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Disadvantages Of Yellow Pages Advertising Vs Your Own Website Business

The disadvantages of yellow pages and business directory advertising are becoming more obvious as time passes by.With the tumbling prices for broadband services and computers the internet is now within everyone's reach, and is also most peoples number one tool when searching for information, products and services.

What does this mean for you and your business, well you might want to seriously consider taking advantage of the internet in a way that a 4x2 yellow box advertisement never could. It' s very likely that more and more of your potential customers will be sitting 3 feet away from you at the end of a computer screen. Searching for services in their own local area as well as further a field, so why not take steps to insure that it's your business or service they see and contact.

Take a look at each point below for the disadvantages of using yellow pages to advertise and promote your business, then you may agree that solely advertising in yellow pages alone, may not be as effective as it once use to be.

Disadvantages Of Yellow Pages Table

	Yellow Pages Ad	Your Web Site Business
Content	There's very little you can say about your business in a tiny little rectangle. And don't even try to update your content during the year!	Show off your local business to its best advantage. No size, color, or media limitations. Update anytime -- make special offers, let visitors know about new products or services, etc.
Visitor attention	Near zero -- eyes scanning listings	Total -- once your prospective customer is on your site, you have 100% of his/her attention.
Visitor mind set	Dubious, suspicious -- Yellow Pages is advertising. We've all had experiences with services that were downright dismal. Zero credibility.	Interested, open-to-buy, PRE sold -- they found you through Google, feel smart, and read your excellent content, becoming PRE sold upon you as an expert who shares. A Web site that provides as much business information as your prospect needs, along with friendly/useful content, allows the prospective client to know and trust you. High credibility.
Exposure, Traffic	Near-zero -- it may generate a few calls per week (per month)?	Substantial -- attract hundreds, even thousands, of targeted visitors per day/month, on an ongoing, ever-building basis. And, if it's done it right , they will return to your site. Your rezone also gives you the opportunity to reach your customers on a repeat basis.
Measurable	No -- do you have any idea how many exposures you get, or how many people call or visit due to your ad? How can you measure ROI (Return on Investment)?	Yes -- you will know exactly how many visitors arrive, every day, every month... and you will know everything about them. You know the Lifetime Value of a new customer (i.e., the amount of profit that a new customer will bring to your business over his/her lifetime of dealing with you).
Build customer loyalty	N/A -- not applicable	Your own e-zine -- develop an increasing sense of loyalty with existing customers, as well as repeat business. You can reach them, free, whenever you want to.
Competitive advantage	Low -- everyone takes a Yellow Pages ad. That's why you did. Who gets the attention? The companies with the expensive BIG ads. EVERYWHERE.	High -- your Web site, properly done, can both build new local business and pull your competition's customers to you.
New revenue streams	No -- Yellow Pages just advertises that you have a business.	Yes -- Your web site builds content, which builds targeted visitors and establishes you as an authority in your field. This establishes the potential for multiple streams of income that can even surpass total income from your current local business.
Open new markets	No -- Yellow Pages is a local medium.	Yes -- the Net is a global medium. More and more, it will replace large paper-bound directories as the way to find local businesses with local clientele. But obviously, it also opens up global potential. .
Expandable search -- geography	No -- Yellow Pages is a local directory. And it's totally non-interactive. Users either find you... or not. If you did not buy a listing for a particular locale, they won't.	Yes -- suppose the local business man is looking for a accountant in its local town. None? Look in the adjacent town(s). Still none? Look in the nearest mid-size city.
Expandable search -- keywords	No -- you buy a listing for a single category. If a user searches in a different-but-related category, s/he won't find you. For example, you sell and service sprinkler systems in your town? Your prospect is looking up "landscapers" -- s/he calls the landscaper who recommends a competitor.	Yes -- your prospect searches for "accountant +north finchley (your-town)and finds you (because you created some content about accountancy), is PRE sold by your site's excellent information, and calls YOU.
Expandable search -- targeted	No -- you buy a listing for a single category. If a user searches in a different-but-related category, s/he won't find you. For example, you sell and service sprinkler systems in your town? Your prospect is looking up "landscapers" -- s/he calls the landscaper who recommends a competitor.	Yes -- you may buy highly targeted, cost-effective ads for any keyword and location related to your business through Google Ads, etc.