Opinions on the Performance of Yp.com?

[KPIA]

I have been Googling yp.com to see what people out there think of the performance of their 'ads' and listings and see a lot of negative but I realize that a lot of this is pre-AT&T acquisition. However one thing that does not appear to have changed is that they make lots of grandiose promises of how you are just going to be innundated with lots of prospects and that sales will see similar increases, naturally.

They nearly hooked my wife one day until I happened across the transaction in progress and put the kabash on it until I got more info. Now I am getting an offer through one of our carriers' yellow page marketing programs that includes yp.com options, so I am on the topic again.

Can anyone here expound on their experience with the ads? Good way to make the phone ring or overhyped/underperforming marketing-dollar black hole? Or something in between?

Thanks in advance.

 

[redkee]

Worse mistake I made a few years ago was yp-online for Life&health.

 

[VolAgent]

If you really believe people go to yp.com to search for services, businesses and professionals, I've got some land in Japan I'd like to sell you. (Too soon?)

 

[Alston]

Worse mistake I made a few years ago was yp-online for Life&health.

I had a similar experience.

However, my worst mistake was getting into their paper directory.

It was one of the best places to advertise in the last century. Not so much now.

In my opinion, their existence in this decade depends on the fact that many businesses do a poor job of attribution. (They don't know which advertising source to attribute their sales to.)

 

[BTFuzz]

I just ran two screw ball yp reps out of my office the other week. The dude couldn't believe it when I told him yp is worthless...jaw hit the floor. I had to get firm with them so they would leave, just wouldn't take no for an answer.

 

[AndreaSti]

We did it. Worthless.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

YP has no SEO so in order for people to find your listing they need to hit the YP site....which people don't do. Total waste of money.

I've been called quit a few times by their rabid sales reps.

 

[LJohnson89]

I stopped using yp.com when they stopped doing electronic versions of the Real YellowPages.

You used to could peruse that actual yellow pages from their site. Anyway, they stopped and went totally web-based and I couldn't find any vendors, any more.

They would be wise to bring that feature back.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Yellow Pages pulled an IBM. When IBM saw the market was starting to go towards home computers and printers they said "nah....just a fad." Now HP owns the market.

YP did the same; "this internet thing is a fad. Focus on the books." But the time they realized they made a huge mistake it was too late.

Had they played their cards right back in the late 90's, by now all anyone would be using to find stuff online would be YP.