yellow pages ad

[Tom Sivak]

Marshall,
   
  I get on the average, about 50-60 calls from the Yellow Pages each year.  That has been pretty consistent over the past 10 years.  And that was with just a listing, no ad, no bold type.  From what I understand, the Yellow Pages are changing their format/boundaries this year.  They are combining several areas together into one larger book that will cover a larger area.  So, we'll have to see how that impacts things.  We'll get wider coverage, but there will be more tuners listed in each book.  
   
  I know you're eager to start and grow, as a business and as a technician.  I wish you luck.  
   
  Now here's something that kept me going, through the years, when times were leaner.  
   
  I kept statistics on the growth of my business.  Total number of tunings, by the year, and by the month.  New business vs. repeat business.  Referrals vs. Yellow Pages.  (I never kept track of grands vs. verticals.  I'm not that anal!)  
   
  All this not only helped me to understand how to help my business grow in the future, but it helped me, psychologically, as I looked at the meager sum I had earned this past year.  At least knowing that it was 150% of the amount I made last year helped.  Sometimes I'd feel like business was down and I'd look at my 'progress chart' and realize that although 'X'  tunings wasn't enough this past month, it was more than I had ever made in that same month of any year previous.  
   
  As long as we're on the subject, I just had my best month, ever, this past February, where I tuned 65 pianos.  My previous best was 38.  WooHOO!  It may not be the 80 pianos I would liked to have had, but it's closer than ever!  (I have to credit my wife for this surge in business.  She lost her job, so she's at home answering the phone, making my appointments, and calling our clients whose pianos are due to be tuned.  She has increased my business by about 40% since starting with me in January.)
   
  Been in business about 10 years now,
  Tom Sivak
  Chicago
   
  
pianotune05 at comcast.net wrote:
    HI Terry,
  My name is listed in the piano tuning and repair section.  It's just a listing.  
  Marshall
   
  -------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com> 
        "just my name phone number "
   
  Is it an ad? Does it say you are a piano technician? Is it listed in the Piano Technician (or Tuning) section?
   
  Terry Farrell
    ----- Original Message ----- 
   
  Well, the new 2006 ATT phone books are out.  I have a listing in it, just my name phone number and our town abbreviated, although some people think that South Bend is a city.  Anyway, I'm curious as to how long it took you guys out there to get your first call from your first yellow pages listing.  This way I'll know roughly what to expect and not set my expectations too high.  Thanks all. 
  Marshall

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