I just read a very telling piece from the Wall Street Journal that highlights something internet marketers have known for some time: the yellow pages are dying.
With the ease of using Google paired with the growing number of homes that have access to high speed internet, it’s much easier for consumers to type a few keywords into a Google search bar than it is to dust of the phone book and find a business by thumbing through hundreds of pages.
On a personal note, I’ve found that when I DO use the yellow pages, I have a hard time finding the categories for the business type I am looking for. For example, I was looking for a “spa” the other day and couldn’t find it as a listing. Turns out that “spas” are listed under “Day Spa.” But doing the same search online would have brought up the businesses I was looking for.
An interesting point in the article touches on the “online” versions of yellow pages and says that they’re faltering, too. There are so many different directories trying to re-create the yellow pages online that no one company has enough momentum to make it a viable resource.
To quote from the article, “it is often more effective for small businesses to have a presence on Google than on a directory Web site. But many small- to medium-size businesses don’t have the expertise or time to create effective Web sites or buy and track search ads.”
The good thing is that our business can help your business. We understand how to market your business on the internet and get that presence on Google for your business. With a wide variety of tools in our arsenal, we can help you get on Google’s front page for things your customers are searching for.
And the best part of it all is that working online is significantly less expensive than putting an ad in the yellow pages. Instead of it costing $10,000+ to get on the front or back of a phone book, you could get all over Google’s first page for less than half that cost, depending on the methods you choose.
Using the internet is all about leverage. Leverage less of your business’ budget for more exposure online. It’s a sign of the times. Don’t get left behind.
You can still use your yellow pages for a nice thick coaster.
____________________________________________
The article referenced can be found here:
