The Yellow pages, a directory of business addresses and phone numbers, is practically an age-old institution, which has been around since 1883. The Yellow Pages - clearly - are usually printed on yellow paper, whereas the White Pages are for non-commercial listings. Countries all over the world now employ the Yellow Pages, and they are also now available all over the internet.
As stated, the Yellow Pages are a directory of business, the printed version of which services a specific area - for example, the Metro Detroit area or the area of Upstate New York. All one need do is check under the alphabetical listings for whatever service they require, be it plumbers, dentists, pet shops, or restaurants. In the past, the telephone companies published the Yellow Pages, but now, not only are they published on the internet as well, they can also be marketed towards specific demographics, such as the Christian Yellow Pages.
Generally, a new version of the Yellow Pages is published each year and distributed at no charge. Those who publish the Yellow Pages receive a profit by selling ad space within the large book, with the rates for advertising space increasing every year, no matter the size or location of the advertisement.
The "walking fingers" logo is familiar to most people as referring to the Yellow Pages, although it is not actually a registered trademark.
While local phone companies who publish their version of the Yellow Pages rely on their own customer lists, be it individual homes or business, to know what to put into the book, advertisers and businesses are invited to get in contact with their local publisher. That way they can make certain that the number(s) of their business make it into the annual publication.
When advertising in the Yellow Pages, payments must be paid in full before the printing, or provisions for monthly payment methods can be made. There are always sales representatives available to help business prepare and publish their ad – though consumers should note that many contracts contain clauses permitting automatic renewal whether they want it or not.
These days, it is less necessary to use the printed Yellow Pages, for both shoppers and advertisers, due to the fact that there are so many Yellow Pages available on the internet. As such, many of the traditional Yellow Pages publishers are attempting to set up their own internet sites.
One of the key differences between the printed Yellow Pages and those on the internet is that the Yellow Pages on the internet do not routinely cover just a specific area. Users simply have to type in their city, state, or zip code, and the business for which they are searching, and then a selection of local businesses appears.
However, the innovations do not stop with personal computers. Many mobile phones and GPS navigators also have Yellow Pages at the ready for their users, meaning that now it is possible to search for a business practically anywhere in the world.
For a company that started locally in Wyoming during the 1800s, the Yellow Pages have become an institution. Just because they are now making transitions from printed books to multimedia versions does not take away from their necessity and usefulness. Rather, they are now more widely available than ever and accessible to just about anyone, worldwide.