Long gone are the days when the Yellow Pages would arrive and it would be packed with phone numbers and large enough to act as a doorstop.

The one that has just arrived at Punchline HQ is a relatively thin version of its bulky relation from yesteryear and it is nowhere strong enough to keep even a lightly-framed door ajar.

Years ago, businesses couldn't afford NOT to be in the Yellow Pages and they'd be put under immense pressure from pushy Yellow Pages sales reps urging them to spend thousands of pounds on full-page adverts.

"Your competitors are all coming in, so you must too or your company will go down the pan," businesses would be told. And so they did.

Nowadays, with the rise of the internet and social media, businesses can get along fine without the Yellow Pages.

That's why the latest edition that arrived at Punchline was only 240 pages thick.

Here at Punchline, we won't be shedding any tears over the decline of the Yellow Pages, and we're sure many other businesses feel the same.

Thankfully, the door has been slammed firmly shut on the strong-arm antics of their over-aggressive sales team, who were often hated by members of the business community.

What do you think of the Yellow Pages? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk 

Readers' comments:

Mike Lawrence: I had a half page in it for many years then came the internet, which allowed me to reach possible customers and contact suppliers anywhere in the world for the cost of the telephone line.

Dropping YP was an easy decision and regrettably we are now seeing the same market forcing the same decisions to be made about the High Street.