That’s weird isn’t it. Why would the online version of the YP be limited like that? It should be more robust and up to date…unless of course the YP directory charges more to be included in the online version!? Surely not.

Thanks for your comment…

1) Good point about the use of recycled paper, but still, wouldn’t it be be better not to print them to start with if they’re not getting used? Many people do need them (and that’s fine), but there are also lots of people who don’t need them (like me) and for that reason the current approach to distribution is inefficient. Why can’t I atleast opt out?

2) You’re quite right about most small businesses not being online. But that’s not the point…they don’t need to be online themselves to get listed in the YP online or any other business directory…they just need to have access to the internet (either at work, at home or through a friend, or whatever) and they can provide their business details to any online directory player…which is what I believe will happen, when Google Local, or someone else, provides a better, more compelling alternative to YP online. Or YP could get their act together and do it first.
3) I think you got a bit carried away with your last point…I never said that they shouldn’t produce the YP directory. Infact I purposefully did those numbers around the fact that only a small proportion of people have decent internet access. Of course as it stands today many people don’t have easy (or any) access to the internet and those people need the directory. Of course the number of people in that camp will drop quite quickly in the next 10 years, but I am not advocating any kind of ‘class based society’. That’s just silly.

Keep in mind also that I’m talking about the Yellowpages in New Zealand here…it could well be that other YP operators are much savvier and will deliver those improved online services themselves. Indeed with the recent sale of the local YP business it could be that they get their act together here too…and I would be very happy with that, but I still think a good place to start would be to put in place a way for people to opt out of receiving 4.8kg of phone book that they don’t want.

I don’t use the yellowpages site much at all, but I do use whitepages quite frequently. I wouldn’t ever want to be without the books, though, because at least a quarter of the time I have to drag out the book anyway because not all of the businesses in the book seem to be on the website.

They’re supposed to be, obviously, but quite frequently when I search I don’t get the same results as I do by just opening the book – whether this is an issue to do with search parameters or just the fact that not all the businesses are on there, it’s something which has most likely put a lot of other people off, and which stops them from seeing the websites as a reliable first port of call. If it is to do with search parameters, then it seems like a pretty big issue since the point is to make it as easy as possible to encourage people to use it.

Either way, I do agree with you that there should be a simple way to opt out of receiving the phone books, registering any queries or comments etc. We have a semi-circular driveway (and hence 2 ‘entries’) and every single year we get two sets of phonebooks because the genius delivering them can’t see that it’s all one driveway that clearly only leads to one house.

The Yellow Pages is the original search engine, and the industry will be critical in helping the world migrate to the paperless world you so desire. Just give them a chance.