With the internet available at the tips of our fingers, having printed phone books is becoming more obsolete every day. I’ve heard people complain of what a waste of paper these books are and that when they receive the yellow pages, they immediately put them in the recycling bin. Still, businesses depend on these books to advertise in their local communities. I recently heard about a service developed in partnership between the Local Search Association and the Association of Directory Publishers which seems to keep both sides of this happy. It’s called the National Yellow Pages Consumer Choice & Opt Out Site.
Here is the info as described in an email forward sent out from the Environmental Relations Manager of Yellow Book:
“[The service] provides an easy and secure way for residents to control the number of Yellow Pages telephone directories they receive or to stop directory delivery entirely. It is a completely free service and the Local Search Association encourages efforts by municipalities and community-based organizations to make consumers aware of this important option.
The Internet-based tool is specifically designed to prevent directories from being delivered to anyone who doesn’t want one while ensuring that they are delivered to the majority of consumers who continue to rely upon and use the print Yellow Pages to make purchases supporting the local business community and economy.. It is a significant and unified commitment on behalf of directory publishers of which the positive impacts are already being realized in many communities around the country.
As the industry’s official website to manage requests, all Local Search Association and the Association of Directory Publishers member companies are committed to honoring requests made through the Opt-Out web portal. Information gathered through the site will not be sold to third-parties and will be used solely to update publishers’ delivery information.
Simply go to www.YellowPagesOptOut.com, enter your zip code and follow the prompts to make your choice. Once complete, you will be sent a confirmation email. Click the link embedded in the email to confirm your request.”
I just tried it myself, so I will keep you posted if it indeed works!
Written by, Amy Kadrie