AutoTrader.com, an Internet destination and marketplace for buyers and sellers of used vehicles, on Feb. 9 announced a partnership with Who's Calling.com, a provider of call measurement and monitoring services.
Under the new partnership, AutoTrader.com will provide its more than 5,500 partner auto dealers with the opportunity to incorporate Who's Calling.com's proprietary, patent-pending technology to help their business maximize the sales and revenue-generating potential of the telephone. Now, auto dealers that advertise on AutoTrader.com can uncover valuable information about who's calling their dealership, while their customers have the added benefits of toll-free calling. The service is available starting Feb. 12.
"We are very excited to be able to provide our dealers with the opportunity to take advantage of Who's Calling.com's services," said Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader.com. "This has been a very effective tool for AutoTrader.com, allowing us to measure the strength of our individual ads. We know that it will be equally beneficial to our dealers who want to optimize the sales potential of every phone call that they receive."
According to Who's Calling's research, in a typical auto purchase, there's only about 64 hours between the "idea" of buying a new vehicle and the actual "purchase". In order to close the sale, a dealer can't afford to miss any calls. Through this alliance, dealers who post listings on AutoTrader.com will be able to subscribe to Who's Calling.com's services in order to capture valuable contact information for every incoming call to their business, including who's calling, when they are calling, how long they're on the line and which advertisement prompted them to call.
Customizable, real-time tracking reports from Who's Calling.com capture all of the information to allow dealers to track responses to their ad programs, identify peak sales/calling times and provide contact information to ensure they never miss a call from a potential sales lead. There is no additional cost to dealers for the service.
"Our partnership with AutoTrader.com is a natural extension of our shared commitment to the automotive industry," said Fred Wright, president and CEO of Who's Calling.com. "We have already proven the benefits of our technology to AutoTrader.com and by linking with AutoTrader.com's dealers, we will be able to reach a larger segment of the market to help them analyze the effectiveness of their marketing efforts."
About AutoTrader.com
AutoTrader.com is an Internet destination and marketplace for buyers and sellers of used cars, light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles and for consumers seeking information regarding automotive products and services, such as insurance, financing and warranties.
AutoTrader.com, through its strategic alliances, aggregates in a single location an extensive network of industry participants and a comprehensive database of 1.5 million vehicle listings and automotive information to create an open marketplace that is local, regional and national in nature.
AutoTrader.com was formed in 1997 and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Manheim Auctions, Inc. which has been in business since 1945 and is the world's largest operator of wholesale auto auctions. Manheim Auctions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading media conglomerate, is AutoTrader.com's principal stockholder and one of AutoTrader.com's strategic partners. Other investors and strategic partners include Trader Publishing Company, ADP, Inc., eBay, Inc. and the venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
For more information, visit www.autotrader.com.
About Who's Calling
Who's Calling is a provider of business-to-business call measurement and monitoring services that utilizes proprietary patent-pending technology to deliver real-time data with 100 percent accuracy.
The company's technology is designed to enhance sales performance by measuring advertising effectiveness, generating ad lead tracking, monitoring and improving customer service responsiveness, leveraging contact information and providing primary research.
Who's Calling has a nationwide client base of more than 1,000 businesses, including Toyota Motor Sales, AMS Mortgage, AutoTrader.com and Swift Transportation.
Additional information is available at www.whoscalling.com.
