Yell.com - your choice

[Cloak & Dagger]

I worked for Yell.com ( Yellow Pages ) up until April,i worked there for 3 years,I can categorically tell you that the agents in there will sell to their targets before selling to your needs,it may interest you to know that the agents can earn up to 30% of what they sell you so it's in their best interests to sell you a high package,they are also meant to sell to a list of " data " that gets sent to them which gets wheeled out every so often,you are told to call it despite it being called 2 months before,thats what the £26k basic wage is for.

They CANNOT in ANY way guarantee you leads,they have something called Call counter which they say will count the calls you get,unfortunatley a high percentage of these calls will be from people trying to sell you something,think of it this way,If Yell.com worked really well then why don't they put their money where their mouth is and say you can cancel after 3 months if the results dont materialise ? It's simple,they won't because they are DESPERATE to get you on a DD or even better invoice you for the full year,however things may be changing.

Yell's marketshare shrunk last year ,their customer base shrunk FACT.
In the past this wasn't a problem because the amount of " new businesses " always filled in the gap but now thats not happening and their big big focus is on retention,Yell & Yellow Pages will always be here in some fashion but they trade a lot of time on name alone,they can tell you about all the shiny great new products they have and some of them are truly great,however the charges for the gamble for business im my humble opinion is NOT fair .

I now work in Customer service and although i do miss sales i am glad i am not affecting peoples livley-hoods in such a fashion as i was - Yell.com does work for some businesses but i beleive that to be lower than the ones it doesent work for - Yell.com - your choice

 

[Dom63]

Yell.com what a waste of money.
They are doing some amount of radio advertising and van floats trying to drum up customers.
Think the came is up for them

Dom

 

[3 MORE YEARS]

Thanks for that.

What I always suspected about Yell. I heard that (in the press) they are suffering financially.

Waste of money. Only possible value I can see is the link.

 

[Lincs1]

Interesting. I've heard a few complaints about the compact editions now being rolled out in their book format.

 

[E Storey]

I don't think we needed a disgrunteled employee to tell us this, Yell.com plague me with calls but their prices are extortionate.

One of my clients had nearly gone bust through being missold about 6,000 pounds worth of advertising leading to just two clicks per month. When I tell yell this, their sales people get angry with me.....

Yell/yellowpages is good for some trades, like bookkeeping or plumbing, where people look when they are desperate, I actually do get a call every week or two through yell, but only through the free listing, these enquiries are great for me, people who use it are so desperate that I get the gig just by answering the phone, however for other types of business, or even the likes of mine, I would never spend more on a bigger advert, it's just too pricey.

 

[Dirky47]

Thanks! I've been using it and I really appreciate its usage.

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

I thought we'd consigned Yell to the scrapheap some time ago. I'm surprised they are still going. Yellow pages seemed to work well for businesses offering services (not goods) to the public before the widespread use of the internet. But now very few people use them (and most of them are literally dying off). Their attempts to get in the search engine business with Yell.com seem doomed to failure - how many people use them, when you can Google say 'plumbers in Rhyl' so easily?

A typical example of a company resting on past laurels and not moving with the times.

Barrie

 

[jdpackaging]

thanks for that, I am just trying to work with it but now........

 

[David Earle]

I almost laughed last week when a customer came into the shop and said "I didn't know you existed until I saw the shop - I looked in the Yellow Pages for a t-shirt printing shop but couldn't find any". I was surprised because I can't believe people actually still use the Yellow Pages when we have the internet at our fingertips! But I guess you still have to cater for the dinosaurs.

Internet search engines like Google should be advertising on the radio etc to tell people to stop using the YP and use the internet, where they can find real, useful and up to date information on the businesses they are looking for.

 

[virtuallysorted]

Interestingly, Yell.com do a pay-per-click listing, but they don't really advertise it. You appear as a premium advert at the top of the search listings but only pay for it if someone clicks on the advert. This makes it much more cost effective than their banner adverts or extortionate printed ads. For my service, people need to be fairly computer savvy to use us, so it's not a great lead generating tool.

The bog standard free listing still generates some enquiries but as we are at the very bottom of the section (under V for Virtually Sorted) we are always surprised by the numbers of people above us who have failed to answer their phones. People call us up and say "Oh I tried about 10 secretarial services and you're the first one to pick up the phone!"

 

[coxdabd]

I've recently added a business listing on to Yell.com. My goodness, I could not add a URL for the life of me, others seem to have. Things like this which irritate, I shall not be using them again. I too think their time is up imminently.

 

[Gaskell]

I'm into my second year of a business listing with Yell.com. Since I renewed the contract for another year in March, I've had four customers ring me as a result of the advertisement. I have call counter Geo, 118 118, a web page made up by Yell and of course the advert itself.

I only pay for it for more internet presence, if I'd discovered Google Adwords prior to my contract renewal I definitely wouldnt of gone on for another year with Yell. Google Adwords pay-per-click advertising is much more successful, I get most of my business through Adwords now.

 

[BdTS]

Yell do offer monthly contracts.

Their big focus right now is on selling renewal advertising - they do not want people being sold not enough coverage and then cancelling the year after.

Good advertising isn't cheap.

Obviouslty a disgruntled employee......

 

[Dave.F]

Hi Cloak & Dagger,

Thank you for your insight.

I have been a customer of YP (book) for a few years now and have been told a few times (on this forum) that if you haggle hard you can get a discount on your book advert but I have never managed it....

For example if I placed an order for a £3,344 Dbl 1/2 COL 3 Clrwko (single directory) listing (including the FREE yell.com listing) under a single heading.............could I negotiate a lower price (not extras in yell.com or 118 247)?

I know you stated that the commission on yell.com is 30% but what is the commission on the book?

 

[Esk247]

Hi Cloak & Dagger,

Thank you for your insight.

I have been a customer of YP (book) for a few years now and have been told a few times (on this forum) that if you haggle hard you can get a discount on your book advert but I have never managed it....

For example if I placed an order for a £3,344 Dbl 1/2 COL 3 Clrwko (single directory) listing (including the FREE yell.com listing) under a single heading.............could I negotiate a lower price (not extras in yell.com or 118 247)?

I know you stated that the commission on yell.com is 30% but what is the commission on the book?

but don't you just say to them that you'll take your business elsewhere when they quote a price? in the same way as you haggle for a car?

Car Price: 8995
You say: oh mate, i can only stretch to £8,500
Saving: £495

they'll always take it, if you're not far off the asking price, its still a fair deal and you save yourself some cash at the same time.

 

[Dave.F]

but don't you just say to them that you'll take your business elsewhere when they quote a price? in the same way as you haggle for a car?

Car Price: 8995
You say: oh mate, i can only stretch to £8,500
Saving: £495

they'll always take it, if you're not far off the asking price, its still a fair deal and you save yourself some cash at the same time.

Have you achieved this yourself with a Yellow Pages Book listing?

So many people advise what you say but I have never heard of anyone achieving a discount (in money (not extras like yell or 118)) in the book listings.

I would still like to hear from Cloak & Dagger with his inside information if discounts *ARE* available.

 

[Esk247]

Have you achieved this yourself with a Yellow Pages Book listing?

So many people advise what you say but I have never heard of anyone achieving a discount (in money (not extras like yell or 118)) in the book listings.

I would still like to hear from Cloak & Dagger with his inside information if discounts *ARE* available.

not with yell but with Thomson Local.

surely they must take a discount..are you actually asking for a discount? or are you playing the 'i'm just a few pounds short, help me out' card.

 

[Dave.F]

not with yell but with Thomson Local.

surely they must take a discount..are you actually asking for a discount? or are you playing the 'i'm just a few pounds short, help me out' card.

ESK247, I have also had nice discounts with the TL and BT books.

I do know how to ask for a discount

So you have *not* had a discount with the YP book....let me know when you have, as I *still* don't know anyone who has.....

I think that some of the reason is because the YP reps don't care if you buy or not! that is why I am asking CD if they receive a commission on the book listing they sell.

 

[MASSEY]

It will be a case of they dont care.

I have spoken to many sales rep's and they lose interest as soon as they know your gonna bash the price down.

And if there is no commission in it for them they dont give a sh1t if you pay yell and list at a lower price because they only want commission.

Which is why people struggle to haggle, because if the rep you speak to is not making any money from the sale, they dont care if they lose your custom.

 

[Esk247]

ESK247, I have also had nice discounts with the TL and BT books.

I do know how to ask for a discount

So you have *not* had a discount with the YP book....let me know when you have, as I *still* don't know anyone who has.....

I think that some of the reason is because the YP reps don't care if you buy or not! that is why I am asking CD if they receive a commission on the book listing they sell.

keep your hair on

in many respects..your money might be spent better elsewhere discount or no discount.

for plumbers, electricians, garages and such it still works but for the rest..it is a slowly decreasing circle of people who view the YP.

everyone has one but not many use them..thats why the one i have is still in its packaging..2 years after i got it.

we'll see if anyone has managed to get a discount through YP

 

[Dave.F]

keep your hair on

Sorry if my post was a bit rough (must be the tradesman in me).

I monitor all my leads fully and the YP book does still work well for me but our next book is the compact version so could be interesting........

FYI:- I advertise my Double Glazing Repair Company in the YP Book (not SwimGlows or my other businesses)

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I'm a former Yellow Pages Salesman, albeit for a matter of months some 20 years ago, and a customer for several years. I have never received or heard of a negotiated deal with YP. Offrers, half price in another directory etc., but never a straight forward take it or leave it request for a discount.

This year i'm trying Yell. I have a listing with my company logo, half a dozen bullet points, phone number, e-mail and link to my own website. Address and web based map for directions, a 20 picture mini web presence where I can list or write further information and opening times all for £280(?) or thereabouts. I have second ad in anothers section with appropriate changes for around £160.

Not at all expensive for a years advertising and it's working already!

PS: Could the opening poster explain what he/she got sacked for?

 

[Esk247]

I'm a former Yellow Pages Salesman, albeit for a matter of months some 20 years ago, and a customer for several years. I have never received or heard of a negotiated deal with YP. Offrers, half price in another directory etc., but never a straight forward take it or leave it request for a discount.

This year i'm trying Yell. I have a listing with my company logo, half a dozen bullet points, phone number, e-mail and link to my own website. Address and web based map for directions, a 20 picture mini web presence where I can list or write further information and opening times all for £280(?) or thereabouts. I have second ad in anothers section with appropriate changes for around £160.

Not at all expensive for a years advertising and it's working already!

PS: Could the opening poster explain what he/she got sacked for?

are you involved in a trade though? such as plumbing, electrical services, car repairs?

services like those seem to get a better response as people need the info NOW they dont want to trawl the net and they dont expect many plumbers to be on there anyway.

although everyone is switching to the net and i'm not a fan of directories, there are A LOT of companies that have no web presence, especially builders it seems, who get work through word of mouth.

 

[MASSEY]

although everyone is switching to the net and i'm not a fan of directories, there are A LOT of companies that have no web presence, especially builders it seems, who get work through word of mouth.

There are quite a lot of tradesmen with websites now. Its just they are poorly seo'd.

If you look at google not many people look past the top 3 listings, this has been proven.

So that just puts me off yell.com straight away, they have a massive list of names and numbers, it does not mean anything to people.

If people are going to pay yell £1000-2000+ for advertising on yell.com for a priority sitting in the top 3, why would they not just spend it on seo.

Just think in the next 5-10 years more and more people will be computer literate because of school.

They will google their requirements not use the yell book or yell.com

 

[Unicora]

In my experience Yell.com's free listing is just as effective as any paid solution. For the money you spend there are far better ways to get your website out there and your business and services seem.

Web directories are good if you know which ones google looks at and correctly place your company in the right categories.

I still think the yellow pages book has its uses though as it targets the people who are not IT literate and struggle getting information online.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Hia all,

I can see why Yell is loosing business. From 2009 to 2010 they have lost 55,000 paid business customers. With an average £800 per customer, the company had lost in revenue a massive £44,000,000. I can see why Yell's sales teams are so driven.

Hope they have the lifeboats ready

 

[Investors-Wanted]

In my experience Yell.com's free listing is just as effective as any paid solution. For the money you spend there are far better ways to get your website out there and your business and services seem.

Web directories are good if you know which ones google looks at and correctly place your company in the right categories.

I still think the yellow pages book has its uses though as it targets the people who are not IT literate and struggle getting information online.

As the older generation declines, the need for the book will be les and less. The only real advantage the book has is the money it saves older people from calling thier 118247 service.

 

[Dave.F]

Many of my older customers say: "I phoned my Son / Daughter and asked them to look on their computer / internet for a double glazing repairer in the xyz area"

 

[Dilly Delores]

Yell.com coulnd't pay me to advertise with them.. Never have i come across such rude people. Had a row with one of their "advisors" who blatently called me a liar when I told her the advert i had taken out when I first started the business bought me in no custom whatsoever ( I tracked every call to see where people were finding me so I knew where/how to advertise the following year) Now when they phone i just say No thanks and hang up.. seems to keep them off my back..

 

[Dave.F]

Many of my older customers say: "I phoned my Son / Daughter and asked them to look on their computer / internet for a double glazing repairer in the xyz area"

Just to add to my above comment.....

Most type "double glazing repair in the xyz area" direct into google *not* yell.com

Also

As far as I am aware, google uses our computers ip address, so when we search on google it will automatically search locally for us....I think:|

 

[BristolBiz]

Just seen my Yellow Pages rep.

He was pushing Yell.com like mad - the figures he was quoting sounded unlikely, fr'instance he reckoned that over 6,000 people a month clicked on Mailbox service in Bristol each month with Yell . I was sceptical to say the least.

When it came to renewing my Yellow Pages ads I said I'd go with what I did last year, about £1k's worth. He said it would cost an extra £60, not much I know, but I thought I'd try & get it at last years price. He said he couldn't & walked away.

So...... I would gather they are in such a strong position in the marketplace they don't need to negotiate .

For me its more money to spend on adwords, which I know works.

Perry
Bristol Business Centre

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Hi all,

I have noticed that yell have increased their heavyweight advert on Yell.com for group 2 by £40.00. How can they justify these price increases.

Not good

 

[marshallcatering]

The business owner spent £10,000 pound last year on yell - yell pages. This did nothing for him or the business. It did not generate anything not even one phone call !

It is alot of money and i could create a better interest rate from £100 !

Great advice that backs up and informs what people are thinking !

 

[movietub]

Glad to hear it from the horses mouth at long last!

Yellow pages were dealt a death blow years ago by the net. They should have been at the forefront of online directory advertising long before most of us got online. They didn't adapt quickly enough, they didn't protect their own future.

I said all this to the most recent bloke that came in selling space, as he was adament that yellow pages still gets big results.

I always say the same thing to these people. If they think it will work, then give us the free ad for the year. If they are right, then clearly we would pay to continue the ad for the rest of time. No one ever cancels an advert once it's proven to make a good ROI.

I guess thats pretty extreme, but if they are so certain that it's the right thing to do, then why not just prove it to me and get my money for life?

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Hia All

This post has really got me interested n Yell.com. I have had a look at the many news stories about Yell.

On the BBC, it states that as of the 23rd of Sept 09, Yell was £4bn in the red. Todays share price for Yell is an all time low, with losses of 18%. I do not know what is happening to Yell, but what I can see, time is ticking.

 

[movietub]

Hia All

Yell is an all time low, with losses of 18%. I do not know what is happening to Yell, but what I can see, time is ticking.

Thats probably how they begin Yell Board meetings!

"I just don't know what happened!! We have followed exactly the same bsuiness model for 2000 years and now the world changed?!"

They should have shut down years ago when it was obvious that their business model was now useless, and that they had long since missed the opportunity to make it big online. That way there would at least have been a tearful send-off to what was quite an institution. As it is, they are still here dying slowly - and everyone else is scratching their heads wondering why they are bothering at all.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Thats probably how they begin Yell Board meetings!

"I just don't know what happened!! We have followed exactly the same bsuiness model for 2000 years and now the world changed?!"

They should have shut down years ago when it was obvious that their business model was now useless, and that they had long since missed the opportunity to make it big online. That way there would at least have been a tearful send-off to what was quite an institution. As it is, they are still here dying slowly - and everyone else is scratching their heads wondering why they are bothering at all.

Hi Movietub

I totally agree, they should have closed down. I have found another article which makes me think "WHY"?

Yell.com, the online business directory, has struck a deal with Videojug to provide tens of thousands of "how to" videos and is setting up a network of 100 blogs to turn the Yellow Pages service into a multimedia content company.

I feel they have totally lost their way

 

[movietub]

Eh? Thats totally at odds with the yellow pages brand!? And who would search on yell for a 'how to' video? If I want any sort of video I go to youtube. Which, is probably where copies of all the yell vids will end up anyway!

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Eh? Thats totally at odds with the yellow pages brand!? And who would search on yell for a 'how to' video? If I want any sort of video I go to youtube. Which, is probably where copies of all the yell vids will end up anyway!

Totally agree. I feel this post have really made me look at Yell as an advertising company.

I have just found this on another site:

Directory service Yell.com is to launch 18 new microsites to help steer consumers to information on particular business sectors.

Consumers will be able to log onto the dedicated sites and find ideas and tips from a mix of Yell bloggers and web-based information sources on “vertical” sectors including solicitors, gardening, motoring and plumbing
The company says the move is part of its expansion plans to integrate extensive consumer advice and information into its local business search experience.

They are mad!!!

 

[Cloak & Dagger]

I'm a former Yellow Pages Salesman, albeit for a matter of months some 20 years ago, and a customer for several years. I have never received or heard of a negotiated deal with YP. Offrers, half price in another directory etc., but never a straight forward take it or leave it request for a discount.

This year i'm trying Yell. I have a listing with my company logo, half a dozen bullet points, phone number, e-mail and link to my own website. Address and web based map for directions, a 20 picture mini web presence where I can list or write further information and opening times all for £280(?) or thereabouts. I have second ad in anothers section with appropriate changes for around £160.

Not at all expensive for a years advertising and it's working already!

PS: Could the opening poster explain what he/she got sacked for?

If you had read my opening post you'll see i never got sacked,I left of my own free will due to getting another offer,all be it on a little less money but a bit more ethical,yes i have made the £10k a quarter bonuses but the things that are going on in Yell just now don't sit easy with me,up north there was a scandal over certain agents "cheating" I need say no more ,from what i beleive it was on a grandoise scale and would shock if whistle-blown .