Businesses typically spend approximately 5% - 15%, or more of their revenue on advertising and marketing campaigns. In an article published last year by Business Week Steve McKee observed “-companies spend upwards of 15% when warranted—especially young companies that need to invest to build their brand.” That exact dollar amount is grievously weighted by revenue. According to IDC, the average annual revenue of a small business is $3.6 million; so accordingly, at 5% those same businesses would expect to spend nearly, and at a minimum $200,000 on advertising. Small businesses budget and spend this exorbitant sum on various marketing venues to survive, grow and succeed. Is that a gamble? Is it a waste? Why? The Ad Placement? The Customer Service?
Businesses are increasingly holding their advertising and their employees accountable through call tracking. Call tracking is a process of accurately identifying the advertising source while recording calls for quality, training or review.
A recent survey assessed six firms servicing the growing demand for Call tracking.
Those surveyed included, ACI Call Tracking, Call Source, Telemetrics, Who’s Calling, Call Bright and If by Phone.
• For $24.95 a month for one line and an unspecified set up fee, If by Phone offers call tracking phone numbers, pay as you go billing and allows clients to add new numbers. If by Phone also states that they are able to transfer existing numbers within three to four weeks.
• Call Bright requires a ten line minimum and charges $40 monthly per line, a long term contract and an extra charge for local numbers. Call Bright provides outbound call tracking and will transfer existing numbers in six to eight weeks.
• Who’s Calling will provide inbound and outbound call tracking, and is able to move existing numbers within three to five days. Who’s Calling charges extra for local numbers, requires a set up fee and a long term contract and has a twenty lines minimum.
• Telemetrics requires a minimum of 200 lines and a long term contract. They will transfer their client’s existing numbers within six to eight weeks, but does not allow for retention of ownership of those numbers.
• Call Source is another firm requiring a long term contract and set up fee, but does not have a line minimum. They offer in bound and outbound call tracking and will transfer their client’s existing numbers. Service charges start at $69 for a single line.
• ACI Call Tracking provides Call recording, inbound and outbound call tracking, web tracking, and local numbers at no extra charge. ACI can transfer their client’s existing telephone numbers in three to five days and allows its client’s to retain ownership of that number. ACI Call Tracking provides its website owning clientele a unique “Chat Feature” enabling its client’s administrator, webmaster, or any of its employees to receive and respond to text communications from multiple users. ACI Call Tracking requires no line minimum, no set up fee or long term contract, and pay as you go billing for $20 monthly per line with volume discounts.
There is definite demand for marketing and employee accountability and it’s attainable.
Some companies have taken upon themselves to ask every caller how they learned of their business. Call tracking phone numbers are a more accurate system for tracking and does not alienate or inconvenience customers. .
To attain marketing and employee accountability, try Call Tracking.
* Information cited regarding Call Source, Telemetrics, ACI Call Tracking, Who's Calling, Call Bright and If by phone was gathered via informal phone surveys performed in February 2010.
