Desperately seeking advice on advertising

Hello my name is Keith,I am new to this forum.About a year ago I started my own carpet cleaning bussiness.I am finding out the hard way how expensive advertising is.I placed an ad in the yellow pages and very poor results.Really just turned into a money pit.What are the best ways to get consistant work?Does internet services such Leads.com or servicemagic really work?Or how about direct mailers such as valpak?I'm really scared to just throw away any more money.If anyone can give input on things they done when they were started out,it would be greatly appreciated.The actual carpet cleaning is second nature to me,finding jobs on a consistant basis is a whole other ball game.Thank you and God bless 

There is no way to explain it.  All I can tell you advertising hurts.  Nothing really works now a days.  I do a lot of direct mail, doesn't seem bad, but it's not the greatest.  I'm going to try Can Pages this year...but I doubt it will make much difference.

Hey Keith!  I've been running my own carpet cleaning business for almost 4 years and I have tried a lot of things that didn't work.  Val-pak barely broke even each month, and I did it for about a year!  The first phone book I did was great but that has fallen off drastically over the last year.  I find the most consistent means for your money is internet ads.  Also look into google and other search engines to get at the top of the lists when people search.  It costs me about $10 per month and I'm at the top.  It's based on key words.  I also do Yahoo yellow pages and superpages.com.  Also try local flyers and other local newspapers that get sent out once a month.  They are great for the money.  Phone books are WAY too expensive for what you get back.  I hope that helps.

pound the pavment,sneak into apartment complex's and put your stuff everywhere!! pound the pavement!!