Using Skype to Automatically Answer Calls with A Sales Pitch

[highlifelight]

I've been fumbling around with this idea for some time now, and I know it's nothing new, but I'm trying to find a way to make this work, and could sure use some help.

Some of the free classified sites charge a fee if you want a URL embedded in your ad. To be able to profit from classifieds, bulk is the key (or so I'm told), so paying for each little classified immediately makes it not economical. However, it seems that most of these sites allow you to post a phone number. So, here's what I've been brainstorming.

Skype is pretty cheap, and I'm sure that there is software available to auto-answer the calls and play a prerecorded message. If you did this, you could spout some more sales copy to nudge the inquirer into buy mode. You could include information with a URL, which wasn't allowed in the free ad.

Any thoughts, experiences, or anything with this type of deal? Seems like it could work.

 

[LemonAden]

You could do it with Vonage too easy... just get a vonage net account. Set it to send to voicemail after 5 rings, they hear your message... if you get voicemails actually left,just delete them all right from the control panelin vonage and dont waste time listening to them.

 

[highlifelight]

You could do it with Vonage too easy... just get a vonage net account. Set it to send to voicemail after 5 rings, they hear your message... if you get voicemails actually left,just delete them all right from the control panelin vonage and dont waste time listening to them.

Couple things: I wouldn't want these types of calls coming to my real number. That could be a nightmare. Also, I don't use Vonage, although I've heard lots of good things about them.

I was also thinking of having a system set up where my ad copy would give an extention x2121 or whatever for each offer I'm running, and then Skype or whatever voip solution I was using could then start playing that particular sales pitch and URL.

 

[smash]

Grand Central would be pimp for this, Angel even better. Angel has IVR that can translate your voice recorded data into databases, text, forms, even xml.

GrandCentral: The New Way to Use Your Phones or Angel IVR and Call Center Solutions by Angel.com

 

[am1r]

Skype is one option. Another one would be to use Asterisk with a standard SIP/IAX provider. If you went with Asterisk you could do all sorts of things such as, for example, giving them a range of options based on what they might want or incorporating rules based on caller ID (playing different ads for different regions), etc.

 

[highlifelight]

Skype is one option. Another one would be to use Asterisk with a standard SIP/IAX provider. If you went with Asterisk you could do all sorts of things such as, for example, giving them a range of options based on what they might want or incorporating rules based on caller ID (playing different ads for different regions), etc.

I have dabbled with voip in the past, but Asterisk is a bit beyond my technical abilities at this point. I have a server I could run it on, but until I can prove to myself that this is a viable method of collecting leads, I'm probably going to hold off on that type of time investment.

But yeah, wow, you really gave me some things to think about.

Is it really possible to turn somebody into a lead from a phone call? Will they really go to the website? Is there a program that could accept leads from calls (like I set up a deal to forward the caller to the vendor)?

It seems like my marketing could open up to the technophobic big time if I could find a way to cut out the internet part altogether.

 

[drloveless]

yeah definitly asterisk. Thats stuff kicks ass.

 

[droolingmnky]

I really wouldn't use Vonage, stick with Skype. What is it like 29.99 or 38 bucks a year for a phone number in any area code? You won't be able to get those prices with Vonage.

 

[springer]

Back in the day, I used this IVM Computer Phone Answering Machine Software, PC Answer Machine, Voice Mail and IVR Software on an old windows box with a phone modem and a dedicated phone line. The extra phone line cost me less than $10 a month. I silenced the modem so I never heard anything when it would ring.

It's easy to set up multiple outgoing messages, kinda like yahoo pipes... pretty much drag and drop. Depending on which version you buy, you can set up quite a few different OGMs. Callers type in the extension you list in your ad and get the message you want them to hear.

There are outfits you can find in the SEs that will supply you with a toll-free number, if you want to go that route. Usually about 4 or 5 cents a minute and the calls forward to whatever number you want.

If you just want to test before investing much I'd go with a new phone number and just set up voicemail with my outgoing message but the voice quality kinda sucks, in my experience. I think it's kind of amaturish but it'd give you an idea pretty quickly if it'd play out.

Testing ought to be pretty simple if you don't promote your URL anywhere else and watch your stats compared to your calls. It's probably not prefect but what is?

If you get good results and want to grow, you might consider hiring some professional voice talent to do your messages, unless you sound like a professional announcer. It's pretty cheap to get a short recording done that can sound just like a radio or tv ad. It really ads cred to your set up.