Recently in Improve ROI Category

Advertising and media channels are ever-changing. This makes finding the right advertising mix a moving target. All the while, many businesses still rely on their sales teams, gatekeepers and receptionists to track where their leads are coming from - not the best way to accurately measure advertising response in an increasingly complex advertising environment.

To effectively track response rates your advertising needs to include a response measuring tool. There are several out there, and some are easier to implement than others.

Here are five tricks to easily ensure that you will be able to track your ad response, and hone your marketing efforts to generate more leads and sales.

1. Include a Timely Offer and Strong Call to Action

Give people a reason to call you and get them to act fast! Include an offer that will make prospects and customers call you right away. Put a deadline on a current promotion, or tell them what they will get right now from your service. For example: "Call 1-800-NEW-FLOOR to receive $100 off your first order."

2. Use a Phone Number as the Direct Response Tool

It is imperative to the success of your business to give people an easy way to contact you at once after hearing a commercial, viewing a billboard, or watching TV. The best way to do this is with your phone number. Getting someone to call means you are one step closer to making a deal. By offering a phone number, you are offering a one-on-one customer experience - giving prospects a direct route to your selling team.

3. Feature a Vanity 800 Number as the Direct Response Tool in all Ads

The phone number will not be much help if folks cannot remember it (really, who has a pen handy when hearing a radio ad, or seeing a billboard?). Get a vanity 800 number, and make it memorable, like 1-800-NEXT-HOME. A vanity 800 number that relates to your business, in this case real estate, will assist in reinforcing your brand, delivering a consistent message, and will always give consumers the ability to contact you immediately (and is also great for word-of-mouth referrals). Plus, someone who hears your radio ad featuring 1-800-NEW-HOME may be looking for a house three months down the road. They will recall your vanity 800 number from the radio ad and call you before they call your competition!

4. Prominent Placement of your Direct Response Tool

Feature your vanity 800 number prominently on the screen, and leave it there throughout a television commercial. Mention it at least three times in a radio ad, and make it the focal point of a print ad. Make sure it is easily heard and understood - visible and easy to read - and your ads will pull higher response rates.

5. More Impressions will Pull More Responses

One-off ads will not work. Make sure you (or your agency if you use one) have a moderate to heavy ad schedule, whether it be radio, television, print, outdoor, or a combination of many of these channels. Buying more time or space will decrease the cost per ad, and your vanity 800 number will increase your ability to generate leads and sales. Delivering a consistent message multiple times will ensure consumers remember you.

Finally, if you can find a vanity 800 number that correlates with your business type, for example a real estate agency and 1-800-NEW-HOME, or an auto dealership and 1-800-NEW-AUTO, then snatch it up quickly! These numbers are rare - and hard to come by. They can cost your business as little as a few hundred dollars a month, and they can increase your incoming call volume two or three-fold. And, we all know that more calls equals more opportunities for sales.

Laura Noonan has 16 years of experience in the vanity 800 number and telecommunications services industry. She coaches hundreds of clients each year on using toll-free vanity 800 phone numbers as direct marketing tools to increase advertising response rates. Laura can be reached at lnoonan@800response.com or by calling 800-NEW-SALES.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Noonan

Call Tracking Is Easy and Produces Great Results

21 Feb 2010 • 07:08 AM • Business

Tracking business incoming and outgoing phone calls helps companies in many ways, is easy and inexpensive to set up, and provides proven results in several areas. Many different businesses from a wide range of markets are using a call tracking service. Realtors, hotels, mortgage companies, and lawyers have used the system and increased customer loyalty as a result. Working with available technology can be of great benefit to large and small businesses alike.

Using this call tracking system permits the company to maximize investment returns and change mere leads into increased sales. It also measures customer response to the various advertising techniques being tried, breaking it down into data that can be managed and compared, line by line. Doing these things will support decisions based on cost per lead and avoid waste. Another benefit of this strategic tracking is to measure staff performance. The owner can easily listen to sales pitches given by workers to increase constructive criticism for improvement. This can multiply motivation and productivity within the company, and also eliminate staffing problems.

Capturing data from phone system usage is easy and requires no special equipment. This does not require changing your phone service, either. Simply request the toll free numbers you would like to use and insert these numbers in your print media, website, TV spots, coupons, and radio advertising. Next, when customers respond to your advertising the calls are smoothly forwarded to the business owner and the ad and call data is collected without any involvement of the proprietor. Then, when it is convenient, log into the account, listen to calls, analyze data received, and make better decisions for your company.

All of this provides the results you need. Easily follow trends in your industry, identify issues with employees, see which ads are the most profitable, know where your calls are coming from, and receive an email alert when you have missed a call. These gain the trust of your clients and improve your conversation ratings. Generate more effective leads and stop wasting money on campaigns that don't work, all while using the same equipment you've always had. 

Call Tracking software comes with toll-free vanity 800 service.  Set up a Custom 800 number, like 1-800-NEW-CARS, which is easier for people to remember than a numeric toll-free, access call-tracking data, and improve your overall advertising campaign performance and easily monitor your ROI.

By Leonel Dunn

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

Everyone becomes a consumer at some point in our complicated lives. We share the same experiences when it comes to buying products and services. We may get dissatisfied at times with a specific product or service, get confused on how to use a product or we may just simply want to know more about a particular product or services.

When we are having these experiences, what do we do? Our first instinct will be to contact the company or their customer service department and raise our query, concern or whatnots - basically contact their toll free number, right? Wouldn't it be very inconvenient for us if we have to memorize a lot of numbers if we have different concerns? For instance, if our concern is about "how to use a product", we have to call a certain number, or if our concern is about billing then we have to call another number. Wouldn't it be confusing to memorize a lot of different numbers? It's not only time consuming but it's also frustrating on our part - consumers part that is.

Toll free numbers are the best reward a company can give to its target consumers. Why? Because they are easily remembered, like vanity numbers for example, where in we don't have to memorize a number, we just have to remember the name of the company or anything of that sort. Companies who get vanity numbers, more often than not, receive more consumer response than companies who don't have the former. Being a consumer, I feel that companies give me more importance by making use of these vanity numbers. It just means that they care for their consumers.

By Jon Rognerud

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

You are driving to work in rush hour traffic, half listening to the news on the radio. You hear the date and realize that today is your sister's birthday. Mildly panicked, you grab your cell phone to order flowers. What number will you dial? If you are like most, you will dial 1-800-FLOWERS. Most people do not have the local florist on speed dial but everyone can recall 1-800-FLOWERS.

A toll free vanity number combined with strong branding statements can help your company stand apart in a competitive marketplace. Sit N'Sleep Mattress maximized their memorable slogan, "We'll beat any advertised price or your mattress is freeeee" with a 1-800-FREEEEE vanity number.

Toll free vanity numbers optimize advertising efforts by providing an easy to recall number for customers to follow up which facilitates direct response. There are three types of response times in advertising:

1) Immediate. Customers hear the advertising message, want what is being offered and buy it.

2) Delayed. With delayed response, the customer hears the message but is too busy to take immediate action. They want what is being offered and plan to take action later.

3) Long Term. You hear or see the marketing message and you are interested but may not take action for a week, month or even a year later.

Vanity numbers provide an effective follow up solution for all response types. Customers will remember how to reach you whether they need your services today or long after they have heard or seen your advertising message.

The immediate customer can effortlessly move from hearing to buying with a vanity number. The delayed response customer does not have to hunt for pen and paper or stop their activities to write down a phone number. A customer in need of flowers will remember 1-800-FLOWERS even if responding hours later.

By Cyril Bird

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

From a marketing perspective, it can be said without fear of contradiction that any advertisement - be it on electronic or print media - a toll-free number is sure to attract a larger response. Businessmen who use toll free numbers are fully aware of the benefits of it, but others are blissfully ignorant how much business they are losing by not using the toll-free number.

Marketing professionals are convinced that advertising with a toll-free number can bring in 30% more orders than advertisements that carry no toll free number. Additionally, statistics show that product return rates can be decreased by as much as half. Interestingly, it is learned that customers call in to resolve their problems after buying rather than return the goods if a toll free number is provided.

There is no denying that numbers are a great boon for the business community. The 800 number by itself motivates consumers to readily respond. Vanity numbers - in other words, the toll-free numbers that spell out a word or words associated with a product or brand, are far more productive though some may consider it not cost-effective. A market survey was conducted to compare the impact of numeric toll free numbers versus toll free vanity numbers in radio advertising. Half of the ads mentioned a numeric phone number, and the other half mentioned a vanity number. The results: The vanity number received a whopping 14 times more responses than the 800 numeric.

Here are some valuable tips on how to fully take advantage of toll free numbers:

1. When you print sales promotion materials like - business cards, pamphlets, brochures, and catalogs, make sure to prominently print your toll-free number preferably in a couple of places.

2. Make a habit of coloring or bolding the words - "toll free".

3. When you advertise in print medium, mention your toll-free number and preferably use the phrase "Contact us TOLL FREE at...".

4. Customers must be firmly reassured that the phone call to your business will cost them nothing.

5. Make sure you display your toll-free number on your website in several areas and be sure to include your email address so customers have two options for contacting you.

6. If your business can afford it, create a vanity number, so that people easily remember your business and contact details.

Further, toll free numbers attract customers to your business because they give it an air of professionalism. They also increase the customer's confidence in the security of financial transactions with your company. You can also create a virtual office in your home-based business. A huge benefit of your toll-free number is - calls can be forwarded to your cell phone, pager, email address, and even you home phone - thereby no longer tying you down to your office desk. Its numbers also carry a lot of features including audio conferences, professional voice announcement feature, call screening, call recording, call forwarding, auto attendant etc.

By Noel Peebles

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

The results I have seen achieved from newspaper, phone directory and web site advertising, have been nothing short of amazing. It has all been accomplished using simple, but powerful, strategies.

Whether you are running web site advertising or any other kind of advertising - it still needs to get results. Your advertising will cost you the same, regardless of whether it pulls in two sales or does 1000% better and pulls in 22 sales.

So, how do you make your advertising work like crazy?

Your first task is not to get your prospect to read your advertising. You first need them to notice your advertising. I might be old school but, from years of "hands on" experience, I know that EVERY written advertisement needs a powerful headline. That goes for mail order, phone directory advertising, web site advertising, newspaper advertising etc. Every advertisement needs to grab attention with a powerful headline.

When I sort through my mail I do it next to the wastepaper basket. Unless it is something important, or a bill I need to pay, most of it gets trashed.

If I spot an eye-catching headline, I might be tempted to read a couple of paragraphs to see what it is all about. The same goes for web site advertising; if the web page doesn't immediately grab my attention, I will move on to the next web site.

So, the first job of any advertising is to get attention. The second job is to keep the reader interested in what you have to say. You just have to get the person to read the first sentence, then the next sentence, then the one after that, and so on. Keep them interested and you may start to create a desire for what you have to sell.

Take just one step at a time. Get their attention and then keep them interested. Create a desire. Then, introduce a call to action and ask them to buy.

It is really important to work through the process in the correct order. There is no point in asking for the sale if you haven't first grabbed their attention and created the desired.

That is why so many advertisements fail to pull in satisfactory results. A lot of advertisers put their company name at the top of the advertisement (boring!), and expect that to grab the attention of a reader. The business owner might like to see his or her company name big and bold at the top of the ad, but the average reader won't have the same interest. The reader is more interested in "what's in it for me."

We are all interested in ourselves and want to know how we can benefit in some way. This is an important point all advertisers need to understand if they want better results from their advertising.

Now, before I go, take another look at the headline of this article. You will see it includes a benefit, which is exactly what I have just been talking about. If you have read this far, then you must have been interested in what I had to say. Hopefully you now have the desire to improve your advertising. However, I will stop there and not ask for a sale, because that is not the purpose of this article.

The important thing is that you understand the important sequence of the AIDA process - Get Attention, Create Interest, Generate Desire, and then Call for Action.

By Christy Brugger

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

By Abe Cherian, CEO of AdClickMedia.com

Courtesy of Ezine Articles

You can maximize your profits from your advertising when you really understand the purchasing behavior of consumers - in your own specific marketplace!

Combined with that knowledge (of your consumer's purchasing behavior) -- and these tips that I am about to reveal to you -- You'll start seeing better results from your advertising.

Here are 21 Tips To Improve & Increase Your Profits Using Online Advertising

I'd like to share with you these 21 tips that will improve, increase, and shape the future of your internet business.

Marketers who implement these simple tips -- are seeing record breaking results.

And you can use it to improve your conversions and sales for your business

Here are 21 ways to maximize profits from your advertising campaigns.

#1 - Create A Great Offer And Put It On Your Ad

You'll be surprised to know - that - many marketers forget to mention the greatest benefits of their product on their ads. As a result - they miss out on prospective clients and a valuable opportunity to gain more customers. What's a great offer? A great offer Is a low risk - high benefit proposition that you offer to your marketplace.

#2 - The CPA Offers With the Highest Conversions are Simple Email or Zip Submits, Like Contests & Giveaways.

If you are working with CPA Networks - on a pay-per-action basis:

Pick offers that pay you for simple email leads. Offers targeted to contests and giveaways - are most likely to convert at a much higher rate.

#3 - Never Ask For The Sale On Your Ad Copy. Capture Leads First.

It's like asking a partner to marry you on your first date! Offer something of value to your marketplace and get the prospect's contact information.

#4 - Focus On Building Your Own Lists.

If you are an affiliate marketer - focus on building your own list, not the program owner's list.

If you plan to keep making money - prepare for the long run -- Build a list that only you have total control of.

#5 - Promote Clickbank Subscription Products.

If you are promoting Clickbank affiliate products - pick Clickbank's subscription products - instead of 'one time sale' products. This way -- you make the sale one time - and establish multiple streams of recurring income.

#6 - Choose the right target category and demographics.

Pick the right target category and the right demographics for your offer.

Believe me. Not everybody is looking for a business opportunity -- even in this down economy. If you are not sure about which target category you should be picking, call or email the company you purchase the advertising from and ask for advice.

Even better: Call or email the product owner if possible.

#7 - Make Your Ad Look And Sound Different From The Rest.

Be Creative. Make your ad look and sound different from the rest.

#8 - Use Videos That Connect With People.

Videos are a great way to market your products. Your personal experience and an honest message that connects with your marketplace -- is much more powerful than hyped up promises on a video ad.

#9 - Use Stories That Tie Into The Benefits.

Stories that tie in to the benefits of your product get more response than hyped up promises.

#10 - Put Your Contact Information On The Ad.

Show that you stand behind your offer by putting your picture and your contact information on your ad. Let people know that you are a real person!

#11 - Follow Up With Leads Right Away.

Follow up with the leads coming in - as a result of your ad campaign - right away!

#12 - Use Surveys On The Ad.

Do a survey right on the ad and segment your lists. You can give away something for free for their opinion -- in return ask for their contact information.

#13 - Test before spending more on advertising.

Always "Test Market" a new product personally - before spending on larger ad packages. Conversion rates given to you by the 'Program Owner' are not always reliable.

#14 - Provide Valuable contents on follow up emails.

Provide valuable information and content on your email follow up messages.

#15 - Show Solid Proof.

Always back up your promises by showing solid proof on your sales page.

#16 - Offer Back End Products.

Offer Back-End Products that compliment your front-end product.

#17 - Sell 'Low-Risk' Low-Ticket' Items on the front end.

Sell 'Low-Risk' 'Low-Ticket' items on the front end -- and 'High-Ticket' items only after building better relationships with your list members.

#18 - Discuss Your Marketing goals With the Company You're Advertising With.

Call or email the advertising company to discuss your action plan and your marketing goals.

#19 - Let the Testimonials Sell The Deal.

Post Testimonials and case-studies on your ad. Let the testimonials sell the deal for you.

#20 - Design Your Ads Professionally.

Design Your Ads Professionally. The layout and aesthetics of your ad is important for building trust in your brand.

#21 - Take Advantage Of Advertising Discount Sales.

Last but not least - Be on the lookout for discounts on the advertising that you purchase. Lower advertising cost and more exposure - means - more profits and more cash flow for your business!

I hope that you got some valuable tips and direction from these 21 tips to maximize your advertising profits.