Yell.com – is it worth it?

[Steve202]

Hey guys,

I’m looking at paying for a premium listing at yell.com, and was wondering what you guys thought about it. Have you had any bad experiences, is it worth the money, how much of your business comes from yell.com, etc.

Should I avoid the premium listing and stick with the basic listing?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Connexions]

Find out from them the click through rate for your categories, that will give you a good heads up. For our telecoms business we just cancelled it, click through was atrocious.

 

[Orange22]

There is no way on earth I would give yell any of my money. They're a has been, glorified telephone book.

You're much better off putting the money into a Google account and doing pay per click. When you think about it, everyone uses Google now days and not a directory such as Yell.

That said, if you call them they'll probably be able to quote some stupid stats which will disprove my argument. But they're wrong.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chauffeur Centre]

Depends on your business.

I had my doubts at first...

...now we get a good percentage of our work through yell.com

Hope this helps

Regards

Simon

 

[CKG]

It depends really on the competition in the catagory.

For me - It doesn't work well in the Plumbers section. Way over subscribed.

Though it does work exceptionally well in the Catering Equipment Maintenance section as there is only one other listing.

 

[An Oasis]

Depends on your business.

As Simon says, it depends on your business. Crowded mass markets you need all the help possible, the same is not always the case for niche markets as long as you have a profile in the right areas.

We've just refused to renew a contract with a specialist online directory who want £220 for 12 months, their click through was 10 in the 10 months of the contract to date. The sales rep was surprised when I told her it was the worst investment that we had ever made, not just the low click through but the lack of enquiries as a result ( I suspect at least half were competitors checking us out).

 

[spritch]

All depends on what you're selling. If it's for an older generation then yes if the CTR is high. If it's for the youngsters half of them won't even know it exists. Much better to spend your money on some online ads - SEO - PPC - or article writing

 

[afonso alves]

As has been said it depends what your business is but from my experience i was paying £30.00 a month for a highlighted listing and it more than paid for itself over 12 months.

 

[Steve202]

Thanks for the replies so far

Anyone had any bad experiences with them?

 

[Sphinx]

My business gets a good response from yell.com with a premium listing. I think its good for customers looking for a local business in their area with the searches they can do.

I also consider it quite cheap really. I wouldnt bother with a proper add in the book though. I used to think thomson local book was good...but this year it has been rubbish.

As a company i have always found them to be professional and polite, and not as pushy as some of the other companies (just a little bit pushy which i can handle)

In comparison to the thomson people who insist on having to meet you every year, are extreamly pushy, and one that was so rude to me i refused to deal with that sales person anymore. The next one they sent was almost as bad and told me as the book was nearly finalised (which they always say) it didnt matter to him if i went in it or not!!

 

[Nasio987]

Yell.com is just throwing your money away. I am an Internet Marketer and I know when I see where companies can get ripped off.

Are you on the first page of Google at all?

 

[Matt1959]

Yell.com is just throwing your money away. I am an Internet Marketer and I know when I see where companies can get ripped off.

Are you on the first page of Google at all?

how can you say that when people have clearly said on this thread that yell.com works for them?

 

[Nasio987]

how can you say that when people have clearly said on this thread that yell.com works for them?

Well based on experience and as an Internet Marketer I know what works
and what doesnt work.

And spending money on directories will not generate long-term clients for
any business.

 

[Matt1959]

Well based on experience and as an Internet Marketer I know what works
and what doesnt work.

And spending money on directories will not generate long-term clients for
any business.

yell.com is generally deemed good for local trades. Like I said, a few posters on here say Yell.com works for them so you are wrong to make the sweeping statement "Yell.com is just throwing your money away" would you agree?

 

[peebles]

Hi,

It depends on your business.

What we did was we said we weren't that interested but we needed to discuss it. He rang us back. I said we hadn't had chance to discuss it but what was the price? he quoted us £1,000 (more or less). I kept him hanging on for a few weeks literally and in the end he gave us an advert for £250. treat em mean, keep em keen.

we are joiners (both fixing - as in skirting boards and internal stuff, and shuttering - where we build the wooden frame for a wall then the concrete is poured and they take the wooden frame away once the concrete has set). we have had quite a few responses from both sides from yell.

i wouldn't recommend thompson (purely from personal experience and my brother has had good business from them but for us it hasn't worked). I wouldn't recommened firsly because there paperwork isn't great - ie they can't get the basics right. secondly because we've had no business from our advert with them.

for us (we're in commercial joinery, ie building buildings rather than doing up individual domestic clients property) the best form of advertising has been my hubbie being rather fantastic at cold calling and getting on people's tender lists.

so in answer to your question, treat em mean. be very nonchalent and get a good price. don't ever take the first quote.

 

[FitnessandHealth]

I think it really depends what business the company is in,