[johnkeegan]

Is it just me or is there a noticable increase in leads through the internet this year? I'm getting 2-3x leads from the Internet as opposed to Ypages. Yet I pay alot more for the Ypages
...old dogs can learn new tricks.

[Fine Edge]

I'm getting a bunch more internet leads this year also. We just can't compare it to any ad in the YPages since we opted for just the line ad at no cost.
The couple of times in the past years when we tried the YPages, it was definitely not worth it.
The Net is bringing us a better type of client, believe it or not, and I don't seem to have to ask too many pre-qualifying questions to weed them out. The new client will pretty much understand what our company does and how we expect to get paid.

[Stonehenge]

It hits every market at a different time and in different ways.

I've been preaching this for a couple years now, because the trend is coming to your home town. Maybe it was last year or this year, or maybe it'll be next year. But it's coming. And you'll know if you're ready, because you'll be getting more leads. If you seem to be stagnating this year and you really haven't paid much attention to your website (or worse - your company doesn't even have one), have no idea where you rank for important terms or even what terms are important for you, the internet may be the reason why.

Congrats to those who are benefiting. To those who aren't - you can't say I didn't warn you.

[jshilan]

In the last 10-15 years, yellow pages ad's have always been the best source for the worst leads. Before the internet and before advertising became so sophisticated with slick magazine ads, the yellow pages was a great place to advertise.

Most of the companies I worked for and work with don't waste their advertising money on the YP's and haven't in years. If a lead came in from the YP's we would make sure that we over-qualified the caller before we would consider meeting with them. If you don't know it, the phone book is most peoples last resort when looking for a contractor.

"I don't know anyone that does that type of work, or know anyone that had that type of work done, so I guess I'll look in the phone book" (and call a gazillion contractors).

It's no wonder that companies are seeing more leads originating from the internet. Just make sure that the leads are not the digital version of the Yellow Pages. (quick question - why are they yellow anyway?)

[Squizzy Taylor]

For the last 33 quotes we have done we have landed 9 jobs....only one of the 33 used YP.

[NCSULandscaper]

ive actually got a job to go look at tomorrow for a retaining wall that was an internet lead off of my website. Ive never put an ad in the YP and never intend to either. Actually my company is unlisted in the phone books too, i advertise in 2 places only and get more work than i can handle so i never saw the need in becoming listed.

[Stonehenge]

Matt - You get one free text listing in the YP as a perk for having a business number. Unless you just hate YP leads, why not take the freebie?

[NCSULandscaper]

the possible leads arent the problem, there is already a huge list of companies in the local book now so it would just get lost in the mix anyhow, its the fact i hate the YP company.........nonstop always bothering me to place an ad even after i tell them to quit calling and take me off the list, if i want an ad ill call you.........never works still bothering me constantly