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People stopped looking in the Yellow Pages in 2003. Why do I know the year? That was the year I contracted quarter page ads in some of the wealthiest counties in the country here in NJ, and watched cob webs mount on my phone. Up to that point, Yellow Pages were the way to go. Since then, they are not worth it AT ALL. It is all about the internet these days.
Tuning remains constant. Restoration and Piano Sales are way down, probably mirroring the 48% decline in Acoustic Piano Sales over the past 10 years.
I have recently opened a web store for general music accessories and other musical instruments which has been doing quite well between myself and my Piano Technician Affiliates. According to industry stats, General Accessories are selling $435.8 million a year, and Acoustic Pianos are selling $287 million per year. (Contrast a $130,000.00 Bosie to a $40. Guitar stand... mind boggling.)
From what I have read, this is called the "Lipstick Effect" where someone will buy the $50 lipstick, but leave the $500 dress on the rack. This would also explain piano tuning remaining constant, as it is a relatively cheap commodity in comparison to ALL other in home services, for some unknown strange reason. (Have your washer or dryer fixed lately? Take a good look at that bill.)

Great info, Paul. I am somewhat likened to some of your approach. If I am not called, I don't work. I have been around so long in the area that it is relatively easy for some to find me as a result of reference of family connections. Until the call, I'll find something else to do. Praise our Father, who aren't in Heaven ...

I'm busy about 6 days per week, but I try to keep to only 2 tunings per day. I need to keep a few hours of the day 2 days per week for golf - sorry! I have never sent out reminder calls and unfortunately I delay before calling people back. Most of the time (even though they have asked for reminders), they push the tuning off to a later date because 1 - They're moving, 2 - It's not convenient, 3 - They're taking a holiday, 4 - The kids have stopped playing, 5 - There's a medical issue, 6 - The piano still sounds fine!, 7 - etc. I quit doing Yellow Pages ads 11 years ago. My only advertising is online, word of mouth, stores, or an entertainment company. I cannot rigidly book ahead because of store or entertainment company commitments. I give stores a 30% break on tuning but any public calls that come into the stores come directly to me as my clients!! It's quite a dream situation. I never give out my cell phone number to a client unless its an emergency. I let the answering machine and email take all of the contact information. I've had over 21,000 visits to my website this year. I pay $0.00 for search engine optimization. No ad words or anything like it.

Phone is always ringing with new clients. I try to only book out 2 weeks ahead, I like the flexibility. I've cut way back on advertising, ditching what is just not doing anything (large yellow page ad, keeping the free 1 line). 2/3 of business comes from internet/ my web site, so this will be my advertising. Other 1/3 is advertising on car and referrals. I also refer some clients to other technicians.

Thanks,
Web advertising is tricky but we get several calls per month though some are out of our service area. Some from PTG and others from our website. More and more that's where people go to find services I'm told.
DP

I'm booked 6 weeks ahead, and a stringing job in the shop besides. I have been giving away tunings for months now, and stopped sending out reminder cards - since I can't book anyone who responds any time soon...

I was talked into a big ad campaign with Yellow Pages Online. The salesman was great, suggesting that I could have several new customers per week based on the number of searches for Piano Tuning and other such terms in my area. He gave me 10 days to cancel the 1 year contract. After I talked to several other piano technicians in other cities and states with Yellow Pages Online advertising, the general consensus was that it is not worth the cost, so I cancelled my contract within the 10 days. However, they still want to charge me for the 5 days I supposedly was advertising with them. My advice - Don't pay for advertising unless you are very sure it will bring in the business you hope it will. And avoid fast talking AT&T salesmen. They are good.

My business is doing well. During the summer down here, it slows quite a bit..not this year. This was by far my best summer ever. The 'Season' (Nov 1. to April 15) is shaping up to resemble what my schedule use to look like before 2008.

Got all the business I could ever want or need. Your request makes more sense with your recent change/addition.

I'm busier than ever before. Booked solid through January of 2012. NO openings before February. I'm tuning anywhere from 3 (my preference) to 8 a day, mostly 4-6 this time of year. Plus lots of concert work. A business MUST BE WORKED not just looked at....