The Best Alternatives to Google PPC Advertising
When you think about PPC advertising, the first program that comes to mind is Google AdWords. After all, it is the biggest PPC program on the Internet today. Crafting a compelling advertisement and then using Google PPC Advertising to promote your website can lead to a high conversion rate and increased profitability. But Google’s popularity can also be the reason it is not always the best solution for some markets. Its popularity comes with a proportionally high price tag as well.
ShareThisThree Essential Elements for Marketing Online
Marketing online has definitely established itself as the most cost effective and efficient way to advertise and gain new clients; however, it is often the small things that companies overlook or rush through that can have the biggest impact on the success of marketing online. If overlooked, these three essential elements can seriously affect the success of any Internet marketing campaign.
Why Do I Need a Toll Free Number?
Many, many reasons exist for having a toll free number for your business. Here are just a few statistics to show how 800 numbers have helped other organizations increase profit margins and maximize marketing ROI.
Toll free number statistics:
- Ads featuring 800 numbers generate approximately 30% more orders
- Using a toll free number on product literature can result in 50% less product returns
- Several fund raising organizations realized a 25% increase in response rates when using a toll free number in their ads
However, direct increases in response rates are not the only reasons why you need a toll free number. Toll free numbers offer instant credibility and present you as an established and reliable business. This perception that your company is long-lasting is extremely important considering the collapse of many organizations in recent years; you also want your company to set itself apart from the tons of start-up Internet companies launching on a tight budget. A toll free number will differentiate you as a serious company that will be around for the long-term.
In addition, shrinking market shares in many industries make it necessary to operate outside of your local area to bring in the revenues you need. Consumers would rather call a company with a toll free number that appears to have a national presence rather than a number from a different area code.
If you are really planning to create an empire and a business that will last, a toll free number is crucial to building your branding. Companies that build strong brands survive longer. An article in Business Week demonstrated that 30% of the most valuable brands in the world were established before 1900. While today's economy may be tighter, it is not a time to be cutting advertising and branding initiatives. In fact, the opposite is true. A PIMS study showed that during the last recession, companies that increased their spending on branding and marketing saw over a 5% higher return on their marketing dollars than those companies who decreased spending. Clearly, the current state of the economy actually presents some incredible opportunities to get ahead of your competition, jump in, and take over new markets and industries. It is up to you whether your company will take this opportunity to emerge as a leader or just wither away. Regardless of your industry, one thing is certain: those who come out on top will be those with toll free numbers.
5 Products Your Toll Free Number Should Be On
At first glance, it is already apparent that toll free numbers can yield a lot of benefits for both big and small businesses. A toll free number conveys a sense of credibility, professionalism, and customer care. In this regard, one particular challenge comes to mind, “What is the best place to promote toll free numbers?” Beyond advertising your toll free number on television and in print, placing it on products is an excellent way to keep your company at the top of the customer’s mind.
Vanity Numbers: The Verbal Branding Revolution
They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words," but if you think about it, the words from advertising are the ones you remember the most. Even that the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" has been remembered and passed down for decades (and not an actual picture) is proof enough that words are more powerful. Recently, a lot of buzz has circulated about verbal branding, including at expos put on by the American Marketing Association. A great verbal branding strategy should be at the core of any company's branding and marketing efforts.
800 Number Call Capture
800 number call capture is a toll free services feature that has proven itself as a powerful marketing tool across a number of industries. 800 number call capture has been most prominently used in the real estate and mortgage industries to provide companies an excellent, low cost way to cultivate leads and new prospects. It can just as easily be applied to almost any business concept. You have probably already seen this form of marketing in action on "For Sale" signs and display advertising without even knowing it.
800 Numbers for Display Advertising
Display advertising is an important element in the success of any marketing initiative. It sends a strong visual message to the target market that enables people to retain the brand in their minds. You can take advantage of display advertising in different ways. Using toll free numbers is one of the most popular methods. 800 numbers provide an immediate and effective way to boost business recognition.
Five Ways To Use Your Toll Free Number
So you are aware of the huge advantages of having a toll free number for your business and the large impact it can have on maximizing marketing effectiveness. However, if you don't put it to good use by getting your toll free number out into the public's eye, then it isn't going to increase your advertising effectiveness as much as you expect. Your toll free or vanity numbers should be on everything you do from your business cards to website to letterhead. Below are a few specific examples of essential places to use your toll free numbers.
What Does Your Business Phone Number Say About You?
According to new statistics, 27 million companies are doing business in the U.S., with approximately 553,000 new businesses being filed each year. While only a percentage of these may be competing in your specific industry, that is still a lot of competition for your prospects' hard earned wages and profits. The one piece of crucial information involved in any marketing campaign, advertising message, or conversation with a potential prospect is your business phone number. What does your phone number say about you and your company? For those thinking it is "just a number," nothing could be further from the truth. No matter where you operate or with whom you do transactions, toll free numbers and vanity numbers have proven to make a huge impact on an enterprise's success or failure.
Vanity Numbers that Close Deals
Even if you are able to drive a large volume of calls into your call center, that volume does not always convert into a lot of sales. The result equates to throwing your money down the drain or even worse, mailing a check to your competitors, because that is where your lost customers are going. The main reasons why customers fall out of your business cycle are either 1) your marketing was not on target and well tested or 2) your prospects do not have the confidence in your company they need to make the commitment. Using toll free and vanity numbers, however, can create huge improvements in your closing ratios.
