the Price of Yellow Pages Advertising

Monthly fee for color, full page advertising in yellow pages.

Foolishly I did it because full page ads get priority over other ads when placed within the category. I thought people would see my ad first.

I was just beginning my business and I really needed mass advertising. I had to let people know that I was here. When I signed up for commercial phone service, they had a yellow page ad represtative come to my shop to talk to me about advertising in the yellow pages. I don't think he worked for the phone company, I think the phone book is a separate company.

I had no idea how much my monthly income was going to be, but I thought (without really discussing it with anyone who could give me good advice) that I needed all the help I could get in getting the word out that I was open.

It so happened that the new phone books would be coming out in just a few months and before the Christmas holidays (I assumed would have been my busiest time) so I thought it was a win-win.

Well, I soon found out that I couldn't afford that expensive an ad. And of course I couldn't change or cancel it.... I was stuck for a year and as soon as I could, I changed it to a half-page, black and white ad and it suits me now just fine. The charge for the new ad is $225 a month.

Remember - you can't change your contract with your yellow pages company until the renewal - once the phone books are out, you're stuck with what you have for a year.

Compare ad options - 1/2 page v. full page - color v. black and white. What a huge difference in price !!!