten Advertising Tip I'm sure while you have seen many tips on advertising, many that talk about testing and tracking your ads, I'm sure that this one important tip is rarely mentioned: Running more than one ad at a time isn't the greatest idea.While it seems like a good idea to spend your monthly advertising budget all at once at the first of the month, is it really gaining you the best exposure? Even if you are running ads on various websites and networks, there is a pretty good chance many of those that see your ad on one site are going to see them on another. Successful Print Advertising Designs Do you often see print advertisements outdoors, as much as you see Web advertisements when you surf through the Web? I'm pretty sure that you have entirely different views and reactions upon seeing and actually taking notice to these two different kinds of advertising. The differences may vary in their use of color, typefaces, and space. Creativity and Getting Outside of the Box Sitting in front of a blank piece of paper? Wondering where in the world to start? I have a suggestion. Turn the page upside down. Marketing Tips For Small Business - Advertising That Works, Part I Have you ever seen an ad on television that was beautiful, slick, and stylish but didn't fit the product? How about a magazine ad that, though gorgeously photographed, didn't make it clear what was being sold? Or have you heard a catchy radio ad that neglected to give contact information? If you pay attention, you'll notice these money-wasting advertisements in all types of media.If a corporation puts out a bad advertisement, the marketing department will have the resources and budget to make a mid-course correction (sometimes). Persistant Advertising Will Do No Harm! From my experience, I've been on many discussion groups and have spoken to many other like minded people. The one topic that always seems to arise is how to get massive sales right away. Direct Response Advertising; Radio vs TV Radio advertising vs. television advertisingMany new advertisers assume that they should start on radio and "move up" sometime later to TV. In Advertising Bigger isn't Always Better If you have been following the recent advertising news you will notice that more and more major advertisers are looking to smaller ad agencies to handle their campaigns.Is it because they feel bad? Is it because they are cheaper? Or is it because they see the level of creative talent of smaller agencies?Lets take a quick look at why this is happening and how this is good for the consumers and the advertisers. Pros and Cons of Establishing an In-House Ad Agency There have been several ads promoting books and reports on thissubject, or included as part of the contents in several mailorder books stating: "SAVE UP TO 17% ON ALL YOUR ADVERTISING" It's legitimate, practical and effective, but like so many otherpromises, there are pros and cons involved. The pros are fairlyobvious. Where To Call For Free Advertising And Free Business Advice Believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to get your written materials free of charge, for free advertising space, and free business advice. For free advertising space, many publications will write an article about you or your product if you purchase advertising space with them. Online Advertising: 10 High Impact Psychological Triggers To Super-Charge Your Ad If you knew these 10 high impact insider's hidden psychological triggers and plug them into your Ad and website content, you can empower them and ignite a tornado of sales at your website.Read, understand and use them and burst open the floodgate of sales. Placemat Ad Advertising Starting a placemat ad business can create more business for you; free advertising and income all while helping other local small businesses advertise their business all at a reasonable price.This is an idea not new by any means, but it can prove to be very profitable to you if done right. 4 Ways to Double the Power of Your Business Cards Sure, everyone needs business cards. But why not make your business card do double or triple the work of an average business card. 7 Tips for Better Ads The content of advertising is basically the same no matter what the media. It is good and it works, or it is bad.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
Comment by Gary Chaison