Business directories like the Yellow Pages have been around for many years, and for most of that time they were the quickest and easiest way to find a specific business, product or service in your local area. However, the old print directories have some disadvantages compared to online business directories:
1. People are increasingly using the Internet to find local companies to do business with. The Internet has an immediacy that cannot be matched by a print directory listing. Not only can you find dozens of businesses online, but also comments, reviews, and comparisons.
2. Most print business directories are only updated once a year. This means that a directory listing may be out of date when a consumer tries to contact a business. As a business owner, it makes the list useless for announcing seasonal or short-term specials. With an online directory listing, the business owner can edit his listing at any time.
3. Print directory listings aren’t cheap. The cost of producing a print directory makes it necessary to charge quite high prices for business listings. This can put a listing out of reach for a small or new business. Many businesses don’t even track the response rate they get from their business directory, so they don’t know how much each lead is actually costing them. Website visitor tracking is relatively easy to implement and can give you a good idea of the effectiveness of your marketing.
4. The environmental impact of producing print directories is enormous. Each year more than 5 million trees are cut down in the US to produce phone books. As the cost of water and wood pulp increases, you can expect print directories to become less and less attractive. Many directories are not even used, but are simply thrown away.
5. Online business directories are getting better. Local directories let you easily search for businesses in your local area and provide photos, maps, and even videos to give you more information about the businesses you find.
