Google is currently testing a new system on Adwords that could prove very popular indeed. Basically you see a small phone icon nest to the advert and if you click it you can type in your telephone number and it connects you free of charge to the advertiser.

Here’s a screenshot:

In Googles owns words:

“What’s the phone icon on Google search results? How does it work?
We’re testing a new product that gives you a free and fast way to speak directly to the advertiser you found on a Google search results page – over the phone.

Here’s how it works: When you click the phone icon, you can enter your phone number. Once you click ‘Connect For Free,’ Google calls the number you provided. When you pick up, you hear ringing on the other end as Google connects you to the other party. Then, chat away on our dime.

We won’t share your telephone number with anyone, including the advertiser. When you’re connected with the advertiser, your number is blocked so the advertiser can’t see it. In addition, we’ll delete the number from our servers after a short period of time.

Am I charged to connect to an advertiser?
No. Google foots the bill for all calls - local and long-distance. However, if we call a cell phone number, you may incur airtime fees depending on the cell phone plan. Check your cell phone provider for details. ”

As an adwords advertiser I am interested to know how well this works so as soon as it is available to all I will let you all know my findings.

I have already experimented with putting in our telephone number within the Adwords advert already and it didn’t appear to bring in better results for me.

Google have just released another exciting free tool for Website owners to use - Google Analyitics.

This is bascially an advanced stats package created by Urchin and now utilised by Google.

Googles description:

“Google Analytics tells you everything you want to know about how your visitors found you and how they interact with your site. You’ll be able to focus your marketing resources on campaigns and initiatives that deliver ROI, and improve your site to convert more visitors.

Sophisticated, yet easy to use.
We believe that web analytics should be simple and sophisticated at the same time. We’ve designed Google Analytics to have enterprise level capabilities and yet still be accessible to anyone who wants to improve their marketing and site design. Google Analytics delivers all the features you’d expect from a high-end web analytics offering, and provides timesaving AdWords integration features.

Integrated with AdWords.
If you have an AdWords account, you can use Google Analytics directly from the AdWords interface. Google Analytics is the only product that can automatically provide AdWords ROI metrics, without you having to import cost data or add tracking information to keywords. Of course, Google Analytics tracks all of your non-AdWords initiatives as well.

Free.
Google Analytics gives us an opportunity to invest in our advertisers and everyone else who wants to create quality content on the web. Instead of spending money on web analytics, you can focus on creating targeted, ROI-driven marketing campaigns, and on improving your site design and content.
”

Basically all you need to do to use it is copy and paste a bit of Javascript into the header of the pages you wish to track.

I have used Urchin before but it looks as though this is a more advanced system than the version I used some time ago. I am testing it now and will let you know my thoughts on it shortly.