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You are here: Home / Blog

How This Call-Tracking Feature Can Transform Your Marketing

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

You’ve heard of our CallTrax™ feature—our very own call-tracking tool that comes with every Starter, Core, or Premium program. But did you realize exactly how vital it is to your campaign?
By keeping track of all the phone calls that come through your CallTrax number, it transforms the way you interact with your program. If you take advantage of this powerful tool, we’re confident you’ll see remarkable results.
Here’s how our call-tracking tool is just what you need to achieve the results you’ve been looking for.

Call-Tracking Provides 100% Transparency

The numbers don’t lie. Not only do they keep us informed, but they also keep us honest.
First of all, looking at your call data and assessing how many calls per month you have will let us know if there’s an issue with your campaign’s performance. You can notify us if you see a drop in calls, which will help us diagnose a potential problem before it becomes more serious.
At the same time, your call volume will also tell you how effective your campaign is. Wondering if our program is delivering on its value? Simply check your call log and see how many calls you’re getting per month. The call log only records calls that come through your CallTrax number, so they’re directly attributable to our marketing efforts. We can’t fake anything.

Call-Tracking Keeps a Record of Contacts

Our call-tracking feature doesn’t just tally your number of incoming calls—it keeps track of contact information, as well. That means your call log is a virtual contacts list of all prospects and customers. Since losing track of missed calls and forgetting to follow up with certain customers can cost you valuable jobs, this feature can be a real lifesaver.
Plus, there’s also a way for you to rate your contacts and label which calls led to booked jobs. This way, your call log can give you a quick, at-a-glance report that tells you how many jobs you’ve booked this month. By using this, you’ll not only be able to see how many calls you’re getting, but how many calls are actually turning into jobs. Because booking jobs is your ultimate goal, this insight will help you stay on track.

Call-Tracking Helps Improve Customer Service

Did you know that our call-tracking feature also records all the calls on your LeadTrax line? There are many purposes for this. One of the main purposes is that it helps you assess your own level of customer service.
Getting lots of calls but not booking many jobs? Listening back to your conversations with callers may help you identify a problem you didn’t know existed. For instance, maybe you’re having trouble talking to or connecting with people on the phone. Replaying those conversations can help you figure out where you need to improve in order to book more jobs and keep customers happy.

Call-Tracking Keeps Team Members in Check

In addition to assessing your own customer service, call recording may also help you train your team members to answer the phone properly. You can make sure they’re answering the phone with a professional greeting, using appropriate language, giving out correct information and price quotes, and so on.
Of course you don’t want to feel like a helicopter boss, hovering over your team members at all times. However, it’s important to make sure your business’s service is up to your standards. You want to be certain your customers are getting a premium experience. Listening back to old conversations on occasion is a discreet, convenient way to do this.

Call-Tracking Helps Target Customer Needs

Do you feel like you’re hearing a lot of the same questions and/or requests from customers? Our call recording lets you listen back to conversations so you can take note of these specific concerns. Then, you can start thinking about adding them to your service offerings if you don’t already offer them. These conversations offer priceless insight into your customers’ minds, and you’d be crazy not to take advantage of it.
Once you’ve identified the customer needs and additional services you’d like to target, let us know right away. We’ll get right to work marketing those services so your campaign can reach the next level.
Having trouble accessing your call log through the Client Portal? Want to learn more about its capabilities? Don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.

Get Ready for Bing's Expanded Text Ads

Last Updated: August 25, 2016

Remember a few weeks ago when we reported on Google’s new Expanded Text Ads?
Well, Microsoft very quickly jumped on the bandwagon: On August 23, Bing started testing its own version of Expanded Text Ads. Right now, Bing’s Expanded Text Ads are only available as a pilot test for advertisers. However, you can assume Bing will follow Google’s lead on this, as it often does. That means Bing will start implementing these longer ads to a wider user-base relatively soon. As we noted previously, Google will likely phase out traditional ads and replace them with Expanded Text Ads later this year.
Will Bing make similar sweeping changes that soon? It’s unlikely, considering Bing is only in the testing stages right now. But it’s a matter of when, not if. 
What should you take away from this? The writing’s on the wall: The future of paid advertising is Expanded Text Ads. If you’re a PPC user, you better start getting used to this new format.
Read more about Bing’s Expanded Text Ads on Search Engine Land: “Bing Ads Opens Pilot Access for Expanded Text Ads.”

3 Reasons Registering Your Business Name Is Worth the Paperwork

Last Updated: August 17, 2016

You’re a business owner. A self-starter. This means you’re an independent person by nature. You like to run your business on your own terms with as little interference as possible. The idea of involving the state with your business makes you cringe.
But guess what?
Registering your business name with the state is vital, even just from an advertising standpoint. Not only does it keep other businesses from capitalizing on your name recognition, but it also proves your legitimacy to search engines and customers alike. In other words, it’s an effective part of maintaining a healthy web presence and keeping those leads coming in.
After you read this post, you’ll be chomping at the bit to contact your state’s business division and register your company name. Here’s why.

1. Registering Your Business Name Protects You From Copycats

You already know how much SEO is tied to consistency in information, especially for key elements like your business name. So you can imagine the damage that could occur if another business decided to adopt your name for themselves and attach all of their contact information to it. Either that business would end up stealing all your SEO mojo, or both of your web presences would collapse. Neither scenario is good.
However, by registering your business name with the state, you can ensure that no one else uses it—which, in turn, safeguards against the potential SEO fallout that could occur if another business in your state were advertising for the exact same name.
You can even go a step further and register similar DBA (“doing business as”) names so no one else can capitalize on your popularity. For example, if you’re Bob’s Appliance Repair Service, you should also register “Bob’s Appliance Service” and “Bob’s Appliance Repairs.” This way, another business can’t take over your hard-earned name recognition, confuse customers, and potentially steal leads.
In short, registering your business name with the state gives you recourse to stop other businesses from using an identical or similar name.

2. Registering Your Business Name Makes You More Legit

We always talk about the small things you can do to look as professional as possible and make your customers feel confident in you. From recording a proper voicemail greeting to creating a corporate e-mail address, a little bit goes a long way.

Being registered with the state is just another thing you can do to amplify the legitimacy and professionalism of your business. This is what helps turn leads into customers.

3. Registering Your Business Name Makes Google Verification Easier

This doesn’t apply to every industry. However, for certain categories that are flooded with spam (like locksmiths), Google may sometimes request a copy of your business registration before completing the verification process. They do this to block spammers from creating listings for fake companies.
So if you’re in a spam-heavy industry, register your business name. Period. Otherwise, your business may not appear on Google Maps. And if you’re not on Google Maps, you’re shutting the door on lots and lots of leads.

It’s the Smart Thing to Do

Sure, it’s a pain to work with government agencies and fill out piles of paperwork. But as annoying as it may be, registering your business name is the intelligent move. Not registering can leave money on the table. Want to attract more customers and book more jobs? Registering your business name with the state is a powerful step in the right direction.
Money and your reputation are on the line. You have all the motivation you need to contact your state and begin the registration process. Don’t miss out on valuable leads just because you didn’t feel like filling out some paperwork!
You can find out all about registering your business name over on the U.S. Small Business Administration website.

12 Reasons Using Multiple SEO Companies Is a Terrible Idea

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

You’ve heard the saying, “Two heads are better than one.” You’ve probably heard it too many times to count. It’s so ingrained in our minds, in fact, that we apply it to virtually every situation we find ourselves in.
However, there are many scenarios in which two heads are NOT better than one. Online advertising is one of them.
If you’re working with one SEO company and decide to hire another one, you won’t be doubling your chances at success. You won’t promote your business twice as fast. You won’t get twice the number of leads.
All that happens is you waste your money and destroy the performance of your campaign. Truly, using multiple SEO companies is a terrible idea. Here’s why.

1. You’re paying for overlapping services.

that don't make no sense
Why pay for services from multiple companies that are all doing the same thing?

2. You’re paying twice the cost for half the result. 

burning money
Working with more than one SEO company at a time will weaken your online presence. So not only are you paying double what you need to, but you’re also getting very little out of it.

3. You’ll draw suspicion from Google.

suspicious
With multiple companies working on your advertising, your listings will be updated very frequently. This looks fishy to Google. Nothing good happens when Google is suspicious of you.

4. You could be penalized by Google.

penalty flag
Google will likely view your listing as spam if there are frequent updates from several different locations. And, as you know by now, Google takes spam very seriously. This could lead to your business plummeting in rankings or even getting suspended entirely.

5. You could end up with multiple Google listings. 

Billie-Joe-Armstrong-WTF
With more than one company advertising for you, there’s a risk that one of them will create a new Google listing for you, even if you already have one. This may sound like a win, but it’s not. Unfortunately, “The more the merrier!” does not apply to Google listings. In fact, Google is highly suspicious of businesses with multiple listings. This could lead to suspended listings and lost customer reviews.

6. You’ll confuse the people who find you online.

confused little girl
If you do wind up with multiple listings that contain different information, then your customers will probably get confused. They may not be able to tell which listing is the real you. Instead of calling you, this uncertainty will just cause them to move on to the next company they find.

7. Constant battling means no one’s in control. 

fighting for control
Since your SEO companies will be battling each other for control, there’s no prevailing strategy for your online advertising. With no clear route mapped out, where is your campaign going? And how is it going to get there?

8. Your SEO companies undo each other’s work.

working against each other
It’s impossible to get fast results when your SEO companies keep undoing each other’s work (whether they realize it or not). When players on the same team work against each other, winning is pretty much out of the question.

9. Fighting makes your advertisers grumpy. 

Steve-Carell-Facepalm
Who wants to fight tooth-and-nail just so they can do their job?

10. In fact, NO ONE is happy.

angry mob
It frustrates Google because you look like a spammer. It frustrates your SEO companies because they’re trying to do their jobs with one hand tied behind their backs. And it frustrates you because you’re getting poor results.

11. Your rankings drop. 

plummeting
Whether it’s because Google penalizes you or there’s a bevy of conflicting information floating around, working with more than one SEO company will cause your rankings to plummet.

12. It’s one GIANT headache. 

headache
Even if you ignore all the above facts or you somehow avoid any negative consequences (e.g. dropped rankings, suspensions, and penalties), it’s still a massive pain for all parties involved. Life is a lot easier when you work with just one SEO company at a time. 
Even though we’ve covered this topic with funny gifs, it’s a serious issue. Using multiple SEO companies can drain your bank account and tank your web presence. Please heed our advice and think twice before doubling up.

Do You Know About This Huge Change to Google AdWords?

Last Updated: July 29, 2016

Google has been offering paid advertising—known as AdWords—for over 15 years. In that time, the format for these ads has stayed relatively the same: a 25-character headline followed by two, 35-character description lines.
So when Google started rolling out “Expanded Text Ads” in mid-July, the online advertising world was quite surprised.

What Do Google’s Expanded Text Ads Look Like?

As you probably guessed from their name, Expanded Text Ads (ETAs) are an expanded version of the traditional ads you’re used to. They contain:

  • Two 30-character headlines
  • One 80-character description line

What’s the benefit of an ETA? According to Erin Sagin’s article on WordStream, it’s simply more effective than the traditional ad format:

The ETA is basically the standard ad on steroids. It’s so huge that it automatically demands more attention than the standard ad, plus its messaging is more informative and more compelling. Who wouldn’t be drawn to the ETA?

Who Can Use Google’s Expanded Text Ads?

ETAs are available to all AdWords accounts.
Right now, they still exist simultaneously with traditional ads, so advertisers can choose whether or not they want to test out the expanded version. However, you can expect Google to phase out those traditional ads sooner than later. (Many experts are predicting this will happen by the end of 2016.)
What does this mean for advertisers and small business owners who do their own advertising? It means you would be wise to take the time now to experiment with ETAs and become familiar with them before Google forces you to switch entirely.
Want to learn more? For an in-depth discussion and examples of ETAs, read Sagin’s full article, “3 Reasons to Drop Everything & Build Expanded Text Ads NOW.”

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