Yellow Pages Phone Book vs. Website

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

I still get the same questions from some business owners “Why is having a website so important? I have gotten by fine all these years with just the Yellow Pages phone book listing”.

The printed version of the phone book is quickly becoming extinct. Next year households will only get a copy of the book if they specifically ask for it in the Calgary area. Over the next 5 years the printed books will be phased out in many areas and more emphasis put on the online listings.

With a well designed and built website you will be found by users who are interested in what you sell right at the very moment the potential customers are in the mind frame to buy. Your website is open 24/7, 365 and has all the information on how you are different from your competition. When the customer has made a buying decision your website has tools that make it easy for the customer to contact you. What an efficient selling tool!

The difference between baby boomers and the new generation of customers is what business owners must wrap their heads around. The new generation uses the internet to do their market research and make a buying decision. Most of them have never even used a phone book before.

The cost of having a 1/8th page black and white ad in most phone books for one year is the approximate cost to create a nice website.

All business owners should make a well designed website part of their marketing mix. It will drive leads and sales and over time will become a very important tool for creating brand awareness and educating potential customers on service offerings.

Tags: Marketing Mix, Phone Book, Website Design
Posted in Online Marketing, Website Design, WordPress Site Development | 4 Comments »