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How do you take phone orders?

by Dayne Dylan Banned
8 replies
Warriors, I'm looking at advertising offline in a print publication. What I want to do is have my website URL and also a 800 # they can call and order in my ad.

Do any of you do this, and how do you set it up? Who would you recommend for this service for the lowest price?

Thank you!
#orders #phone
  • Profile picture of the author Talltom1
    I do this via RingCentral dot com. You can sign up to get an 800 number, even a local number (in any locality you want). This is actually a virtual PBX system - you can identify and set up a number of extension numbers, then direct individual ads to specific extensions. About $30 per month.

    I've used them for 1-2 years - been great.

    Talltom
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  • Profile picture of the author Dayne Dylan
    Banned
    Talltom, do they actually take the orders too?
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Dayne,

      I use a 1-800 number on my site to take orders. I sell physical products and it works great.

      The 1-800 number can be used to ring your home, office, wharehouse, or any other number that you already have. Just use it as a redirect to a current number you have if you like.

      A basic 1-800 number is just that. It is not a call canter, so you need to answer the phone, or have somebody answer the phone like I do.

      If you are looking for a service that takes orders over your 1-800 line they have those, too. Last time I checked they were around $0.89 a minute or so. That would mean a typical call could cost you $3 - $4 a call. Yes, those calls can easily take 4 to 5 minutes by the time your prospects get their questions answered.

      It depends on what you are selling as to whether a 1-800 number can be a blessing or a customer service nightmare. For my purposes it works out to be a great way to upsell the prospects/customers and hence is a profit center.

      Your milage may vary, but either way it is a good way to build credibility with your target niche.

      KJ
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    you're looking for inbound order processing or inbound telemarketing, possibly even IVR or Interactive Voice Response.

    Google and ye shall find.

    The inbound telemarketing companies I have the most personal experience with are very high volume operations like West Teleservices and are probably not appropriate for most individual marketers.. But who knows. You can always give them a call too.

    Expect to pay anywhere from a buck and change up to several dollars per inquiry to capture the order and transmit the data to you daily.

    P.S. Good for you for seeing the power of the good old-fashioned telephone. Far too many marketers ignore it to their detriment!

    Best,

    Brian
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    Brian McLeod
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  • Profile picture of the author Dayne Dylan
    Banned
    What about setting up a message to have them leave their card # and info for the order on a recording?

    Or if they don't want to do that, be sure to mention that one can also place a secure order via the website at XYZ.

    Anyone have luck doing this method (phone message)?
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    • Profile picture of the author jmidas
      I dont think anyone will leave their card# on a message. No one is that trusting anymore.

      I have had good luck using local companies (look inthe yellow pages for answering services) Not all take orders, but many do. The one I used until I hired an in house person (to do this and other stuff) for this charges about 150 a month and they enter the info into an order form I created on a web site that they have access to. Also, I have a toll free number that I can forward to any number I wish - so I advertise the toll free number and have it routed to the local number. I do this in case I decide to change service providers, the number is mine and the ads that are out there wont ring to a disconnected number. I use ureach dot com for the toll free numbers - dirt cheap and have been very reliable for several years.
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Originally Posted by Dayne Dylan View Post

      What about setting up a message to have them leave their card # and info for the order on a recording?

      Or if they don't want to do that, be sure to mention that one can also place a secure order via the website at XYZ.

      Anyone have luck doing this method (phone message)?
      Dayne,

      If you try to get them to leave their credit card number on a message machine they'll leave skid marks and you'll never get a chance to make them customers. Bad idea.

      Your second idea will work, although people hate it when they call a 1-800 number just to find out they need to go back to the website. If they are calling in from a print ad that would have a better conversion rate.

      We have people all the time who leave orders on our answering machine. But we never ask them to leave their CC data. So yea, if they call your number and your message prompts them to allow you to call them back, you're ahead of the game.

      KJ
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  • Profile picture of the author igrowyourbiz
    believe it or not, people will leave you cc number in a voicemail...they also can get your fax on demand and fax you back.

    It all depends on your customers and what you sell.

    If it is the true "offline" market, they have no problem with it if you look like a professional company and not a telemarketer (ie sales page)

    800 numbers combined with postcards or classified ads are GOLD MINES and have been for me since around 1992.

    Whether live or automated.
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