No no buddy - in your business - the Yellow Pages are not bad.
You should be able to negotiate on price and try and get the upper right and page of the right page if possible...
... this is if you are not placing a whole page - if so, you want the right page of the open book.
I would start working and a "story" type editorial add (these are the most effective) - you can go through the phone book and look for these type of ads - contact the owner and tell them you are in a non-competing industry and would appreciate their feedback on how their ad is working for them - tell them you like their ad.
Most people will be flattered and glad to help - if it's working for the cut it out and ... "save it!"
Also look for story type editorial or aditorials in the news papers and magazines - they are usually 1-2 pages and have a way to order something at the end of the story - they will also usually say in small print at the top of the page that they are an advertisement.
2nd - start saving direct mail that gets your attention -
I've received $1 and $5 dollar bills attached to a sales letter - I've saved these - as I know they are profitable or they could not afford to mail them.
One business mailed out brand new $100 bills to CEO's and got (I think) nine appointments - which is extremely hard to do - several thousand dollars made him millions - most people wouldn't have the balls to do that - but he made the leap.
Your simply being smart by asking these questions!
Anyhow - here I go rambling on, but it's what I do.
