Google Click-To-Call

Google Click-To-Call:

"It was only a matter of time before Google entered the emerging pay-per-call field, which complements pay-per-click for local advertisers, and especially for advertisers with no online presence. Google is spinning it nascent Click-To-Call service differently from Ingenio, a leader in the field. First, Google’s service is not particularly skewed to local advertisers. Second, rather than provide a unique toll-free number to the advertiser and letting searchers pick up the phone to dial it, Google calls the searcher (!), then connects that call with the advertiser.This system is remarkable, and typical of Google ingenuity. It’s also typical of Google’s reliance on consumer trust, and the FAQ for this service takes pains to emphasize that the searcher’s phone number will not be shared, and won’t even be kept by Google for very long. The advertiser (this is a crucial point) won’t ever see the number.Advertisers enrolled in the limited launch of this feature are identified by a telephone icon next to their AdWords ads. I have not succeeded in finding any such ads, but Greg Yardley did, and posted a screen shot. Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments© 2005 Weblogs, Inc. Ads by Google"