Recently, Self-Storage Now!
Magazine asked me to write a Yellow
Pages article for owners of self-storage and
mini-storage facilities.
At the time, I was sitting in a hotel room that
had five different local BellSouth telephone
directories in the
closet. It's sad, but I notice these things
when I check into a hotel.
I began flipping through the self-storage
sections of
the directories, looking for inspiration.
Although I have written several articles about
Yellow Pages, I had never focused on the
self-storage industry.
I quickly discovered that every ad in those
directories violated the most basic advertising
principles. All, that is, except one. One ad
stood out from all others, and I knew I had my
story.
I cranked into the wee hours writing the article
and then
spent the next few weeks gathering statistics,
quotes and tracking down the original ad.
The article was published in the
January/February 2005 edition of
Self-Storage Now! Magazine.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service reports
that this rare breed of Alabama Elk
is quickly becoming extinct.
If you missed my newsletter on the rise of
Pay-Per-Call, you ought to check it out. A
week after my article came out, AOL announced a
PPCall deal with Ingenio.
I don't have any tattoos; but if I ever got one,
this
would be it.
Bake a cake!
February 21 marks the 127th birthday of the
Yellow Pages. OK, so they weren't really
yellow, and there was only one page. Still, if
you'd like to see the very first edition, check
it out.
I've been researching various search marketing
tools that would make it easier to provide
search engine marketing to a very large number
of small businesses.
In my opinion, the tools that ReachLocal has
developed make selling search marketing
incredibly easy.
I'm not easily impressed (unless I'm looking in
the mirror), but these guys have it nailed more
than anyone I've seen.
If there are better tools out there, I haven't
seen them. They combine metered calls and
metered clicks in a way that truly measures the
results
of a search marketing campaign for local businesses.
I thought I'd seen it all, but realized I live a
sheltered life (sigh).
It's the Blog!back to top Forward to a Friend ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every day, I post some interesting Yellow
Pages / Internet Local Marketing news on the
Yellow Pages Commando blog.
If you want to know whats really going
on
in the Yellow Pages world, check out the
YPcommando blog.
I'm too much of a chicken to get
any of my parts pierced, but if I did, these
guys would
get my business.
On April 18 (my birthday), everybody who's
anybody in the local search space will be in
Silicon Valley for Kelsey's Drilling Down on
Local conference.
If you're in the space, you need to be in this
space.
Their last conference in Jersey
City was the best they've ever held. This one
promises to be even better because it's right in
the heart of the action.
The winner will receive 15 minutes of
uninterrupted fame .
To
improve your random chances of
winning,
please include your name and company name.
I draw the winner the day before I send the
following newsletter, so keep voting until the
polls close. Quote of the Weekback to top Forward to a Friend ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If you deliberately set out to be less than you
are capable, you'll be unhappy for the rest of
your life."
I've been bragging about Kerry Randall's book on Yellow Pages Advertising for Lawyers as being simply the best book I've read for Yellow Pages advertisers. The problem was that it was targeted toward lawyers and didn't address other business types.
Wisely, Kerry updated the wonderful tips and marketing plans for any business that advertises in the Yellow Pages.
He sent me a copy for review, and I liked it so much that I bought the exclusive rights to market the electronic version.
His book is loaded with very specific examples and exercises that are easy to follow. I can honestly say that every advertiser (even a guy with a little in-column ad) will benefit by reading this book.
I've seen, and even promoted other very good YP books that sell for $50 - $150, but nothing cuts to the chase like Winning the Yellow Pages War. Kerry focuses on the critical issues that will have the biggest impact. He uses solid examples and shows ads created using his techniques.
I'm selling copies of Winning the Yellow Pages War for only $25.00. That price is far too little for the value the book contains.
However, my mission as the Yellow Pages Commando has always been to help more people be successful with their Yellow Pages advertising rather than to get rich off a few that can afford a higher price.
I'll email the book to you as a PDF document that can be read and printed using the free Adobe Acrobat reader.
I offer a 100% money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with your investment. You have nothing to lose.
At the time, I was sitting in a hotel room that
had five different local BellSouth telephone
directories in the
closet. It's sad, but I notice these things
when I check into a hotel.
Buford and
Festus attended the Annual Hedgehog Toss
at the county fair.
