Why we don’t use the phone book anymore…
A month or so ago when the cables were cut that wiped out internet and long distance phone service for much of the south bay, I actually had to use the phone book. It reminded me of the joy (sarcasm) of using the Yellow Pages.
Let’s face it, there isn’t just one “yellow pages” anymore. There are a zillion different brands and you know what? Nobody cares. Know why? Because we’re using the internet to find the products and services we need. I remembered what a pain it was to use the phone book when I couldn’t find the business I was looking for in the yellow pages section. The business was probably listed, but for the life of me I couldn’t find the right category and that meant I couldn’t find the business. Oh how I wished for Google and its 2-second job of doing the dirty work for me.
I have somewhere around 10 phone books tucked away in different parts of my house “in case of emergency” but I really just want to throw them all away. I’ve stopped bringing in most new ones that are dropped off at the house. Most of them go straight into the garbage can. I don’t even bother taking them out of the plastic wrap. Chunk - in they go. I update every few years, but that’s about it. I mostly keep them around, like I said - in case of emergency, but they are still pretty useless as a source of information. I figure they will be handy as seating, step stools, or stuff to burn in the event of nuclear halocaust.
That being said, if you have a product or service you’d like me to buy or at least consider buying and you’re only listed in the phone book, then we will probably never meet. If your only presence online is the cheesy phone book listing where you don’t even have an actual domain email address for your business but are using yahoo, gmail or something equally unprofessional, your chances with me are still pretty slim. Why? Because if one of your competitors took the time, effort, or dollars to create (or hired someone to create) an actual online presence with a real domain name (as in www.yourbusiness.com), then I’m 80% more likely to give them my business instead of you unless I already have positive experience with you.
Why? Because online is how I choose to search for information in this day and age and I appreciate it when a business makes it easy for me to find their product or service online. I appreciate it when they are thoughtful enough to make sure I have the information I need to find them, consider them, etc.
If you’re on a budge, even a great looking, one-page informational site can be enough to help people find you online and express your solid interest in the internet customer.
And… if you’re one of the few people out there that are saying you don’t have time for the internet, consider this: Just because you don’t have time for the internet, doesn’t mean there aren’t people on the internet every day looking for you and your business, product, or service.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cynthia Clinton offers web design, graphic design, Dreamweaver instruction, copywriting services, document formatting services, and photo enhancement through her primary business Cloistre Media. She also leads life changing Break Out Of Negativity workshops for individuals in the evenings as well as corporate clients during the business day. Additionally, she’s been a Jewelry Designer since 1997 and has published 4 jewelry making books. She is available for jewelery making classes on weekends and sells her jewelry making books & projects online.
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