Is Your Business Telephone Number Honest?
by BIG Mike McDaniel
Published on this site: October 4th, 2005 - See
more articles from this month
Your business is listed in the Yellow Pages whether you buy
an ad or not. Your business is listed in the Yellow Book and
the other phone books, too, no purchase necessary. Yup, free
listings in the yellow pages. Provided, you have a business line, in the name of your business, at the phone
company. Advertising your home number as a "business"
can only lead to confusion and a problem when the phone company
finds out. It's as bad for your company image as having an
eMail account with a free service. Spend the bucks for a real
business number and a real Internet domain.
Once you have an "official" business number, the
trick is to get people to remember your name when they look
in the book. That's advertising's job. If you stress what's in it for them they will remember who you are
when they go looking. Many times they go looking a year, or
more, after hearing or seeing your ads. If it is all about
them, they will remember all about you.
Surveys show the majority of people look in the Yellow Pages
for a name that seems familiar, either through past dealings
or because of advertising or referral. Only the people who
don't have a clue go there to make a decision based on the ad copy or size of the ad. And color doesn't make a difference
to the clueless.
You have seen it and heard it, "See our ad in the Yellow
Pages". Furgitaboutit! Don't encourage them to go look
for your ad, instead, show them how to find your number.
Why send 'em to the yellow section where they could be swayed
by ads from your competitors. Most folks can't remember numbers
seen in print or heard on the radio and few carry around a
pad and pencil. Your job is to help them associate your name
with their ability to find your number. "In the white
pages under B for BIG Ideas Group"."In the white
pages under M for Moritz Engine Repair. Moritz, M-O-R-I-T-Z."
Keep a little yellow ad if you want, for the clueless. Use
your advertising to help people remember how to find you when
the time comes. Advertising is for them and then they remember
you.
For more about Yellow Pages, get my article "15 Tips
for Better Yellow Pages Ads" MailTo:[email protected]
BIG Mike is a Business Consultant and Professional
Speaker. His BIG Ideas Group helps business grow with promotions,
special reports, mastermind groups and seminars. http://BigIdeasGroup.com
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