How effective is Advertising in a Local Publication verses the Internet?

You see ads for businesses in local advertising publications you get in the mail all the time. Do you look at these publications? If you do shortly after you look at them do they end up in the trash or somewhere where you can’t find them when you think about a business or service you want to use that you saw in one. How do you search for information today when you are looking for a product, business or service?

I learned from my younger sons and their friend’s more and more people are using the internet to begin their search for products, services, and even local businesses. In some markets the statistics back that up saying that as many as 90% start their search on the internet. As a matter of fact less and less people are using the phone book and that’s why even Yellow Book has an on line internet based directory. After all ads on the internet run 24 hours a day 7 days a week and are there when people need to find them. When people use search engines like Google it is very effective in helping them find what they are looking for when they want it! As a matter of fact if you own a local business and have a web site, local customers and potential customers from around the world can find your business. If you offer gift certificates they can even place orders from anywhere around the world and you can send them to relatives and friends they have living in the area.

Do you still use the phone book? Are ads in magazines, monthly or weekly circulars, and even your local newspaper still effective? How do you search for a business, product or service when you need or want it?