I have a "Referred By" entry on my New Customer form, so I always ask when I'm signing up a new customer. Gets stored in the clients table in my database. Paul Bruesch (former database admin nerd) Stillwater, MN <div class="gmail_quote">On Feb 17, 2008 6:41 PM, Steve Brooks <<a href="mailto:smbrooks@sprynet.com">smbrooks@sprynet.com</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Absolutely Scott, My observations on the type of company that benefits from Yellow Pages advertising isn't a blind opinion, it comes from testing and observation. It comes from working with a couple of hundred companies who do test their advertising and track their sales leads. Of course it was free advice to the list and I expect it to be valued that way. You can keep a pad of paper by the phone and that's a great idea. But, that's going to take a long time, isn't it? How many prospect calls do you get per week? Meanwhile you are paying for advertising for a full year at a crack. If you want to know much faster, perhaps before you write a big check, call a bunch of your customers and ask them how they found you and analyze the results. You will learn a lot from your customers and probably pick up some piano business in the process.  Just tell them you are doing a little survey and would like to ask them a question. Not very intimidating ... and you'll have your answer in a few days. Rooting for you, Steve That's the idea Julia, At a business course that i attended, the message that was repeated every week was "test and measure" your advertising. No matter what anyone else says, to find out what works for your business, you need facts. Someone on this list may say phooey to Yellow Pages or whatever, but maybe it's good for you, where you're at, at this moment. It's something else to remember, but if you can ask each caller why they rang you or where they found your number, then you'll know whether advertising or referrals are getting you business. Not greeeying (yet), Scott Jackson    ------------------------------------------------------------------------    From: <a href="mailto:KeyKat88@aol.com">KeyKat88@aol.com</a>    Greeeying    I think I am going to keep a survey pad by the phone on exactly how    many customers ask what and when. I need to make more.    Julia    Reading, PA -- "The masses have never thirsted after truth.  Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim."  Gustave Le Bon from his 1896 book "The Crowd" </blockquote></div>