FAQ's

The PhoneFile has been a trusted local business directory for over 20 years. Since 2001, we’ve been building our reputation and community presence to ensure your ad reaches an engaged audience.

The PhoneFile is distributed quarterly in up to 8,000 households within a specified area, ensuring you reach the most relevant local customers. For example, Knebworth and Shefford PhoneFile are delivered to all households since fewer than 8000 homes exist in each area. Larger areas, such as Stevenage, are broken up by their wards. A new PhoneFile is created for each area every three months.

Our experienced distribution team has been delivering for us for over 10 years, and they’ve never missed a drop. They ensure every copy of The PhoneFile reaches a household in our coverage area each quarter.

Absolutely! We offer single-edition advertising options for businesses that want to try out The PhoneFile before committing to the long-term. However, consistent advertising yields the best results for building brand awareness.

We recommend selecting the edition which is closest to your most active area. If you cover a wider area, it is worth testing each over time to see where you get the best response.

We carefully curate The PhoneFile to include only one ad per business category (plumber, electrician, dog walker, hairdresser, etc.). This exclusivity prevents overcrowding and helps your business truly stand out.

Yes, we have frequent advertiser packages that provide discounted rates when you commit to multiple editions of The PhoneFile. This helps maintain consistent brand visibility. You can appear in the same PhoneFile multiple times or in different publication to extend your reach.

We understand that advertising can feel daunting for newcomers. However, The PhoneFile has proven successful in driving quality leads to businesses in our directory—that's why many have advertised with us for years! We're happy to discuss optimisation strategies if needed. While we wish we could guarantee calls, it would be dishonest for us to do so. Persistent brand awareness is your best friend for effective lead generation.

No problem at all! Our design team can create custom artwork for your ad at no additional charge. Just provide your business information, preferred colours, etc., and we'll handle the rest. If you need artwork for your own leaflets, we can design them for free, too.

Absolutely! If you have a new promotion, product update, or want to refresh your ad design, we're happy to swap out your creative at no additional cost.

Want to A/B test a different ad in every PhoneFile, we're happy to do that for you too.

While there may be less expensive options, you often get what you pay for. The PhoneFiles targeted distribution, lack of overcrowding, in home longevity and respected brand presence provide unmatched value.

We recommend using a dedicated tracking phone number or website URL unique to your PhoneFile ad. This allows you to measure lead volume accurately, as driven by our directory. We also recommend asking every caller where they heard about your business. It adds very little time to the conversation but is a simple step to help determine your most effective sources of leads.

By only including one ad per business category, your company will automatically stand out as the featured provider for that service. Premium ad placements are also available for increased visibility, but the smaller ads work well.

Unlike impersonal junk mail, The PhoneFile is a trusted local resource that residents reference and keep in their homes. By providing this convenient, longer-lasting format that residents want to keep around, The PhoneFile avoids some of the issues disposable flyers face—getting quickly thrown out and wasted without making an impact. Its design and positioning as a household resource make it an incredibly effective marketing tool to reach locals actively seeking the services advertisers offer.

Print ads in The PhoneFile provide a tangible, uninterrupted experience that online ads often lack. Customers can reference your marketing materials without distractions from pop-ups or other online noise.

Social media has its strengths, however, print advertising complements digital efforts very well. The PhoneFile ensures your brand is visible beyond just online; at the precise moment, a local service is needed.