I wouldn't touch Yell with a barge Poll personally! There are others out there who can do a better job and are far cheaper.
Just find someone local to you if poss who is a web designer and they will go through all of it with you etc. There are plenty of them about. I know someone who went to BT as they offer a great package, she has had the worse nightmare ever with them and now wishes she had used a local guy who she has since met, but unfortunately she is under contract with BT and can't change at the mo.
Has anybody used Yell to design and optimise a website for them? Are they any good?
Georgie
In one word "Rubbish"
They designed a basic website for me when I paid for advertising with them. It was the most amateur thing I had ever seen, and I asked them to take it down as I was so embarrassed by it.
Advertising with them wasn't much better. The one (and only) year I used them, I got nil response.
They still try under the Hibu banner to get me back but there is no way I would return.
I had a "chat" on line with someone from Yell this afternoon and asked for some names of websites they had designed....took a look and wasn't impressed , with what you guys have said think I will pass....
I think you've made a very wise decision. My advice would be to find some sites you like and see who designed them. I take on board Amanda's point about having a face to face with someone local, but I don't think it's as important with web design. Try to find someone small who will care about you and your business, you'll never get that from the big boys.