Before I go any further in this article, I’d like to make a few things crystal clear. I was not given a “review copy” of HassleFree800.com. In 2004, I bought the 800 number service, I forget where I’d first heard about it, but I believe it was when I went to a By Referral Only or Craig Proctor workshop.
I reviewed it, compared it, liked it, bought it, tweaked it and played with it. I like the service… thus why I have been using it, went back and bought a distributors license so I can use it and tell the world my likes and dislikes.
Ok, with that out of the way, I really think HassleFree800 is the best “in the box” toll-free call capture I’ve ever come across, though I still have a few wants on my wish list for future upgrades.
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Name: AdTrakker or AdTrakkerMulti
URL: www.HassleFree800.com
Purpose: To make it simple for prospective buyers to use their phones to get the information they want, when they want it; and make it possible for the owner/seller to track advertising dollars and marketing campaigns.
3 Things You Will Learn From This Review
- How Does Toll-Free Call-Capture Work
- How I Use My 800 number
- FAQ of People Who Want To Use a 800 number
So How Exactly Does HassleFree800 Work?
Here’s a break down of how to make the HassleFree800's Adtrakker system work for you:
- Create Scripts & Dialogues: Do you say the same thing over and over again to qualify prospects? Record those scripts into the 800 number and have it do the majority repetitive work for you.
- Publicize your call capture number. Have it turn cold suspects into hot prospects.
- Optimize your marketing time and dollars by tracking what campaigns are generating the best results. Place the 800 number call capture extension on your blogs, websites, signs, sales letters, post cards, and articles.
- Prospect listens to your offer and raise their hand if they are interested by leaving a message or dialing an extension to connect directly to you.
- Follow up with the prospect to turn them into a client/customer using various closing techniques.
- Sign the contracts--closed the deals--cash the checks.
- Then do it all over again from step 1.
That’s it in a nutshell. It’s not rocket science, but there’s work to do. Your job, if you follow this path, is to be diligent by forcing yourself to take action... to complete every step above... for every marketing campaign you create. Some recommend having voice professionals or a person with a smooth voice do the recording for you; but I have found, if you're a small operation, the person who has the initial voice-to-voice contact should record the message. Because when you do the follow-up call your voice will be familiar to the prospect, makes sense?
My Two Niche Examples
The following are two specific ways I use my HassleFree800 number to make enough money to pay the cat doctor bills. This is not about becoming a dominant player - an expert - it's just one man's opinion on how to making things happen.
Although your overall strategy might be quite different from what I do, the fundamentals remain the same -- no matter what business your in.
Capturing Renters For Investment Real Estate
My Hasslefree800 number system sift and sorts prospective renters for my investor clients who rely on my marketing principles to get their properties occupied, which are -
1. Produce a compelling message to renters
2. Create an ad that will force the type of renter you want to call. For example:
Home For Rent
Sec. 8 ok $800/mo
Free Recorded Message
888.462.3771 ext. 403
3. Market your the 800 number to build traffic
4. Call back only those who leave a message
I'll break down my section 8 niche further in a future article. Using this strategy for a recent property I received over 150 calls, 63 message, 20 showings, 10 applications, and finally one renter -- it’s almost robot-like.
Capturing Corporate Catering Events for BBQ Restaurant
In St. Louis, Missouri, my folks run Ms. Piggies' Smokehouse & Catering Company. Years ago, I told my mom how I was using HassleFree800 to acquire leads. She stored the idea in the back corner of her mind; however, the latest employee episode pushed her over the edge...
If you know of someone who owns a restaurant, you may have heard the number one and two issue they have is... reliable employees who show up on time and won't steal from the cash drawer. A few weeks ago, we had employee, who was reliable and never stole from us, but has a show-up-on-time problem.
When he finally made it in, the line was out the door, the phone was wringing off the hook, he rushed in the store, picked up the phone. On the other end, it was a company that wanted to place a big catering order. In his rush, he got the order wrong.
It was not just wrong, it wasn't even close, he’s simply rushed through the call. We nearly lost $2,500 deal.
Never, again!
A few days later, mom called me and I had the restaurant purchase its own HassleFree800 call-capture number and here's a quick snapshot of extension I created:
- If you need Our Quick Pick-Up & Carry-out service press 101
- For Food Catering services for 50+ guests press 102
- If you need Catering services for 10+ guests press 103
- To order our Hickory Smoked Turkeys press 104
- To speak with the management team press 143
What I Like About HassleFree800.com
The system has been nearly perfect, but let me start with what I like followed by where I think it could be improved.
- It’s efficient - there’s no waffling. I record my offer, the prospect listens to it, if they are interested... they leave a message.
- I can load it with different qualifying techniques, like fax offers and "if then" extensions.
- It can identify the addresses of those who called, even if they didn't leave a message.
- Voice Broadcasting is a great feature. I can load a message to the system and have it call prospects and clients for me. For my restaurant niche, I'm using this feature to let 100 businesses know about our corporate catering specials. For my renter niche, I had it call 63 prospective renters at the same time. The message notified them about an open house tour and when the available time slots were.
- I can retrieve prospects messages by phone or by any Internet browser, the qualifying selection process really is a process - there’s no “interrupting my personal or marketing time” or anything of that nature - I look for those who left a message, follow up with the warm lead, qualify them further to see if they could become a client by signing a contract.
- Just like the service team at my local Lexus dealership, great technical support is priority. I have always been able to pick up the phone and have my issues resolved and questions answered the same day.
What I DON’T Like About HassleFree800.com
Here’s where I think they could improve on -
- The 800 numbers also does double duty as a fax machine. Yes, this is an advantage too, because my business card is less cluttered. But there has been a few time that people who have tried to fax became confused when they heard my voice on the initial greeting. Some people started hitting the send button on their fax machine which actually stopped the fax from going through. Others who had to send their fax to me a few times before they figured it out. This hiccup didn't affect my pocketbook greatly, since I have the 250 minute bulk plan, but it has been a little frustrating when I needed to get title documents in a hurry.
That’s a minor complaint for me, I know, but there is nothing else I have a problem with in using the system. But here's...
Other Small Business Owner's Concerns About Call-Capture Lead-Generation 800 Numbers
Now, is having a toll-free call capture number the sole marketing strategy that will make money rain from the heavens and fill you bank account with buckets of gold? No.
I have heard few gripes and questions about call capture 800 numbers, I found them on different forums. Here is my answer to them, because as you know I don't like to repeat myself:
Question: On your signs which is more effective in getting quality prospects to call; 800 numbers or local numbers?
Kendall's Answer: I use two signs for my listings. My HassleFree800 number is on what I call "Ugly Yellow Soldiers" signs and my local number and website is on my official real estate sign. On one recent listing, I received three transactions from the people who called and listened to my free recorded message loaded on my 800 number extension.
Question: How does the recording portion of the 800# work? Do you need a different number for each listing?
Kendall's Answer: I call my 800# or upload a recording with a wav. file. Each listing/offer has a different extension.
Question: My limited understanding of 1-800 numbers is that you pay per call and it is really expensive. Is it really worth the added cost? In today's day and age, is having a 1-800 number a must when most people can dial local numbers at no cost on their cell phones?If it is worth it, where do I begin searching for a toll free number and how do I get it to have that cute and memorable letter/number sequence? 1-800-HOMERUN or 1-800-JSSELL
Kendall's Answer: I don't care about having a cute or memorable letter/number sequence. I focus on having a great offer to get people to pick up the phone and dial. HassleFree800 is not expensive. The cost per minute is between 4 to 6 cents per minute.
Question: Does this help your business? Do you get more calls from the 800# or from the office number?
Kendall's Answer: This has helped my business. I get more calls on my HassleFree 800 number because I have so many targeted offers.
Statement: I canceled my 800# service last year, and threw away all of my sign riders with the 800# displayed. I had used the 800# system since 2000, with declining results nearly every year. While most drive-by buyers have cell phones, most are also aware (via Blogs) of the call-capture on 800#s, so they became more hesitant to call.
Instead, I changed all my signs to have only my mobile # displayed. For those few buyers who call, they now get me directly, rather than some call-capture 800# voice message. It's something I prefer to do, and I still get the call capture on my mobile.
Kendall's Answer: That's too bad, I prefer to only have folks who know, like, and already trust me to call my mobile phone. I use an 800# on all my marketing pieces; blogs, sign riders, websites, fliers, sales letters, postcards, business cards. Anywhere I publicize my website I attach my HassleFree800 number to it. Remember, people aren't hesitant to call if you have a strong enough reason for them to call.
Question: I had an 800 number for years and it very seldom got used, so I 86ed it. I wonder if I should bring it back?
Kendall's Answer: Only bring it back if you can provide great offers to make the phone ring. Then market that number to specific audiences. Otherwise, if you are not going to go all out... don't go out... stay home and wait for the cell phone to ring and business to fall into your lap. Like Larry Winget said, "It's Called Work For A Reason!" If you don't work it, it won't work.
Who Shouldn't Invest into a HassleFree800.com Call Capture System?
I’m going to be completely honest with you -- using this 800 call capture phone technology is strictly for the people who care about controlling their time, financial resources, and dealing with prospects and not suspects.
At this point in your life, you realize that you don't like a formulaic and systematic approach to generating leads, then this system is not for you. The call capture system is for people like me, undercover control freaks who want a life; and more importantly, the ability to have lead-generating systems that can automatically repeat sifting and sorting leads over and over again.
If you don't struggled with acquiring leads to consistently feed your business because you get so many referrals, stop caring so much about your marketing and just improve your networking skills; just tell everyone you work by referral only--otherwise find the low-hanging fruit in lots of different niches and build lots of 800 number extension to tap into them.
If you already have a market you are trying to dominate with your personal brand and your expertise and you have already invested time and energy into building a presence in that niche, this is not the time to change course. Sure, you might still buy a HassleFree800 number, but use it as a supplement to your current strategies by either having a testimonial line, fax offer of a free report to businesses, or have it explain to people your unique selling proposition.
Final Call Capture Review Thoughts
One important point to make here is that HassleFree800.com won’t… break the bank. We’re not talking about a $150 investment here, or even a $97 a month - my monthly invoice is between $28 to $43 per month. In the two niches I spoke about, I've sold over $5 million worth of real estate and will soon book around $60,000 worth of catering jobs... in a state I don't even live in.
To let you know they offer the obligatory 15 day money back guarantee. You can take a full two weeks to decide whether it’s worth keeping. In that time you could even run a test of marketing and advertising templates that come with the system.
Remember, what Michael Gerber said, "The entrepreneur builds an enterprise; the technician builds a job." What are you building?
Here’s the link -
www.HassleFree800.com
Happy Investing!
Kendall E. Matthews
Ps. If you don't have scripts readily available, the system includes a complete mortgage and real estate marketing library and all the supporting advertising materials.
Pss. If you are a partner in a restaurant, like I am, you'll be interested in the review that I'll write in a few weeks, about the marketing program I bought in 2006 that has helped my little carry-out bbq place in St. Louis generate over $40K per month in food sales.
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