Hi all,trying to get into post mode rather than stalking. Here's my first hurdle, what does anyone think about putting their physical address on advertising when working from home? I'm kind of thinking about security both from the point of view that peoplle will know what you've got there and hey'll have a good idea when no one is in. This has really come up because Yellow Pages won't accept an advert without a full physical address (although there are already some in the current edition).
PS does anyone have any alternatives or the costs ooooooooooooooof a PO Box????

Thanks everyone
Vinnie

Easy answer to this one... tell yellow pages your address for accounting reasons and that it is not to be included in the ad... if they insist, explain security reasons for not putting in address - if they still insist - tell them that they can put the name of the road = remember though, you are paying them for your advert and as such, they should only print the ad in the format that you want. They will do as you ask if they think they are about to lose ad revenue!

Thanks Kazzachi,

worked out a compromise (they said it had to be included because of advertising standards?????) by reducing it to a tiny font and changing the colour to a very pale grey, on white background (the old terms and conditions trick).

Vinnie

I still would have argued - As long as YP has a record of your address it doesnt have to be published to all and sundry... especially if it compromises security. Any customers phoning via your ad in YP who decided to enter into a contract with you would automatically get your name and address etc... so the advertising standards argument by YP is total BULL.... Remember you are their customer and as such they should do as you want - not what they want you to do! Let em phone me... I would get your ad in the way you want it!
AND.... if they still gave the advertising standards argument - I would then ask them why they still accept PO Box numbers - which are in no way a permanent form of address!

I agree with Kazz on this one, I'm suprised Dan has'nt said anything as I know he has an ad in YP

Spin

Yes - I did have an argument at the time about my address being listed.
I was told that the 'law' states that I was required to give an address, or I couldn't have an advert.
Then I got some hassel about living in Essex but advertising in the South East edition.
I made the point that I lived in Essex but mainly work in the South East.
They couldn't object to that.
My first year gave me a Free Advert in a different section, but for year 2 onwards, they declined any more 'free ads'.

I hadn't thought of the 'PO Box' point to make.
That is a good point.

...think about it guys.... you pay for the number of word in a lineage add... so if they are trying to force you to put your address - then that adds up to more words and more revenue for the YP! The advertising standards thing is total Cr~p! A/S are there to oversee misleading ads etc - Along with the PO Box argument, you can also ad the "picture only" ad to the list.

Thanks for the support on this Kazzachi, but due to imminent cut off and the fact that they were prepared to lose the business I made a call to compromise. I'm really hoping to take my business to the next level and feel that this ad is quite important to do that. Had I had more time maybe I would have fought it harder.
Thanks for the advice again as there are some valid arguments in there.
Vinnie

Don't forget one little detail. For the client, P.O Box addresses have long since been viewed with suspicion, often used by fly by night companies to fleece people they enjoy quite a sour reputation, so ultimately you may do your business more harm than good. For instance would you buy a £1000 lighting effect from a mail order company using a PO box address?

Y/P can keep your address of file for "legal Reasons" and billing purposes without publishing them in the directory, similar in the way in which newspapers publish readers' letters (H.R, Basingstoke). There is NO legal requirement to have your address published in any publication, this is more of a company policy directive rather than a must!.

Maybe we should run a poll on "How does Yellow Pages work for you", for me it did nothing over 3 years, and didn't even bring in the extra revenue to pay for the Ad's!. Maybe it varies from area to area but I won't be using them again.

Crispy - I wouldnt use them either - I think YP is ok for new jocks but if you have been in the business for a number of years you really should not have to advertise!

I'll be mointoring the results and will let everyone know. Being one of the used to and picking it up again dj's I just want to see if it is possible to turn this into a real business as near to full time as possible. Would be interested in what some of the full timers do mid-week as it doesn't take a genius to realise it's not possible on just weekend gigs (unless you develop the corporate market). I think I'm pricing myself towards the right end of the market and am getting my business through referral at the moment, and along with the YP ad am looking at networking as the main basis for building the business. Are there any archives or current views on how to approach the corporate market or how it differs from the private.
Cheers for the forum and great resource.
Vinnie

Most corporate functions that I do are either booked via an agent - or hosted at the hotel I resident at, Im afraid its pretty much the same as anything... if someone know you and likes you - you get their bookings - we do tons for a conferencing company who just wont use anybody else... Corporate dos arent any better than the normal wedding/birthday do vinnie.... just perhaps more p##ssed people taking advantage of the company tab!

I hadn't been in the YP for a few years but decided to try it again this year, with an ad that cost £700, full colour etc, the only people ringing up are 'How much is a disco' people, so will be going back to normal next year again, and have £700 to spend on ME !!

The reason I advertised in YP was because I used to work for 2 very well established agents, who supplied excellent work for over 5 years.

When I left the agency to 'go it alone', I wanted to let as many people know that I was available.

I sent letters to venues, business cards, etc to promote my service.
The small ads in the local press wasn't cheap - and I compared the prices to YP.
I made the decision on 'area distribution' as opposed to advert fee - which I believe was a gambled decision!

YP was a total gamble - that paid off for the first year. But it could have quite easily gone the other way.

My YP ad generated £6000 of my turnover last year (the ad cost £1000). What I haven't taken into account though is how many 'recommendations' I had to turn down because I was already committed to a YP gig. Maybe if I could calculate this I'd know the true worth of the ad.

It is true that people who are enquiring in response to the ad are more interested in price first as opposed to those thru recommendation or who have seen you in action where cost doesn't seem to matter so much.

I would say that a pretty fair ratio is for every 3 enquiries from YP I get one job but then I'm not the cheapest disco so if you are prepared to work for less money then you may fair better & YP could be a good option.

My return on the ad may not be exceptional (in money terms) but I do intend to run it again this year and do a better analysis of it's true value.

PaulS

Thanks for all the replys guys. A lot of useful info!
Cheers again,
Vinnie