• BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      6 hours ago

      The Yellow and White Pages were a private business, and they sold the listings in the Yellow Pages, and also sold upgraded listings in the White Pages. Residential listings were free.

      Then they’d drive around and drop them on peoples’ front steps. I knew people that made extra cash at Phone Book Delivery Season.

      There were also competing Yellow Pages by upstart companies, especially smaller local Yellow Pages. You might have the big giant book that was the whole city/county, and then have a smaller set for just your suburb. A small local business might spring for an decent ad in the local Yellow Pages, and just put a simple listing on the big one.