Media consultant - Any information?

let's see, if you sold one starter package, at best you made you may have made a little over $200 bucks, unless your on 18% new buz commission, I guess I can pull up your rate card and confirm, so you must have had a great revenue week!

You are right on the money! I can not supply the details on our new comp plan, but it is very, very, good to people that work, and do not sit around complaining about how their base was cut.

Yellowbook is the worst job I've ever had, the product is obsolete, management only cares about the bottom line and has little interest in the well being of their clientele, furthermore the compensation is meager. People who like Yellowbok seem to think that making a whopping 70-80k annually(as a top producer) is a good income. Anyone who has been successful in sales with a real company knows this is not the case. Over 75% of my training class has turned over in less than a year, including myself. Perhaps they should turn that into a testimonial.

so_calguy in California said: Yellowbook is the worst job I've ever had, the product is obsolete, management only cares about the bottom line and has little interest in the well being of their clientele, furthermore the compensation is meager. People who like Yellowbok seem to think that making a whopping 70-80k annually(as a top producer) is a good income. Anyone who has been successful in sales with a real company knows this is not the case. Over 75% of my training class has turned over in less than a year, including myself. Perhaps they should turn that into a testimonial.

That is eactly right. As a top producer in a sales position you should be easily cracking 100k (and this is from experience). Sarsadad's comments tell me that he is young and has probably not held another sales position. If he is doing as well as he says (and I hope he is)at Yellow Book, he should consider moving on. He must be able to sell and would make more money with less stress somewhere else.

Look at your crystal ball again. Sarasdad has had many years experience dealing with the public, and business 2 business sales. Yellow Book has changed since rolling out the new comp plan, most of the things that have been written about Yellow Book on this site, do not happen in our office. Our managers do try to micro-manage our day to day activities sometime, and some of the things they come up with seem like someone from Pluto told them to do it. But I look at it like this. The average income in central Va is around $38,000. If I stay on course this year I should make close to two and one have times that, I can not complain. I can see how Yellow Book could become a nightmare job very quickly, but until that happens in our office I will continue to roll in the dough, and enjoy what I do everyday.

Thank you so much for your adult comment, shows why you no longer work for Yellow Book.

Way to keep it professional dude...geez...by the way, there's a reason why YB has one of the highest sales turn-over rates in America...the job is terrible.

Another one bites the dust, just heard from one of my training colleagues. She got fired from Yellowbook the day after her maternity leave was up. I guess that’s a perfect example of the core value "Act with integrity”. I believe that there is only one person left of my 18 person training class, all turned over in under a year. No matter what the "Kool Aid" drinkers say numbers like that don't lie. By the way note to "Kool Aid" drinkers, my best guess is "drink the Kool Aid" is derived from the Jonestown mass suicide. So I wouldn't be too proud of being a corporate shill.

let Sara's Dad in Danville answer that one, he seems to be the one that "thinks" or believes(?) he has the crystal ball on YB. Google him, you know that is who is buying YB out and I am positive Sara's Dad has all the first hand knowledge about that prospective, he tends to know all about everything concerning YB.

One more bottle of wine and you should be there. You talk a big game for someone who is so small, and hides who they are. I know who you are, and you know what you are (thief). Hows that for what the crystal ball sees. Now go complain the rest of the night about everything!

Tourette's syndrome is a relatively common childhood-onset disorder defined by persistent motor and vocal tics and frequently associated with obsessions, compulsions, and attentional difficulties. It is also what makes SARSADAD compulsively post on this site.

I have just agreed to sign on to YB, I have been in sales for 20 plus years, my last company had unrealitic goals- and could not deliver product- so what is in it for the client?

As far as YELLOW BOOK- I did some research and found two people that I know via close friends and talked to them vs. Yellow Book- Here is the info they gave me- along with my comments-

They both told me they were making 150K and the other 187K they are both young and hungry to make money-
I feel sales is hard no matter what- YB is no fail delivery for the most part-

Bottom line- I was told it was not a glamour job and it was very hard- but all jobs are in todays world-
If you want the chance to make money it is there - it is a money making company fo those who work- for those who do not make it it is their fault- YB woud not be in Biz for all these years-

So it is up to each person-

I am now leaving a company that my base is 78 plus- as I want to be not an AVERAGE sales person I want to make the 187K

As far as training I hear it is outstanding - hard but outstanding ....what more does one want? Work hard and you will reap the $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Do not leave your job. You will struggle to make 78k with Yellow Book, let alone whatever you used to make in commision.

I am more of the pposative thinking and will stick with those who are successfull- I just got off the phone with another YB person and she told me she is on target to make 12k
- once again , she agress it is very hard but each month it is working for her- if you are doing a 9-5 then expect a 9-5 salary- no sales job is easy.....the people I have talked to and know are all Ivy league typ of business men/woman..... highly schooled etc.... maybe I am looking through rose colored glasses but a chance is a chance and I have heard all good form REAL people - not managers - friends- my last job yes the base was there but they did not deliver - it was a wake up to failure - who wants $$$ like that?

I am a high achiever- yes maybe 1 or 10 make it - but I am going to be the 1-

I have tons of exp. and worked for many of companies - The ones that hate YB- why do they not leave? VS. still stay amd complain? Are they not capable of getting another job? Look at that point - they are not happy but do not make a change??? STRANGE! and un motivated in that area as well-

That's wonderful for you. Keep in mind that every market and demographic is different. So here in Western Massachusetts, folks that work at YB are not making that kind of $$-they're just not. Even the one SAE who handles the very large accounts isn't making that kind of $$. So, my advice-talk to the reps in YOUR office-the reps that work those markets will have a better handle on what your potential earnings will be-not someone in a different location.

To the person who is leaving the 78k base job, it is a bad idea. I actually like the job unlike most of those who post here, but even so, I would advise you that it will be nearly impossible to duplicate that income at Yellow Book.

I know all about demographics, I ran a Bill Gates Sales Dept- that was a major factor-

My feeling is to stay positive - move forward, and I question anyone who is taking the time to moan...during work hours vs. planning their work day..........when they can be out there presenting, meeting and salling wjhich = $$$$$$$$$

Time wated in my opinion!!! One should be working maybe you will see more money in your pay check!!!

KMC-Maybe you live in an elite area of this that isn't filled with people struggling. Great for you-but the reality is, not everyone lives in that kind of area. I just got out of YB, but the fact remains that I have friends that still work there, who are high achievers like yourself-and because the job market is what it is in Western Mass, people can't afford to just up and quit without having another position lined up. Couple that with the absurd meeting schedule and working past 7pm-who has time to look, let alone interview for other positions? Before you judge a situation, try to look it from anothers perspective.
As for me, I was not a Rep, that is why it was a little easier for me to get out and look for another job and interview. I mean-overtime isn't ALLOWED for SA's, so I was forced to work 8-5, so I was home at a reasonable time to do what I needed to do to find another job. Another little piece of advice-treat your SA VERY good, not only is she the eyes and ears of the office, but SHE will control your paycheck-like it or not (ie. maybe your contracts will go to the bottom of the pile every day, and it may take her a few days to process them-and oh! And it's past commssion cut-off, so guess you wont get that $$ in THIS paycheck). Heck, even no longer working there I am aware of all kinds of stuff going down...forged signatures, HR investigations, reps making sales before the official open of the canvass, mgmnt moving those kinds of sold accounts over to a newbie who wouldn't know any better so he won't get caught, a Manager seems to be on the way out the door, the morale is at an all time low, the SA isn't performing very well (ie. contracts not going out=reps not being PAID). I hope for YOUR sake, you don't end up in an office like that, and I hope that you ARE successful-just keep your eyes open, and always watch your back.

kmc said: I know all about demographics, I ran a Bill Gates Sales Dept- that was a major factor-

My feeling is to stay positive - move forward, and I question anyone who is taking the time to moan...during work hours vs. planning their work day..........when they can be out there presenting, meeting and salling wjhich = $$$$$$$$$

Time wated in my opinion!!! One should be working maybe you will see more money in your pay check!!!

You are 100% right. I have been with YB many years. Keep your head focused and avoid distractions from the negetive people and losers. When someone fails they tend to blame everyone else except themselves. I guarantee that YB managers will work ferverishly with a new rep that is commited to sucess and does what they are trained to do. The problem occurs when people THINK they are fooling everyone. They are not out working a full day. They are not following proven methods of sucess. They make a few calls and have a pity party. Nobody salary is ever cut unless there was an exhaustive and lenghty couseling program where objectives were set and not met. Reps are given every chance to succeed.it it is in managments best interest for their sales reps to win. It is not an easy job but what sales job is easy. If it is easy they do not need to pay a rep commission.Good luck with YB. The earnings you are looking for are definitly attainable.

After reading all the comments on this site I am happy to say that after 2 interviews with Yellow Book, they have stopped taking my calls. The only thing more unprofessional than the management team is the sleazy recruiting firms they use.

I like this person, calling it for what it is

It is apparent that all that are on this site are nothing but complainers.....no matter where they work they would spend their time in a negative way....why don't all of you change your tude and either work harder and make your numbers, if you do not like the company leave, there are tons of jobs out there- and try a different road.....get up tomorrow and start on a good note- not only for yourself but to make the entire team stronger...think and act negitive, negitive will surround you- be and act positive (and professional) that will follow you as well- no one needs to be around this - try build a positive support group- smile and be happy of move on- you are all a bunch of sad people!

THE TRUTH ABOUT YELLOW BOOK IS THAT MANAGERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU AT ALL. I GOT DIVORCED AND HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH A BRAND NEW BABY (15 MONTHS OLD) I HAD MY ELECTRIC, GAS ETC...TURNED OFF AND HAD A ROUGH TIME. I WAS WRITTEN OFF FOR NOT MAKING MY BOOK GOALS BECAUSE I TOOK SOME TIME OFF TO RECOLLECT MYSELF FROM THE DIVORCE... MY MANAGERS WERE INSENSITIVE AND CUT MY SALARY AND DRAW AT A TIME WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST....I WAS AN EXCELLENT REP AND WORKED VERY HARD ONLY TO BARELY MAKE MONEY TO COVER MY GAS AND EXPENSES....

MY MANAGER WAS A LIAR AND EVEN WHEN I QUIT YELLOW BOOK HELD MY CHECK AND DIDN'T EVEN LET ME KNOW I WAS WASN'T GETTING PAID MY SALARY BECAUSE OF THE BACKDUE DRAW I HAD...

YELLOWBOOK WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR ME -- I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW UNETHICAL THE COMPANY AND UPPER MANAGEMENT IS... THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST AND WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING TO GET YOU INTO THE DOOR....ONCE YOU ARE THERE - WATCH OUT BECAUSE UNLESS U ARE HAPPY BUSTING YOUR BUTT FOR LITTLE OR NO MONEY OR ALOT OF MONEY AT 1ST IN MY SITUATION TO MAKING NONE....

MY CHECKS WENT FROM ALMOST $5000 A MONTH TO $1800 A MONTH IN A YEAR!

WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO ISN'T SHADY AND WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL AS BE SUPPORTIVE DURING A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT. NOT STAB YOU IN THE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YELLOWBOOK IS A NIGHTMARE!!!!

employee of the week writen up the next in Chicago, Illinois said: THE TRUTH ABOUT YELLOW BOOK IS THAT MANAGERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU AT ALL. I GOT DIVORCED AND HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH A BRAND NEW BABY (15 MONTHS OLD) I HAD MY ELECTRIC, GAS ETC...TURNED OFF AND HAD A ROUGH TIME. I WAS WRITTEN OFF FOR NOT MAKING MY BOOK GOALS BECAUSE I TOOK SOME TIME OFF TO RECOLLECT MYSELF FROM THE DIVORCE... MY MANAGERS WERE INSENSITIVE AND CUT MY SALARY AND DRAW AT A TIME WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST....I WAS AN EXCELLENT REP AND WORKED VERY HARD ONLY TO BARELY MAKE MONEY TO COVER MY GAS AND EXPENSES....

MY MANAGER WAS A LIAR AND EVEN WHEN I QUIT YELLOW BOOK HELD MY CHECK AND DIDN'T EVEN LET ME KNOW I WAS WASN'T GETTING PAID MY SALARY BECAUSE OF THE BACKDUE DRAW I HAD...

YELLOWBOOK WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR ME -- I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW UNETHICAL THE COMPANY AND UPPER MANAGEMENT IS... THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST AND WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING TO GET YOU INTO THE DOOR....ONCE YOU ARE THERE - WATCH OUT BECAUSE UNLESS U ARE HAPPY BUSTING YOUR BUTT FOR LITTLE OR NO MONEY OR ALOT OF MONEY AT 1ST IN MY SITUATION TO MAKING NONE....

MY CHECKS WENT FROM ALMOST $5000 A MONTH TO $1800 A MONTH IN A YEAR!

WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO ISN'T SHADY AND WILL APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL AS BE SUPPORTIVE DURING A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT. NOT STAB YOU IN THE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YELLOWBOOK IS A NIGHTMARE!!!!

There are 2 sides to every story. We all have personal problems. I have had them as well and my managers worked with me to resolve any worked related challenges I was having. However, if we allow our personal problems to overshadow our business goals we would be out of business. Any company would. Yellow Book has never turned their back on me in times of personal crisis but I also made sure that I kept up with any commitment I had made to the company.As far as telling you anything to get you in the door, Yellow Book usually interviews 3-5 people to hire one. Sometimes we do make mistakes

Misu in anywhere said: There are 2 sides to every story. We all have personal problems. I have had them as well and my managers worked with me to resolve any worked related challenges I was having. However, if we allow our personal problems to overshadow our business goals we would be out of business. Any company would. Yellow Book has never turned their back on me in times of personal crisis but I also made sure that I kept up with any commitment I had made to the company.As far as telling you anything to get you in the door, Yellow Book usually interviews 3-5 people to hire one. Sometimes we do make mistakes

THANKS YELLOWBOOK ADVOCATE! BUT WHEN ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE UNMOTIVATED ON A TEAM -- THATS A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST ME -- MAYBE YELLOW BOOK MAKES MORE MISTAKES WHEN THEY HAVE DECIDED TO BEGIN MOTIVATING THRU THREATS AND BY NOT CARING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES...

I WAS A GREAT ASSET TO THE COMPANY AND SINCE STARTED WORKING WITH MY NEW ORGANIZTION....I SEE HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO MOTIVATES THRU POSITIVE -- NOT THE NEGATIVE...

12 PEOPLE ON MY TEAM GOT WRITTEN UP AND THEIR DRAWS TAKEN A WAY -- ONLY 2 GOT THEIR BONUSES.... I WOULD SAY OR AS DONALD THRUMP WOULD SAY - IF MORE THAN 1/2 OF YOUR TEAM FAILS - ITS THE FAULT OF THE LEADERSIP OR PROJECT MANAGER !!!!!

GOOD LUCK WITH YELLOW BOOK -- BEST THING WOULD BE IF GOOGLE BOUGHT THEM OUT....MAYBE THEY'D LEARN SOMETHING ON HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE

It is so plaine and simple- if you do not like the company-
LEAVE!!!!!!
Stop the negitivity!!! For those who like the company- no one has a ball and chain to your leg!!!!!!

Do you think people like negitivity? NO - so take it else where!!!!!!!!!!

ttyl,
How can a company that produces advertising employ someone who cannot even spell?

it's all about being UPBEAT!!!!!! Happy Easter to you!

I don't believe YB's stock price has been mentioned...usually an excellent benchmark for a company's success. The high point reached nearly $13 a little over a year ago...now it's down over 75% ($2.75) Even though the stock market in general is down...something terribly wrong is going on internally to drive the stock down that much. I think all the issues previously mentioned contribute to the big picture. This is a print advertiser now attempting to change over to the internet...they have a long way to go!! BEWARE new career people!!

I agree, it seems like Yell is on the market and Google will take over YB to help the ailing YB. Ah ha, YB's footprint is slipping, poor pun. There is also a proven record that YB does not have much success transitioning their current employees from print to internet services, there will be a big turn around or extensive training to get the exsisting YB's up to par. If that scenario occurs, how will the pay structure be re-vamped, or Will it be re-vamped. Google has no clue to the amount of time we spend on the road, they use the internet--no gas expense there--so where will we all be????

Chet in Indianapolis, Indiana said: (Sorry to Ramble) Yellow Book USA, is a very large company that sounds very appealing. However, things are not exactly what they seem. It is a very hostile environment. Each person is given revenue assignments, and a book of leads. The revenue is given to you if the previous salesperson is not longer at the company (incredibly high turnover,) and you are held accountable to bring back the original dollar amount plus an increase. This can be a difficult challenge if the previous salesperson lied to get the sale. The new leads sound nice, but most businesses have been called upon for many years, by many different yellow page companies, making it difficult to get a sale. The quotas are very high, but attainable if you but you butt. If you don't meet your goals, your base salary is cut in half, with a very small increase in commission. I would RUN the other way from this opportunity.

Tell me about collecting--I did not know I was a collection agent, just collected and still collecting to keep this mess straight--kick butt with collecting but takes away from sale time.

road warrier in Cleveland, Ohio said: ttyl,
How can a company that produces advertising employ someone who cannot even spell?

LOL.

Charge backs are beginning to increase for me. Has anyone else experienced this since the collection window changed from 120 to 90 days?

ttyl said: it's all about being UPBEAT!!!!!! Happy Easter to you!

It's all about being a corporate lackey, selling an ineffective product to business owners while promising the world. It's also all about getting robbed by corporate on a regular basis while they tell you it's for the better.

so_calguy in California said: It's all about being a corporate lackey, selling an ineffective product to business owners while promising the world. It's also all about getting robbed by corporate on a regular basis while they tell you it's for the better.

It's actually about running a business in economically downturned credit tight America. Any company with a debt laden balance sheet and an infrastucure the size of Yellow Book has had to make adjustments. No one is crazy about it but it beats massive layoffs and closures which has occured in many other companies.

Situation can be / and is hard many times but what is the most important is to stay positive and professional. Work in Media (either social in real or online world) requires focus and beams up all around you.

---
Interview and Job Search Tips -
Tony Beshara
http:://www.tonybeshara.com

Really? Better than a layoff huh? Hmm, I wonder if the managers in Westfield, MA office would agree that a $20,000 paycut (oh wait, excuse me, pay ADJUSTMENT) is better than a layoff? LMAO. I almost peed myself when I heard the managers receieved this "pay restructure" and got their salaries cut too...not so easy to look at the "sunny side" when the pay chnage affects YOU now is it boys???? This company is SINKING people, wake the F* up. Be sure to let your managers know that a paycut is coming their way too...ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Misu in anywhere said: It's actually about running a business in economically downturned credit tight America. Any company with a debt laden balance sheet and an infrastucure the size of Yellow Book has had to make adjustments. No one is crazy about it but it beats massive layoffs and closures which has occured in many other companies.

Actually it's about coming to the realization that you have an inferior product. Yellowbook.com is ineffective, particularly when compared to Yellowpages.com. Furthermore, in a time where the print Yellowpages are basically obsolete theres no need for multiple players in the market. Only the best of breed will survive, and Yellowbook is not there.

good comeback

good comeback

so_calguy in California said: Actually it's about coming to the realization that you have an inferior product. Yellowbook.com is ineffective, particularly when compared to Yellowpages.com. Furthermore, in a time where the print Yellowpages are basically obsolete theres no need for multiple players in the market. Only the best of breed will survive, and Yellowbook is not there.

I agree. One of the hard things about being new at Yellowbook was the number of accounts people are given where people don't want to renew because the product simply doesn't work, or they were sold something completely inffective so some loser would make his "new" quota. (SURE! THAT BOLD LISTING WILL HAVE THEM CALLING! You'll be one of the accounts I hand off to the next round of just-out-of-training saps.)
I used to find it odd that management said "NOBODY wants to renew, you have to convince them!" What kind of poopy product is that when the managers are telling you how horrible it is? The only people using Yellowbook are other solicitors looking for business of their own.

Creative Consulting Team in Dallas, Texas said: Situation can be / and is hard many times but what is the most important is to stay positive and professional. Work in Media (either social in real or online world) requires focus and beams up all around you.

---
Interview and Job Search Tips -
Tony Beshara
http:://www.tonybeshara.com

What beams up? I agree that you tend to bring things on based upon your attitude (which is why I ran, fled, sped away from Yellowbook and took another job so quickly it would make a recruiter's head spin, well, unless they worked for Yellowbook)

beeee in Englewood, Colorado said: What beams up? I agree that you tend to bring things on based upon your attitude (which is why I ran, fled, sped away from Yellowbook and took another job so quickly it would make a recruiter's head spin, well, unless they worked for Yellowbook)

haha only a former Yellowbooker knows the feeling

Your comments show exactly why you are a failed former rep. The product is not inferior. What is inferior is some of the sales reps hired. They are order takers and fold at the 1st sign of resistance. They buy into customer doubt and go negative. If sales was "come on in and let me buy" they would not have to pay commissions. It could be done on the phone by clerks making $10 per hour. The constant complainers and whiners on this site are the bottom 25% from your respective offices. You know it and I know it. They are the same people that cause negatvity and doubt in any sales organization. Good Luck in your next sales job. It will be a similar experience

very well put!!! work! and you will get paid!! the ball is in your court!!!

Misu in anywhere said: Your comments show exactly why you are a failed former rep. The product is not inferior. What is inferior is some of the sales reps hired. They are order takers and fold at the 1st sign of resistance. They buy into customer doubt and go negative. If sales was "come on in and let me buy" they would not have to pay commissions. It could be done on the phone by clerks making $10 per hour. The constant complainers and whiners on this site are the bottom 25% from your respective offices. You know it and I know it. They are the same people that cause negatvity and doubt in any sales organization. Good Luck in your next sales job. It will be a similar experience

Wow, do you know me? Did I mention I was a failed rep., actually when I quit a considerable amount of time and effort was spent trying to keep me. Furtermore I pushed many large billing, hard to close deals through. I did it because I trusted the seemingly unrealistic statistics that Yellowbook preaches. As time went on however I began to doubt the credibiltiy of the marketing material Yellowbook utilizes due to the rampant lack of results experienced by my clients. By the way shouldn't you be looking for leads in the Pennysaver and disgarded junk mail?

I agree-give it up!

so_calguy in California said: Wow, do you know me? Did I mention I was a failed rep., actually when I quit a considerable amount of time and effort was spent trying to keep me. Furtermore I pushed many large billing, hard to close deals through. I did it because I trusted the seemingly unrealistic statistics that Yellowbook preaches. As time went on however I began to doubt the credibiltiy of the marketing material Yellowbook utilizes due to the rampant lack of results experienced by my clients. By the way shouldn't you be looking for leads in the Pennysaver and disgarded junk mail?

Don't forget the ValPaks! Oh yeah, and go hang out at Home Depot looking for regrades.

I just found out one of the "veteran" reps in Colorado was let go because of forging contracts so she could meet her required number of new accounts. Another one was written up for selling bold listings to his family members as fake businesses so he could meet his required new. A manager was demoted and put in charge of internet selling and marched into the office telling everyone how many people they were planning to fire. Sad, sad, sad the unethical things that go on in that office. Hopefully other locations aren't run the same way.

success said: OMG can you just give it up-noone wants to hear your ego/crap

What's a noone? No wonder you love Yellowbook.