Comments on: The Ugly Side of Local Online Advertising http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/ Confessions Of A Serial Internet Entrepreneur Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:58:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: elan@ifbyphone http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11123 elan@ifbyphone Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:29:23 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11123 @AdHustler - First of all, I'm certainly glad to hear you like our features! In terms of pricing, there are 3 main types of Call Tracking companies and each one serves a different purpose. 1. Companies that sell cheap phone numbers. You can grab a few cheap local numbers, but you''ll end up with minimal, if any, reporting and functionality. 2. Higher priced, often time enterprise-focused, companies that charge setup fees, require long-term contracts, and in some cases offer minimal flexibility. This can work well for big companies with very robust campaigns that need really granular results, for whom cost and call routing functionality aren't a big concern. 3. Companies like Ifbyphone that focus on a robust, yet cost-effective, feature set for small to mid size businesses. For example, - We have no setup fees and no contracts. - We offer unlimited phone support, a reseller program, and a full suite of virtual phone system applications to enhance your call tracking capabilities - We offer real-time reporting online, via email, via download, and even via API if you want to integrate our reports with your software The bottom line is that different types of vendors are ideal for different companies. I suggest Ifbyphone as one option, but I'd certainly also recommend that @Bryan and @Richard do some searches related to "Phone Call Tracking Numbers" on Google to see what's available in the marketplace. I certainly appreciate your candid feedback, and believe that upon further examination your readers will find that Ifbyphone is VERY competitively priced for the value we provide. I'd be glad to continue the conversation and provide additional details over the phone: 877-295-5100. @AdHustler –

First of all, I’m certainly glad to hear you like our features!

In terms of pricing, there are 3 main types of Call Tracking companies and each one serves a different purpose.

1. Companies that sell cheap phone numbers. You can grab a few cheap local numbers, but you”ll end up with minimal, if any, reporting and functionality.

2. Higher priced, often time enterprise-focused, companies that charge setup fees, require long-term contracts, and in some cases offer minimal flexibility. This can work well for big companies with very robust campaigns that need really granular results, for whom cost and call routing functionality aren’t a big concern.

3. Companies like Ifbyphone that focus on a robust, yet cost-effective, feature set for small to mid size businesses.
For example,

- We have no setup fees and no contracts.

- We offer unlimited phone support, a reseller program, and a full suite of virtual phone system applications to enhance your call tracking capabilities

- We offer real-time reporting online, via email, via download, and even via API if you want to integrate our reports with your software

The bottom line is that different types of vendors are ideal for different companies. I suggest Ifbyphone as one option, but I’d certainly also recommend that @Bryan and @Richard do some searches related to “Phone Call Tracking Numbers” on Google to see what’s available in the marketplace.

I certainly appreciate your candid feedback, and believe that upon further examination your readers will find that Ifbyphone is VERY competitively priced for the value we provide.

I’d be glad to continue the conversation and provide additional details over the phone: 877-295-5100.

]]> By: Ad Hustler http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11117 Ad Hustler Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:22:10 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11117 @Elan (IfByPhone) - Quite honestly your pricing is off the wall expensive. You have some cool features but are way overpriced. @Elan (IfByPhone) – Quite honestly your pricing is off the wall expensive. You have some cool features but are way overpriced.

]]> By: elan@ifbyphone http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11115 elan@ifbyphone Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:47:31 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11115 @Bryan @Richard @Adhustler Check out Ifbyphone.com for Phone Call Tracking Numbers. We have a full suite of Call Tracking Tools, including: - Toll-Free & Local Call Tracking Numbers - Real-Time Call Tracking Reports - Dynamic Numbers & Google Analytics Integration - Unlimited FREE Customer Support & A Reseller Program One of my favorite features for local online marketers is Ifbyphone's "Whisper Message" which enables you to announce a message to your customer before they accept each call. For example, say "This is a lead from XYZ Marketing" so that you get to remind them of the value you provide each time they answer the phone. For more information, visit our website (ifbyphone.com), give us a ring (877-285-5100), or find us on Twitter (@ifbyphone). Best, Elan @Bryan
@Richard
@Adhustler

Check out Ifbyphone.com for Phone Call Tracking Numbers. We have a full suite of Call Tracking Tools, including:

- Toll-Free & Local Call Tracking Numbers
- Real-Time Call Tracking Reports
- Dynamic Numbers & Google Analytics Integration
- Unlimited FREE Customer Support & A Reseller Program

One of my favorite features for local online marketers is Ifbyphone’s “Whisper Message” which enables you to announce a message to your customer before they accept each call. For example, say “This is a lead from XYZ Marketing” so that you get to remind them of the value you provide each time they answer the phone.

For more information, visit our website (ifbyphone.com), give us a ring (877-285-5100), or find us on Twitter (@ifbyphone).

Best,

Elan

]]> By: Bryan http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11015 Bryan Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:53:12 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11015 Adhustler, Do you have a vendor you prefer for tracking #s? Thank you. Adhustler,

Do you have a vendor you prefer for tracking #s?

Thank you.

]]> By: Ad Hustler http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11011 Ad Hustler Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:11:56 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11011 @Richard - Redirect them through a tracking number... @Richard – Redirect them through a tracking number…

]]> By: Local Online Advertising Series At A Glance | Ad Hustler http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11008 Local Online Advertising Series At A Glance | Ad Hustler Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:06:34 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11008 [...] Hustler Local Online Marketing Series The Ugly Side of Local Online Advertising Local Online Advertising Case Study: Facebook Vs. Google Adwords Google Adwords Local Targeting Is [...] [...] Hustler Local Online Marketing Series The Ugly Side of Local Online Advertising Local Online Advertising Case Study: Facebook Vs. Google Adwords Google Adwords Local Targeting Is [...]

]]> By: Richard http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-11001 Richard Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:28:32 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-11001 Great post, but I have a question. Suppose you charge by lead. How do you count phone call leads if the lead calls the client directly?? Thanks!! Great post, but I have a question. Suppose you charge by lead. How do you count phone call leads if the lead calls the client directly??

Thanks!!

]]> By: Ad Hustler http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-10827 Ad Hustler Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:33:11 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-10827 @John - Im not really sure how the dropshipper question relates to this post but it would probably make no sense. Local businesses typically have ridiculous markups already so i'm not sure how you would make a profit by selling a marked up product online. In the per lead scenario usually a lead is a phone call or email. Its the clients responsibility to get them through the door. @John – Im not really sure how the dropshipper question relates to this post but it would probably make no sense. Local businesses typically have ridiculous markups already so i’m not sure how you would make a profit by selling a marked up product online.

In the per lead scenario usually a lead is a phone call or email. Its the clients responsibility to get them through the door.

]]> By: JohnH http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-10826 JohnH Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:55:20 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-10826 Couple of total noobish questions I hope aren't too out of place... Are people using local businesses as drop-shippers and making commissions on sales? The thing about a local bicycle dealer is I can walk into their store with the orders so it's not like I'm trying to follow-up with a company 1000 miles away. Especially for higher end niche products I wonder about partnering with a local retailer. Also, in the Per Lead scenario where the desired action is getting a new customer to walk into the local business, how do you track that? Couple of total noobish questions I hope aren’t too out of place…
Are people using local businesses as drop-shippers and making commissions on sales? The thing about a local bicycle dealer is I can walk into their store with the orders so it’s not like I’m trying to follow-up with a company 1000 miles away. Especially for higher end niche products I wonder about partnering with a local retailer.
Also, in the Per Lead scenario where the desired action is getting a new customer to walk into the local business, how do you track that?

]]> By: Local Internet Marketing http://www.adhustler.com/the-ugly-side-of-local-online-advertising/comment-page-1/#comment-10771 Local Internet Marketing Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:01:59 +0000 http://www.adhustler.com/?p=787#comment-10771 [...] in how to explain the different relationships that can be built. Here is a great article from Adhustler. Take a few minutes and read. I will wait. Twiddling my thumbs. Ok, you are [...] [...] in how to explain the different relationships that can be built. Here is a great article from Adhustler. Take a few minutes and read. I will wait. Twiddling my thumbs. Ok, you are [...]

]]>