[johnkeegan]

The company (IdeaArc) that took over the Yellow Pages around here called me about the online SuperPages. I was currently in the process of setting up a Google Adwords campaign when they called. The SuperPages said they charge either "per click" (when they direct a hit to my website) or per call (when the ad generates a direct call from a unique phone# in their ad that, then, trips to my business phone). I basically understand the benefits of each method. The per click is cheaper but alot of those are "tire-kickers" and bored online surfers at work. And the per call will generate more interested potential customers but costs alot more.

In their estimate based on a local landscaper, the per click was 94 cents the per call charge ranged from $2.50 to $10.

Anyone have any experience with either method?

[zackkcaz]

not so much experience, but in Ottawa we have something that Rogers- the cable company i think owns. Its called Go! Local Ottawa. It was the same exact pricing method as what you were desscribing and we felt a little hesitant about going with it so we just put in a regualr add which is like yellow pages. I was hesitant because you dont get to see whose calling you, and there is no doubt that you will get a lot of bullshit ohone calls as well...people shopping for pricce or other lunatics that waste your time. Id like to see if anyone else has gained some revenue and good leads from that as well.

[Greensmith]

I would be afraid of per click, someone tirekicking or maybe a wrong search term and you rack up a lot of false leads. Ultimately I suppose it is still cheaper then a mass mailing of post cards. Did they explain how the number thing worked? That is cool I never heard that, my only worry would be to make sure we mention our true # when they call.

[Nathaniel Carr]

I just got the same sthick out of Idearc. I am reluctant to try any thing else yellow pages related as it seems like such a minimal part of the way leads come my way. WHat they want is a bigger piece of my budget to deliver me more minimal leads. I can honestly say that I have only got 1 call in 7 years from a yellow pages shopper. ( And it would seem that a web shopper would be the same. What do you use the web for when shopping... LOWEST PRICE!!!) But, that one yellow pages customer has turned out to be a big customer, and has refered us to 2 neighbors. Total jobs generated in 7 yrs. 42k. Ok that pretty good... but when you consider the $16000 that I have spent with the yellow pages to get that work it isn't so good is it?
And to put it in perspective we have generated 1.6 m in those 7 years and Idearc gets 82% of my marketing money, and has only given me 2.6% of my business.
Whao... I just got mad!
So I gotta ask myself, are the leads that those are guys getting me worth it? Will their leads through the web get me better leads, or will it get me more calls to provide the cheapest service (which I do not wish to offer)? I wonder if I should just work on that stuff that Jeff's "make you sick" email was about. I also think maybe I should take out more "line ads" in related catagories, "landscape contractor" "landscape maintenance" "pond building" "masonry contractors" and anything else that I can think of. Line ads are way cheaper than column inches.

Didn't really answer the ? of pay per, but it was a fun rant!