Ad Prices for Yellow Pages

[Elwood Doss, Jr.]

I advertise in the regional phone book (independent) and have a listing
under "Piano Tuners."  I pay $125 for the listing (rural area) which covers
4 counties in a two-state area.  I get several calls each year for those
looking for someone to tune their pianos.  I am contemplating going to a
display ad primarily to advertise the "RPT" designation.  To me that's
important and says something about my work provided people know what it
means.  I do make a little money on the present ad but to double the cost
would not bring in much more if any business, but would be primarily an
educational endeavor.  If we don't advertise PTG and the RPT designation it
will mean nothing to the customer.  At the same time, a number of my
customers are pleased that I have that designation and work on their pianos.
I have considered writing some articles on piano tuning/maintenance/RPT
designation and taking them to the local newspapers and seeing if they would
publish them--primarily for educational reasons.  I worked to become an RPT
for myself, but I think it benefits the customer also.

Joy!
Elwood

Elwood Doss, Jr., RPT
Piano Technician/Technical Director
Department of Music
145 Fine Arts Building
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN  38238
731-881-1852
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Renz Piano Tuning / Repair" <pianotuner@frontiernet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:42 AM
Subject: Ad Prices for Yellow Pages


> I am trying to plan for yellow page ads for next years phone book and
> trying to see if the price quoted is "average".
>
> $125 a month for a 16th page display graphic ad.
>
> $80 a month for 1 inch text ad in main section and 1 free in "suburban"
> section.
>
> I heard on the list that a yellow page ad should cost no more than 1
> tuning. Is this true or just a guideline?
>
> This  yellow page ad reaches a large city of 1.2 million residents.
>
> The sales person said that graphic display ad's get more calls but I'm
> not sure if yellow page ads work as well as "word of mouth, networking"
> advertising.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Doug Renz
> Associate PTG
> pianotuner@frontiernet.net
>
>