Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 11/16/08 11:59pm
Msg #269866
I paid for an ad on the Internet Yellow Pages
I signed a contract for 1 year at $85.00 per month for the Internet Yellow Pages and I think it was a mistake. I've had the ad for approx. 6 weeks with not much response.
But, I think, I didn't target the people to hire my Notary service that I should have?
I am trying to market myself for Notary Public work (none loan signing) in the Riverside CA area and I realized I should have put my ad in the Yellow Page Book we get thrown on our doorstep.
My reasoning is that while, the 20, 30 40. age group doesn't use the Yellow Pages Book much, because these age group do a Google/Yahoo search for a notary public in Riverside CA.
The problem with my marketing is the age group who own: businesses, properties, living trust, properties in other states, etc are in the age group 50,60 70, and they grew up with the yellow pages and that is what they use.
The Yellow Pages, that are dropped on my doorstep, seem to have more pages than ever. This will decrease as the years go by and the Internet takes over the search by younger people.
I welcome your comments.
| Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/17/08 1:59am
Msg #269869
I say forget it. It's way too expensive in the SoCal area to advertise in the YP unless you are one of the most essential services. However, notary services might be one of those that people look for.
I don't use the YP... or even the YP online. Those sites annoy me to death. I just utilize the right search terms for what I need. It works perfectly for me.
You're better off utilizing proper SEO on your website and ethical SEO practices as you post on the web.
| Reply by Margaret_FL on 11/17/08 5:32am
Msg #269873
I paid for a year in the Yellow Pages and it was big mistake, 1 call a month did not pay for my ad. What has worked for me is my web page. It seems that the older people have children that do the search for them.
| Reply by PAW on 11/17/08 7:12am
Msg #269876
I agree with Margaret. Printed YB ads do not have the ROI one would expect, imo. However, I do heavily advertise on the internet; SuperPages, YellowBookOnline, Craigslist, CofC website, reciprocal links with local businesses, ActiveRain, MerchantCircle, etc. I also have counter-top business card holders (loaded with my business cards, of course) distributed to anywhere that will allow me to leave them, like restaurants, laundromats, barber shops, hairdressers, doctor's offices, stores that cater to the elderly and handicapped (wheelchairs, scooter stores, etc.), etc.. Don't forget page size posters for grocery stores, department stores, FLEA MARKETS, too.
There are lot's of places.
Remember where you leave a supply of your cards and revisit them often to see if your cards are being noticed and taken. Refill as necessary.
Another big area are the colleges and universities. Notarized diplomas and transcripts are often needed, especially with international students.
As I said, there are lots and lots of places to advertise your general notary work. Not only has this been inexpensive to do, but has been successful as well, and many "jobs" have had referrals and repeat business.
It's not rocket science, just common sense. Think about your own shopping habits. Anywhere YOU go, others go too. Anywhere others go, is an opportunity for you.
| Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 11/17/08 7:54pm
Msg #269947
Paw really great suggestions. I appreciate all the impute and I will let everyone know in a couple of months how this advertising campaign is working.
I have a feeling I know how it's going to workout but time will tell.
Thanks to everyone who responded.
| Reply by MW/VA on 11/17/08 7:30am
Msg #269877
I've had a free ad on YellowPages.com. I do get some hits from it. I wouldn't put any money into anything other than internet advertising. I get the most advertising benefit from this site & the # site, because of the placement they have on search engines. The telephone directories must be even more desperate than the Post Office. They are delivering new ones several times a year instead of one annually. This is all about the sale of the advertising. I, for one, never use them anymore.
| Reply by 101livescan on 11/17/08 8:23am
Msg #269879
YP reps are a bunch of hype. Sales reps called me night and day quoting all the way up to $600 a month (online YP), bugging me to take out an ad. All with the pressure statement, "You'll generate 10 times this amount in sales by taking out this ad." Unreal that they can misrepresent themselves this way. So I bought magnetic signs for my car doors and white letters on the rear of my car. I get way more business from these signs than I ever imagined I could. I think the YP, online and paper directory, are a complete waste of money. Better ways to market to people who are not internet savvy than the old phone directory.
| Reply by spnotaryplus on 11/17/08 9:17am
Msg #269887
I have a YP and SP free ad listing and its worked for me but I'm on the East Coast and quite a few people use the online sites. Last month I received 15 calls for notarizations in my area. I was contacted by both companies to place a pay for place ad in order to generate more business but I declined since it hasn't been so bad plus my site gets a lot of hits as well. Its probably a good idea to break away from paying for advertising at the moment.
JMO
| Reply by LKT/CA on 11/17/08 12:42pm
Msg #269903
Joan, you'd be surprised......the 50, 60 & 70 age group does use internet search engines to find a Notary.....or their children/grandchildren find a notary via internet on their behalf. I am reluctant to sign any contracts to advertise due to the economy.....at least the $85 is tax deductible. I think a 90 day assessment will give you a better picture of whether print advertisement in your area will target the market you're after.
| Reply by Brenda/CA on 11/17/08 1:03pm
Msg #269905
I too paid for an ad in yellow pages a few years ago; it was a waste of money in my opinion. I get much more business via my website, and my marketing campaign.
It is not just younger people that use the internet for search; it is people of all ages. I was contacted by an elderly woman that said she just typed in notary, city, and state and found what she was looking for lol.
| Reply by Julie/MI on 11/17/08 1:13pm
Msg #269906
I did the same ads for the same reasons you did Joan, and I never made a single dollar.
I think it depends on your state, if you need a lot of forms notarized from the state, Michigan does not require many things to be notarized. Trusts and such are done in the lawyer's office.
What happened to Joe Ewing? Wasn't he the guru of CA and general notary work? He would be the one to track down and ask.
| Reply by Brooke Squyres on 11/17/08 2:20pm
Msg #269913
My web page has been great. I find that elderly people do have their kids google notary/city; I have also been told over and over that my picture looked professional, so they felt comfortable about me coming out. Also, quick response time. No one wants to leave a message and hours go by without a response. I still take my phone to the bathroom with me, even though it isn't like the old days where you would have to stop your shower several times to take signing calls. ****sigh***
| Reply by Ernest__CT on 11/18/08 11:06am
Msg #269968
Yellow Pages get some results, but ...
... are they the results you're looking for?r
General Notary work isn't very lucrative, at least in states that set the (low!) fees that we can charge. In CT that's $5 per notarial act plus $0.35 per mile travel. Notaries Public who obey the law couldn't afford to advertise in the printed phone books, unless they live in major metropolitan areas. Or add some kind of expidited service fee, after hours fee, etc.
People with a storefront where they do other business may be making money on general Notary work, but those of us who are strictly mobile are going quietly broke without the loan closings we used to have.
| Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 11/18/08 9:56pm
Msg #270038
Re: Yellow Pages get some results, but ...
Thanks for replying.
General Public notary work doesn't work in all states. I wonder what you do in states where you can only charge $.35 per mile, when a person is house bound for instance or in a nursing home without a notary on board?
We don't have a mobile fee limite in CA.
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