<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple id="role_body" = bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial = id="role_document"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>When I was = starting out I advertised in all the books in the surrounding area (35 mile = radius).  Small add, but a presence.  I did get calls from people in other = areas who didn’t really know exactly where I lived.  Can’t say = that YP advertising was mostly responsible for building a business, but it = didn’t hurt.  Even now, I keep a listing with a web address (not an ad) in = these same books.  Mostly for ease in finding me if they lose my card or = if my name is mentioned as a referral and they have to look me up.  = </span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span = style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p> <div> <p><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span = style='font-size:10.0pt; color:navy'>David Love</span></font><font size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'><br> davidlovepianos@comcast.net </span></font></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original = Message-----<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span = style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Tvak@aol.com<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, January = 14, 2006 6:53 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> pianotech@ptg.org<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: = AAA/YellowPage listings</span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 = face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>In a message dated 1/13/2006 7:38:56 P.M. Central Standard Time, = skline@peak.org writes:</span></font></p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>for one thing,<br> I've never wanted to live in such a big place that my<br> yellow pages listing could get lost in a crowd </span></font></p> </blockquote> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I once had a newbie tuner ask me for advice on how to get his business = started.  I said, "First of all, live somewhere where you are the only tuner = within 50 miles."</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I have struggled to build a full-time business here in the suburbs of Chicago = for nearly 10 years now.  There are tuners in every suburb surrounding = me, although I am the only tuner in my town.  All told, there are about = 12 tuners in the phone book, though.  I often hear the comment from a new client that they chose me because I = lived in their home town.  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I'm sure people in the surrounding suburbs choose their hometown tuner over = me, limiting the number of cold calls I receive.  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Yes, my business does grow each year, but not fast enough for me.  = </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I recently took over a retiring tuner's business in a different area, = about 25 miles from here.  I am listed in the phone book out there, = too.  There are 4 tuners in the book out there, but I am the only one in my = new city, and the others' home towns are about 10 miles away.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>In December I was amazed at the number of cold calls I got from my Yellow = Pages listing out there.  I had twice as much business from my = 'new' location than in my old.  Granted, the retired technician whose = business I have assumed had been in business for over 25 years out there, but these = were cold calls, and I think it's directly related to the number of tuners in = the book.  </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Sadly, here at home, the people who 'let their fingers do the walking' have = many tuners to choose from.  Happily, with the two listings together, I = am now busier than I have ever been.</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I hope you all have a profitable coming year, and are filled with as much optimism as I am. </span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></f= ont></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Tom Sivak</span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 = color=black face=Arial><span = style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Chicago</span></= font></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>