Large Ads will NOT, I repeat will NOT, get you immediate results. It takes the yellow pages book a minimum of 6 months to travel your area and another 6 months for people to start using it.
So you must be able to sustain your initial investment and renew the following year and let your investment start working for you.
With the right wording and quality service your prospects will take off. Tell the people what they want to hear and then deliver it.
I live in the great state of Mass. As other contractors are laying off I am hiring at a dizzing pace.
Five years ago I didn't think this was possible but with financal planning and a good busisness background it has, with so few pitfalls that they need not be mentioned.
Like it was said in this post earlier I wouldn't be spending this kind of money on advertising if it wasn't working.