Yellow Pages vs. Search Engines

Which is Better?

By Kevin McKnelly

When I speak with clients about their advertising budgets, it amazes me how often they take the "business as usual" point-of-view.  They are quite willing to shell out $1,000 to $10,000 per year in Yellow Page advertising, but pay very little attention to their website.  Often, they have a cheap, unprofessional site created years ago that is nowhere to be found on Google, or they have no website at all.  They cringe when I mention taking some of that Yellow Page money and putting into a website.

Here is a little data:

As of 2008, search engines like Google finally passed the Yellow Pages when it comes to customers looking for local businesses.  In 2009, Yellow Page Advertising Sales dropped another 7.5%.  The Yellow Page companies have been trying desperately to get into the SEO business (too little, too late) and are a sinking ship as far as I am concerned.  Year-after-year, the usage of the internet as a search tool for products and services has grown expotentially.  Search Engines are here to stay as the premier search tool for people looking for what they want. 

What does this mean for your business?

Yellow Pages are still used by local customers looking for your business, but search engines have taken the lead.  A website will give your customers a different tool to find your business.  Internet search engine use has increased every year (and the trend is forecast to continue).   Ignoring this trend means that you will not be taking full advantage of the most effective advertising tool available to you. 

At Red Dragonfly Web Design, we specialize in creating for your business a website that is the centerpiece of any marketing campaign.  It is where your customers can go to learn about your business, and contact you to request your services. 

Let us build you a free website at no obligation.  You can play with it for 15 days.  We can schedule one of our product specialists to give you a test drive, and answer any questions you may have.  

Hope this helps!

Kevin McKnelly

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