Critique my ad

phone number

[wheel]

We offer a product that is confusing to most people, one of my areas of expertise is making it less confusing. I make more sales if I can speak to the purchaser.

So here's my latest adwords ad:
Title: Keyphrase
Find out types, colors, and cost.
Call Wheel [phone] tollfree.

Where 'types,colors and cost' are three things purchasers don't know, and 'Wheel' is my first name.

Is that a go?

[areyougellin]

It's hard to say without testing, but I don't think this would be a successful ad.

You're wasting an entire line to provide your name and number. In my experience, phone numbers typically reduce CTR. And I don't think anybody cares what your name is (no offense).

That's the best I can do without knowing more about your product and landing page.

[trillianjedi]

In my experience, phone numbers typically reduce CTR.

But in many circumstances they increase the quality of leads, so less volume but more sales. If you need a buyer on the phone (as is the case here) in order to close, then you want calls, not clicks.

If one of the problems is it's a complex product, and you offer to answer these key questions by telephone, I think it's a good ad.

[areyougellin]

I disagree.

A number in your ad reduces the quality of the leads as they're less qualified. Somebody that clicks, reads your site and calls is a better quality lead than somebody that just calls from a brief ad.

Try testing a unique or trackable number in your ad. I have, and not only does it generate so few calls, but those calls are of lesser quality than the ones that call off the page.

You'll only know by testing, but I don't think it's a very good ad.

I'd take another look at your landing page and figure out a better way to sell this "complex" product in a compelling way.

[netmeg]

(not my experience re phone number in ad. have done quite well with it for local lead generation)

BUT I would still probably frame the ad and the landing page differently.

The perceived issue here is that your products are confusing to some people.

So I would probably address that issue in the ad by calling out those people specifically, and telling them that the ANSWER to their issue is on the landing page.

Then on the landing page you explain the benefits of calling you up to explain this product to them. I'd probably do it something like this:

Need to Buy Product?
Free Consultation With Our Expert
Saves Time, Saves Money, No Hassle!

(or something to that effect, your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, etc etc)

Honestly, as many people as there are on this forum - that's probably how many suggestions you could get.

[wheel]

Nutmeg, thanks - that's an awesome ad.

I'm in the midst of moving web platforms so I can't change landing pages right now. When I can, I'll drop that on a landing page that talks about my references, i.e. radio/print quotes etc.

For now, I may try that exact ad but with my phone number on it.

[netmeg]

(netmeg!)

No problem; hopes it works!

[buckworks]

Off topic: It might amuse you to know that recently when I was writing a grocery list, I wrote "netmeg" for the spice I needed! :)

[jimbeetle]

More off topic: Arrgh! Now we're gonna' hear all that "I am not a spice" stuff.