Based on looking at the website Myhandyguide.co.uk, it appears to be a legitimate local advertising platform for businesses in Norwich, specifically targeting the Costessey and Hellesdon areas. The site functions as an online portal for “Handy Magazine,” a bi-monthly print publication that’s delivered free to local homes and businesses.
Here’s an overall review summary:
- Website Purpose: Local advertising and community news portal for Handy Magazine.
- Target Audience: Small to medium-sized businesses in Norwich (Costessey & Hellesdon) and local residents.
- Core Offering: Print advertising in a local magazine, with a strong emphasis on community connection and direct delivery.
- Transparency: Provides clear details about advertising rates, distribution, and contact information.
- Community Engagement: Features local news, events, and competitions, aiming to be a trusted local resource.
- Ethical Standing (Islamic Perspective): The website’s primary function—local advertising and community news—is generally permissible. It does not promote or engage in forbidden categories like gambling, interest-based finance, inappropriate entertainment, or unethical products. The “Win!” section is for competitions, which would need careful review to ensure no element of gambling is involved, but generally, local competitions for prizes are acceptable if based on skill or genuine giveaways without entry fees that constitute a wager.
- Overall Recommendation: Appears to be a legitimate and ethical local business, offering a service that aligns with permissible activities.
Myhandyguide.co.uk presents itself as a local hub for advertising and community news within Norwich, focusing on the Costessey and Hellesdon areas. It serves as the digital face of “Handy Magazine,” a print publication aiming to connect local businesses with their target audience through free, direct delivery to homes and businesses. The website is straightforward, clearly outlining its services, advertising options, and showcasing past issues of the magazine. From an ethical standpoint, the platform’s core activities—facilitating local commerce and sharing community news—are well within acceptable boundaries. There are no immediate red flags concerning forbidden or discouraged practices. The emphasis on supporting local businesses and fostering community ties is a positive aspect, aligning with principles of mutual benefit and local economic growth.
Here are some alternatives for local advertising and community engagement, focusing on platforms that uphold ethical standards:
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Latest Discussions & Reviews:
- Key Features: Hyper-local social network for neighbours, allowing businesses to post updates, offers, and connect directly with local residents. Features include local groups, classifieds, and business pages.
- Average Price: Free for basic profiles and community engagement; paid options for business advertising and promotions.
- Pros: Highly targeted local reach, builds community trust, good for word-of-mouth referrals.
- Cons: Audience size limited to active Nextdoor users in specific neighbourhoods; may require consistent engagement.
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- Key Features: Comprehensive online business directory for the UK, offering free listings and various paid advertising packages (e.g., premium listings, website building, SEO services).
- Average Price: Free for basic listing; paid packages vary widely from £30-£500+ per month depending on services.
- Pros: Established and widely recognised UK business directory, strong SEO presence, diverse advertising options.
- Cons: Can be competitive, premium services can be costly, less direct community interaction compared to local magazines.
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- Key Features: Create a dedicated page for your business to share updates, events, offers, and engage with a local audience. Utilise Facebook Groups for community interaction.
- Average Price: Free to create a page; paid options for targeted advertising (Facebook Ads) starting from £5-£10 per day.
- Pros: Massive user base, powerful targeting capabilities for ads, direct engagement with customers, easy to share news and events.
- Cons: Can be noisy and competitive, organic reach is limited, requires consistent content creation.
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- Key Features: Essential for local SEO. Allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. Includes business information, reviews, photos, and posts.
- Average Price: Free.
- Pros: Improves local search visibility, allows customers to find directions and contact info easily, crucial for online reputation management through reviews.
- Cons: Not a direct advertising platform in itself, but a foundational tool for online presence; depends on Google’s algorithms.
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Local Community Websites/Forums
- Key Features: Many towns and cities have independent websites or forums dedicated to local news, events, and business listings. These often provide highly engaged, niche audiences.
- Average Price: Varies; often free for basic listings, or low-cost for banner ads/featured posts.
- Pros: Deeply ingrained in the local community, trusted by residents, often more affordable.
- Cons: Reach can be very limited, website quality and activity vary widely, may require manual outreach to find suitable platforms.
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- Key Features: Physical distribution of flyers, leaflets, or brochures to specific areas. Often used in conjunction with local magazines or independently.
- Average Price: Varies widely based on quantity and area, typically £50-£200 per 1,000 leaflets.
- Pros: Highly targeted by postcode, tangible presence in homes, can be very effective for direct response.
- Cons: Environmentally less sustainable, can be seen as junk mail if not well-designed, results can be harder to track.
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Chamber of Commerce Memberships
- Key Features: Professional organisations offering networking events, business support, and sometimes directories or advertising opportunities exclusively for members.
- Average Price: Annual membership fees, typically £100-£500 depending on the size of the Chamber and business.
- Pros: Builds credibility, excellent for B2B networking, access to exclusive resources and events, often includes directory listings.
- Cons: Primarily networking-focused, not a direct consumer advertising channel, membership fees can be substantial for very small businesses.
Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.
IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.
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Myhandyguide.co.uk Review & First Look
Based on checking the website Myhandyguide.co.uk, the initial impression is one of a clear, locally-focused digital platform. It serves as the online hub for “Handy Magazine,” a print publication designed to connect local businesses with residents in specific Norwich areas. The website’s layout is intuitive, guiding visitors through sections like “News,” “Read,” “Advertise,” “Testimonials,” and “Win!”. This structure suggests a balanced approach between providing community information and offering advertising solutions. The prominence of current and past magazine issues immediately conveys the primary service.
Website Design and User Experience
The Myhandyguide.co.uk website maintains a clean and straightforward design. Navigation is intuitive, with clearly labelled menu options that allow users to easily find what they’re looking for, whether it’s information on advertising, local news, or previous magazine issues. The aesthetic is professional yet friendly, typical of a local community publication. The site’s responsiveness on different devices is crucial for a modern online presence, ensuring users can access content seamlessly whether on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. This user-centric design approach is key to retaining visitors and conveying trustworthiness.
Clarity of Service Offering
Myhandyguide.co.uk clearly articulates its core service: providing affordable, local advertising within the “Handy Magazine” print publication, delivered to 15,000+ homes and businesses in Costessey and Hellesdon, Norwich. The homepage immediately highlights the magazine’s reach and purpose. Information about advertising rates, how the process works (choosing ad size, providing artwork), and deadlines is readily available, making it simple for potential advertisers to understand the value proposition. This transparency is a strong indicator of a reliable and professional service.
Myhandyguide.co.uk Features
The website Myhandyguide.co.uk is essentially a digital gateway to a local print magazine, and its features are designed to support both advertisers and local readers.
Magazine Access and Content
One of the primary features is the ability to “Read online” previous issues of Handy Magazine. This is a crucial element for transparency, allowing potential advertisers to see the quality and type of content their ads would appear alongside. The magazines feature a mix of local news, events, recipes, competitions, and business advertisements. This diversified content strategy aims to ensure that the magazine is kept and read, thereby increasing the visibility of the advertisements. The “News” section on the website itself provides snippets of local stories, with links to full articles, further reinforcing its role as a community information hub. Skybluefixings.co.uk Review
Advertising Information and Booking
For businesses interested in advertising, the website offers comprehensive details under the “Advertise” section. This includes specific advertising rates for both the Costessey and Hellesdon editions, detailing various ad sizes and discounts for multiple issues. The “How it works” section simplifies the process, from choosing an ad size to ensuring delivery. There’s also a clear call to action to “Book your space today” with a stated deadline, encouraging prompt action. This streamlined approach makes it easy for local businesses to understand and engage with the advertising opportunities.
Testimonials and Community Engagement
The “Testimonials” section is a vital feature for building trust. It showcases positive feedback from both advertisers and readers, providing social proof of the magazine’s effectiveness and community value. Quotes like “It’s brought so much more work in from that side of the city” from an advertiser, and “It has opened a whole new world of local information” from a reader, lend credibility. Furthermore, the “Send us your news” and “Win!” competition sections actively encourage community participation, positioning Handy Magazine as an interactive and engaging local resource beyond just advertising.
Myhandyguide.co.uk Pros & Cons
When evaluating Myhandyguide.co.uk, it’s clear the platform has specific strengths tailored to its local market, but also inherent limitations of its niche.
Advantages of Advertising with Myhandyguide.co.uk
- Highly Targeted Local Reach: The magazine is specifically delivered to 15,000+ homes and businesses in Costessey and Hellesdon, ensuring advertisers reach a very defined local audience. This minimises wasted ad spend for businesses targeting these areas.
- Proven Results and Advertiser Retention: The website highlights impressive statistics, stating that in 2023, 95% of advertisers placed ads in two or more issues, and in 2024, 100% of businesses advertising in two issues returned for more. This suggests high satisfaction and effectiveness for recurring advertisers.
- Affordable and Tangible Advertising: Advertising rates are presented as “great value,” particularly with discounts for multiple issues or both editions. The print format provides a tangible presence in homes, which can be seen as more trustworthy and less fleeting than digital ads for some demographics.
- Community Credibility and Trust: By appearing alongside local news, events, recipes, and competitions, businesses gain a “layer of credibility and authenticity.” The magazine positions itself as a trusted source of local information, enhancing the perception of its advertisers.
- Local Support and Simplicity: Being “Created locally,” the service likely offers personalised support. The “How it works” section underscores simplicity, making it accessible for small businesses that may not have extensive marketing departments or experience.
Potential Limitations and Considerations
- Geographic Specificity: While a pro for local businesses, this is a con for businesses outside Costessey and Hellesdon, or those seeking broader regional or national reach. The service is hyper-local by design.
- Limited Digital Integration: While there’s an online presence to read magazines and get info, the core advertising mechanism is still print. Businesses looking for advanced digital analytics, real-time campaign adjustments, or extensive online engagement tools might find it lacking compared to purely digital platforms.
- Measurement of ROI: While the website highlights return advertisers, precise, quantifiable return on investment (ROI) from print advertising can be harder to track compared to digital campaigns with impression, click, and conversion data. Businesses rely on anecdotal evidence or coupon redemptions to gauge effectiveness.
- Frequency and Immediacy: Being a bi-monthly publication, the advertising cadence is slower than digital channels. Businesses needing immediate exposure or quick campaign changes might find the lead times (e.g., “Next deadline: Friday July 4th, Delivery starts early August”) less responsive.
- Niche Audience Engagement: While the magazine aims for broad appeal through diverse content, its readership might be more limited to those who actively engage with local print media, potentially missing demographics that primarily consume digital content.
Myhandyguide.co.uk Alternatives
For businesses or individuals looking to advertise locally or engage with community news beyond Myhandyguide.co.uk, several alternatives exist, each with its own strengths. The choice depends on specific needs, target audience, and budget.
Online Local Directories and Review Platforms
- Google My Business: Essential for any local business. It’s free to create a profile, which ensures your business appears in Google Search and Maps results. You can list your services, hours, contact information, and respond to customer reviews. This is fundamental for discoverability.
- Yell.com: One of the UK’s most prominent online business directories. While offering free basic listings, Yell.com also provides paid options for enhanced visibility, website creation, and digital marketing services. It’s a go-to for many consumers seeking local services.
- Tripadvisor (for hospitality/tourism businesses): If your business is in restaurants, hotels, or attractions, Tripadvisor is a crucial platform for reviews and visibility. While not a direct advertising platform in the traditional sense, a strong presence and positive reviews here can drive significant local traffic.
Social Media for Local Reach
- Facebook Local Business Pages & Groups: Creating a Facebook page for your business allows you to share updates, events, and offers. More importantly, joining local Facebook groups (e.g., “Norwich Community Group,” “Costessey Residents”) enables direct engagement with potential customers in a community setting. Targeted Facebook Ads can also be highly effective for local reach.
- Nextdoor: This hyper-local social network is specifically designed for neighbours to connect. Businesses can create pages, post updates, and engage directly with residents in their immediate service area, making it ideal for word-of-mouth marketing and highly targeted local promotions.
Traditional and Niche Local Advertising
- Local Newspapers (digital & print): Established local newspapers often have strong readership and offer both print and digital advertising opportunities. Examples in Norwich might include the Eastern Daily Press or Norwich Evening News, which reach a broader demographic than hyper-local magazines.
- Community Notice Boards & Libraries: While seemingly old-fashioned, physical notice boards in local shops, community centres, and libraries remain effective for reaching specific, often older, demographics who actively seek out local information in these venues. This is often free or very low cost.
- Local Sponsorships and Events: Sponsoring local school events, sports teams, or community festivals provides brand visibility and positive association. It’s a great way to show community support and get your name in front of local families.
How to Cancel Myhandyguide.co.uk Subscription (Advertising)
Based on the information available on Myhandyguide.co.uk, the service primarily revolves around booking advertising space for specific issues of their bi-monthly magazine. There isn’t a “subscription” model in the traditional sense like a monthly recurring digital service. Instead, businesses book space for defined periods or multiple issues.
Understanding the Booking Process
When you “Book your space today” on Myhandyguide.co.uk, you are likely committing to a specific advertising slot or a series of slots (e.g., for two, four, or six issues). The website mentions discounts for “multiple issues or both editions,” implying a commitment for a set number of appearances rather than an open-ended subscription. The explicit mention of a “Next deadline” (e.g., “Friday July 4th”) suggests a discrete booking period for each magazine issue.
Steps to “Cancel” or Adjust Your Booking
Since it’s not a typical subscription, cancelling would involve communicating with Myhandyguide.co.uk regarding your existing booking.
- Review Your Agreement/Invoice: The first step is always to check the terms and conditions or the invoice you received when you initially booked your advertising space. This document should detail the cancellation policy, notice periods, and any associated fees.
- Contact Myhandyguide.co.uk Directly: The most effective way to cancel or adjust a booking is to contact their team. The website provides a “Contact” page with a contact form, email address, and potentially a phone number.
- Email: Use the provided email address for formal communication. Clearly state your business name, the advertising booking reference (if any), and your request to cancel or modify your upcoming ads. Request confirmation of your cancellation.
- Phone: If a phone number is available, calling allows for immediate discussion and clarification. Follow up with an email for a written record.
- Adhere to Deadlines: Given the bi-monthly print schedule and “Next deadline” notices, it’s highly probable that cancellations or changes must be made well in advance of the editorial and printing deadlines for each issue. Failing to provide sufficient notice might result in your ad still being published for the upcoming issue and charges still applying.
- Discuss Future Bookings: If you have booked for multiple issues, clarify whether your cancellation applies to all future issues or just the immediate one. You might be able to simply not renew for subsequent periods rather than a formal “cancellation.”
In essence, “cancelling” with Myhandyguide.co.uk is more akin to modifying or terminating a fixed-term advertising contract than ending a continuous subscription. Prompt and clear communication with their team, referencing your specific booking details, will be key.
Myhandyguide.co.uk Pricing
Myhandyguide.co.uk is transparent about its pricing model, which is based on advertising rates for placement within the “Handy Magazine.” The website clearly states, “Take a look at the advertising rates for our Costessey and Hellesdon magazines.” This indicates a tiered pricing structure that likely depends on factors such as ad size, duration (number of issues), and potentially the specific magazine edition (Costessey or Hellesdon). Il-girasole.co.uk Review
Advertising Rate Structure
The pricing for Handy Magazine advertising typically follows a common model for local print publications:
- Ad Size: Smaller ads (e.g., quarter page, eighth page) will naturally be less expensive than larger ones (e.g., half page, full page). The website mentions “Choose your ad size,” implying a range of options to suit different budgets and visibility needs.
- Number of Issues: Myhandyguide.co.uk explicitly offers “discounts for multiple issues or both editions.” This incentivises longer-term commitments, as advertisers who place ads in two, four, or more issues benefit from reduced per-issue costs. This also aligns with their “Proven results” section, which states that businesses advertising in multiple issues see better outcomes.
- Magazine Edition: While the website doesn’t explicitly state different rates for Costessey vs. Hellesdon, it does mention “advertising rates for our Costessey and Hellesdon magazines,” suggesting there might be separate or combined pricing options depending on the desired reach.
- Artwork Design: The website offers assistance with design (“let us help with design”), which might be included in the ad price or incur an additional, separate fee.
Transparency and Affordability
The platform prides itself on “Great value local advertising,” with ads starting “from under £24 per issue.” This low entry point makes advertising accessible even for very small businesses with limited marketing budgets. The transparency in presenting rates upfront is a positive sign, allowing potential advertisers to quickly assess if the service fits their budget without needing to request a custom quote immediately. Businesses can visit the “Advertise” section of the website to view the specific rate card.
Comparison to Other Advertising Channels
Compared to large-scale digital advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads, the per-issue cost of Handy Magazine appears very affordable. However, the reach is highly localised and the frequency is bi-monthly. While digital platforms offer immense reach and granular targeting, they can also be more complex and expensive to manage for small local businesses. Print advertising, particularly in a trusted local publication like Handy Magazine, offers a different value proposition: direct mail to a specific local audience, a tangible presence, and an association with community news, which some businesses may find more effective for building local trust and recognition.
Myhandyguide.co.uk vs. Other Local Media Outlets
Comparing Myhandyguide.co.uk (representing Handy Magazine) to other local media outlets highlights distinct strengths and weaknesses. The primary differentiator lies in its hyper-local, direct-mail print model, which contrasts with broader regional newspapers, purely digital platforms, or niche community groups.
Myhandyguide.co.uk’s Niche: Hyper-Local Print with Digital Support
Myhandyguide.co.uk focuses on delivering a tangible, bi-monthly magazine directly to 15,000 homes and businesses specifically in Costessey and Hellesdon. Artificialfloralsupplies.co.uk Review
- Strength: Unparalleled penetration in a precise geographic area. The magazine is delivered free with the post, ensuring it reaches every household, unlike pick-up points or opt-in digital content. It combines local news with advertising, fostering a sense of community trust.
- Weakness: Limited geographic reach outside its target areas. The bi-monthly frequency means less immediacy than digital channels. Measuring direct ROI can be challenging compared to click-based online ads.
Comparison to Broader Local Newspapers (e.g., Eastern Daily Press, Norwich Evening News)
- Reach: Broader local newspapers cover a wider geographical area (e.g., all of Norfolk, or greater Norwich). They typically have much larger print runs and online readership.
- Frequency: Often daily or weekly, providing more timely news updates.
- Content: More comprehensive news coverage, including regional, national, and international stories, alongside local content.
- Advertising: Offer a wider range of ad formats (classifieds, display, inserts) and often more sophisticated digital advertising packages.
- Cost: Generally higher advertising rates due to broader reach and frequency.
- Myhandyguide’s Advantage: For businesses only targeting Costessey/Hellesdon, Handy Magazine offers more cost-effective and precise targeting, avoiding wasted impressions on audiences outside their service area. The direct mail aspect can also mean higher visibility than a newspaper that might be quickly discarded.
Comparison to Purely Digital Local Advertising (e.g., Google My Business, Local SEO, Social Media)
- Reach: Can be global, but with precise targeting, digital platforms can be incredibly effective for local reach based on location data, search intent, and demographics.
- Frequency/Immediacy: Real-time updates, instant campaign adjustments, and continuous exposure.
- Content: Highly dynamic, interactive, and often multimedia-rich.
- Advertising: Offers advanced targeting, retargeting, and detailed analytics (impressions, clicks, conversions). Free tools like Google My Business are fundamental.
- Cost: Can range from free (organic social media, GMB) to highly variable (paid ads, depending on competition and bidding).
- Myhandyguide’s Advantage: Offers a tangible product that sits in a home longer, potentially providing more repeated exposure without active user search. It also captures an audience that may not be highly digitally active or prefer physical media. For businesses, it provides a simpler, “set it and forget it” approach compared to managing complex digital campaigns.
Comparison to Community Forums and Niche Websites
- Reach: Highly specific and often volunteer-run, meaning reach can be very limited and inconsistent.
- Frequency: Varies widely, from very active to dormant.
- Content: Often user-generated, highly specific to a particular interest or micro-community.
- Advertising: Often free or very low-cost listings, direct sponsorships, or banner ads.
- Myhandyguide’s Advantage: Provides a more professional, curated, and consistently delivered product. It has a guaranteed, established distribution network and a broader local appeal than a niche forum.
In summary, Myhandyguide.co.uk serves a valuable niche for businesses requiring deep penetration into a specific local area via a trusted print medium. While it lacks the broad reach and real-time analytics of larger digital or traditional media, its direct-mail, community-focused approach makes it a compelling choice for businesses prioritising hyper-local, tangible, and affordable advertising in Costessey and Hellesdon.
FAQ
What is Myhandyguide.co.uk?
Myhandyguide.co.uk is the official website for Handy Magazine, a bi-monthly print publication that delivers local news, events, and advertisements to homes and businesses in Costessey and Hellesdon, Norwich.
What services does Myhandyguide.co.uk offer?
Myhandyguide.co.uk primarily offers advertising opportunities within its local print magazine, Handy Magazine. It also provides online access to past magazine issues and publishes local news and event information.
Is Myhandyguide.co.uk a legitimate business?
Yes, based on the website’s transparency, clear service offerings, and detailed contact information, Myhandyguide.co.uk appears to be a legitimate local publishing and advertising business.
How does Handy Magazine get distributed?
Handy Magazine is delivered free of charge directly with the post to over 15,000 homes and businesses in Costessey and Hellesdon, Norwich. Cooksdoors.co.uk Review
How often is Handy Magazine published?
Handy Magazine is a bi-monthly publication, meaning it is published every two months.
What kind of content is in Handy Magazine?
Handy Magazine features a mix of local news, community events, recipes, competitions, and advertisements from local businesses.
Can I read Handy Magazine online?
Yes, Myhandyguide.co.uk allows users to read past issues of Handy Magazine online through their “Read” section.
How do I advertise my business in Handy Magazine?
You can advertise your business by visiting the “Advertise” section on Myhandyguide.co.uk, where you can find details on ad sizes, rates, and the booking process. You can also contact them directly via their “Contact” page.
What are the advertising rates for Handy Magazine?
The advertising rates vary based on ad size and the number of issues you wish to advertise in. The website states that ads start “from under £24 per issue” and offers discounts for multiple issues. Specific rates are detailed on their “Advertise” page. Lastminutedrivingtestcarhire.co.uk Review
Are there discounts for advertising in multiple issues?
Yes, Myhandyguide.co.uk explicitly mentions offering “discounts for multiple issues or both editions” of the magazine.
What is the reach of Handy Magazine?
Handy Magazine reaches over 15,000 homes and businesses in the Costessey and Hellesdon areas of Norwich.
How do I submit local news or events to Handy Magazine?
You can share local news or upcoming events by using the “Send us your news” option on the Myhandyguide.co.uk website, which directs you to their contact form.
Does Myhandyguide.co.uk offer competition prizes?
Yes, Myhandyguide.co.uk has a “Win!” section where readers can enter competitions for a chance to win prizes.
How can I contact Myhandyguide.co.uk?
You can contact Myhandyguide.co.uk through the contact form on their “Contact” page, or via the email address provided on their website. Skulltec.co.uk Review
What is the deadline for submitting an advert?
Deadlines for advert submission are clearly stated on the website, typically under the “Advertise” section, and are crucial due to the bi-monthly print schedule. For example, “Next deadline: Friday July 4th.”
Does Handy Magazine offer design help for adverts?
Yes, the website indicates that they can “help with design” if you do not have your own artwork for your advertisement.
Why should I advertise with Handy Magazine?
According to Myhandyguide.co.uk, advertising with them provides targeted local reach, connects your business with thousands of homes, offers affordable rates, and builds community credibility as a trusted local publication.
How long has Handy Magazine been published?
Handy Magazine was first published in 2020 for Costessey residents and later expanded to Hellesdon.
Do advertisers return to Handy Magazine?
Yes, the website boasts “proven results,” stating that in 2023, 95% of advertisers placed ads in two or more issues, and in 2024, 100% of businesses advertising in two issues returned for more, indicating high advertiser satisfaction. Polartwintubs.co.uk Review
Is Myhandyguide.co.uk suitable for national advertising?
No, Myhandyguide.co.uk is specifically designed for hyper-local advertising targeting Costessey and Hellesdon in Norwich, making it unsuitable for national advertising campaigns.
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