800 Number On Merchant Site: Help or Deterrence?

By Vlad Zablotskyy August 15, 2007 Bookmark and Share

If you did not have a chance to sign up for the free videos from Affiliate Summit 2007 East, I highly recommend doing so. In particular if you have missed the Summit and/or are new to the Affiliate Marketing. I personally appreciate to have access to these videos, in a way it is like being there- just a month later and a few good parties shorter.

While I was watching the videos, I wrote some points for myself and will be writing about those here and there mostly for my own enjoyment (mostly this will help me to remember what I have learned). But if you find these things of value or completely disagree please voice your opinion in the comments.

telephone.jpgSo my first note was about 800 numbers, or any kind of support phone number on the merchant’s website. Rosalind Gardner had raised very interesting question during session called “What do super affiliates want?” in regard to 800 numbers on the merchant’s website. Those numbers in some cases may “stand on the way” of your potential earnings. When, for example, a customer decides to call the merchant and instead of placing the order online does it over the phone. However the can bring a peace of mind to customer who just “needs” to know that he can call if he encounters a problem.

When I shop with a merchant I never shopped before, I do pay attention whether there is a ready help available should I run into problems during the purchase. I have to admit that seeing 800 numbers gives me a peace of mind.

What do you think about 800 numbers on the merchant’s website? Do you think they help? Or you think you might be loosing commissions because of them?

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  • Successful affiliates can also get their own toll free number and point it to the merchant's local number. The merchant won't even know but the affiliate can track the calls. You'll get the phone number of EVERY caller, even if they block caller ID.

    The cost of the incoming calls at 3 cents per minute is probably well worth the benefit of being able to measure the effectiveness of the site and advertising, plus being able to track your results. You can even use this to build a customer list of your own. Call to do a survey and ask how they liked the Widget they just bought from XYZ Widgets that you promote if you think the merchant isn't giving you credit for sales. I wouldn't want to do that with small sales, but for big ticket items which more often require phone calls this can be very effective.

    I don't mean to be self pomoting but we can also help you get a number with your affiliate sites name for branding or with the merchant company's name. Use the lookup tools at www.TollFreeNumbers.com to check your names, your merchant's name. It's kind of like the GoDaddy of the phone number business. Toll Free Numbers are only a one time fee of $49 there. So it won't take very many sales of a high ticket item to justify the minor cost of a toll free number. They're much less expensive than most people think. And like you said, they make you feel like the company is more responsive and available if you have questions.

    Bill Quimby
    1-800 MARKETER
    wwwTollFreeNumbers.com
  • Bill,

    Thanks for commenting. You have my attention. ;) Look for an e-mail from me.
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