http://www.estara.com/newsroom/pressarchives.phpMedia coverage regarding eStara's proactive click to call, chat and call tracking solutions for enhancing online sales and customer service.(c) 1999-2009, eStara, Inc. All Rights Reservedhttp://www.contactprofessional.com/cpwire/cpw090507.htmWed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2653http://gesterling.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/estara-offers-audio-clips/There’s an interesting “couponing” opportunity here: “mention code XYZ and get $5 off on your meal,” etc. Otherwise, in terms of engagement, this product sits between text and video. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2623http://crmbuyer.com/story/OHrAudRWPRr9Ar/Creating-Opportunities-to-Chat-With-Online-Customers.xhtmlCan you imagine retail stores where nine out of 10 customers left without buying and no one ever asked them what they were looking for? Well that's the state of affairs in the online customer service world. Engaging customers proactively is the equivalent of a sales representative walking up to a customer in a retail store and kindly saying, "May I help you with something?"Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2593http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=23299Before the form-to-phone feature from eStara Inc. was available on Autobytel, “our dealers were only contacting about 20% of their Autobytel prospects within the first few hours of when shoppers filled out a form,” says Casey McCaffrey, Autobytel’s director strategic initiatives. “Thanks in large part to eStara Form to Phone, we’re able to connect dealers with hot prospects immediately, often times while the prospect is still at his or her computer and still engaged with that dealer’s offerings.” Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2583http://www.internetretailer.com/article.asp?id=23270The top online retailer Amazon.com, says live chat was not well received by customers in a test a few years ago. Click to call is a different story. Amazon has replaced the toll-free number on its site with a click-to-call service from eStara, a unit of e-commerce platform provider Art Technology Group Inc. The reason? The agent who calls back already has the customer’s account information on screen—the customer has to sign in to get assistance—and knows what page the customer was viewing, information the agent would not have if the customer called a toll-free number, says an Amazon spokeswoman.Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2563http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2007/08/01/estara-integrates-lead-gen-auto-dealers-sound-off/Click-to-call technology provider eStara announced today that it will integrate a lead generation feature to its Click Suite for Local Search Platform, known as Form to Phone. This will be primarily geared towards auto dealers and third party auto websites and will allow them to respond quickly to online lead forms that online shoppers fill out. Dealers are prompted by phone and email to contact these leads, which is hoped to shorten response times and ultimately increase conversions. This is particularly conducive to autos, where there is a demand for hot leads, when buyers are near the end of the purchase funnel and at the point of looking for specific inventory, and specific dealers locally (real estate possesses some of the same characteristics and could be next). Here, competition is tight and time is of the essence.Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2573http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/123038.phpWith our business and industry growing quickly, we knew it was important to find ways to efficiently capture online browsers during the buying process. eStara Click to Call allows Joann.com to do that,” said Juan Gonzalez, IT director, IdeaForest. “As we head into our busy holiday season, we are confident that we will handle transactions more effectively and increase our conversion rates by making it easy for customers to speak with us. ATG’s Commerce suite has already enabled us to provide the rich online customer experience that is driving the rapid and substantial growth of our e-commerce business. The pairing of the ATG solution with eStara makes perfect sense for Joann.com as we look to fortify the customer service experience. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2553http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2007/07/24/2807787.htmeStara, a vendor of conversion products for enhancing online sales and support initiatives, has announced that IdeaForest, which owns and operates Joann.com, has selected eStara Click to Call to round out its online customer service offerings.Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2543http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/15858.aspeStara's CEO makes a case for incorporating click-to-call technology into your automotive web experience to increase conversions and take greater advantage of high value leads.Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2513http://blog.kelseygroup.com/index.php/2007/07/23/krillion-brings-hi-def-to-local-search/To close the loop on this qualified traffic and to better track conversions in the offline world, the company also provides a click-to-call engine, powered by eStara, to deliver these leads to retailers. “We’re talking about an engaged subset of users because 10 percent of them have used click-to-call in our listings,” says Toledano. This is powerful to be able to go to advertisers and say, ‘There is a real hunger for product availability among consumers at the end of the buying cycle.’” These click to call links are provided deep into the product listing pages for individual products, which further boosts the qualified nature of the traffic. Also telling of these users’ intent to transact is the call times with retailers, which average 3 minutes according to Toledano.Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2523http://wosfmagazine.ca/56-dubis.htmlIf you don’t feel like typing, you can do what the Chrysler Group is doing on their site and that is to incorporate an instant call me button, or Click to Call as it is named by eStara the provider of the service.Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2533https://www.marketingsherpa.com/barrier.html?ident=30049More than 30% of ecommerce sites still wait at least one full business day to respond to Web and email inquiries. One can only guess how long some marketers with a big offline focus take to respond to an online contact, turning off consumers and creating negative viral along the way. That’s why you have to see how an online car broker uses the Internet to connect consumers and local dealers by phone within four hours. Timing is everything: revenue is up triple digits, and the number of qualified leads being contacted has increased 52%.Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2503http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive6.htmlUsing a click to call service, consumers can initiate a web-based conversation from key pages within the site with a Red Lion guest service agent, either via telephone or an Internet connected PC. Calls are automatically directed to the appropriate person or department based on the page in which the inquiry is made including reservation agents, national sales, and GuestAwards loyalty program service agents.Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2483http://localonliner.com/?p=426A major hurdle impacting all local e-commerce is that no one has successfully kept tabs on local inventory. That’s basically where eStara’s click-to-call comes in handy. Prominently featured on Krillion, eStara is getting more than 10 percent of existing visitors to use the feature to see whether items are in stock locally. Average calls last over 2 1/2 minutes.Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2493http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/15598.aspDaimler Chrysler was looking for a solution to improve how it finds, engages and funnels prospective Chrysler buyers to local dealerships. It already has a B-to-C website to optimize the process of finding prospects, initiating dialogue, engaging the prospect and funneling them to the dealer to purchase a vehicle. But, like all OEM brands, The Chrysler Group is challenged to increase the conversion of website visitors into actual buyers. To do this, it needed a solution that would help it identify "high value" leads from its sites, respond quickly and effectively, and refer them to their local dealerships when appropriate. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2463http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2007/06/22/2734170.htmSome companies already have begun to offer Web-based chat as a way to access customer service. This is a step in the right direction, but doesn’t close the gap completely; chat often can’t offer the privacy and responsiveness that customers demand. To truly leverage this new channel, companies need to tie together voice conversation with e-commerce. This new recipe is called click-to-call. It involves technology that lets customers initiate phone calls by clicking a button on a Web page. This either launches a call to a sales or service rep using PC-based phone, or places a request for callback on a traditional phone line. This functionality adds a whole new layer of flexibility and timeliness to customer service.Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2443http://localsearchguide.org/html/viewpoint_ind.html?d_id=32Click to call, call tracking and save and send features have all earned their place in the local search market because they effectively drive traffic, while transparently displaying their performance. In addition to making it easy for buyers to connect with sellers, it’s important for publishers to track performance for local advertisers.Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2413http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=22770 Visitors to Radiator.com used to convert to buyers at a rate of 1-2%, close to the average rate for online retailing, but among those that use a new call-back feature, the conversion rate climbs to 35-40%, director of sales and marketing John Thys tells InternetRetailer.com.The call feature, which is based on “click-to-call” technology from eStara Inc., presents the call center rep with an instant online view of the shopper’s live chat session as well as any browsing activity prior to the live chat session. Although the live chat feature was developed in-house by Radiator.com, it integrates well with the eStara click-to-call feature, Thys says. (The eStara “click-to-call” feature can be deployed with a separate icon that lets shoppers click into a window for entering their phone number and request a call-back, but Radiator.com instead uses its live chat tool to invite shoppers to engage a call.)Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2403http://www.destinationcrm.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=6866&KeyWords=click%2Dto%2DcallWhile having a fluid Web-to-phone strategy may seem daunting at first, many companies are using a technique known as cross-channel data passing to maintain a smooth dialogue with their customers. Without requiring a massive overhaul of existing CRM or telephony infrastructure, cross-channel data passing transfers information about the customer and the context of his online session--shopping cart contents, pages viewed, and error messages--directly to the call center at the time of call initiation.Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2373http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/catalog-retail/41222.htmlWith online sales growth outpacing offline sales this holiday season, there is no doubt that the era of e- commerce has arrived. But this does not mean that companies no longer have to worry about multichannel strategies to keep and retain customers. Analysts have shown that while online commerce is becoming an increasingly popular option, most consumers still prefer to research products online, and make purchases offline — either via a call center, or a bricks-and-mortar store. Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2323http://www.smartbrief.com/subscriber/view_story.jsp?sb_code=rss&campaign=shop%20Headlines&copyid=F46EB3B8-5941-4621-8A2F-D1AEEBD5F3E5&issueid=3FB8B9F0-EC84-4B58-9F68-B895B6F9CE84Although e-commerce is growing, most consumers still prefer to use the Internet for product research while making their final purchases either via a call center or or in person at a store, analysts say. One answer for companies seeking to minimize the overuse of call centers is click-to-call, which allows retailers to control when and where Web customers move from the Internet to the phone, writes John Federman.Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2353http://www.itbusinessedge.com/item/?ci=28838Prior to investing in either a Click to Call or Click to Chat solution, it’s important to ask a few questions: Is the goal to increase overall sales? Reduce shopping cart abandonment? Increase customer service for premium customers? Handle routine customer service inquiries? Considering these questions, you can see that a company might want to deploy either technology at various points throughout the transaction process.Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2313http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/news/052307news.shtml#ionstory1Red Lion Hotels Corporation announces that since implementation of eStara’s Click to Call service on its website, customer satisfaction rates have increased.Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2363http://www.customerthink.com/news/estara_click_to_call_red_lion_customers_happyWith customers occasionally reaching a point in the online booking with questions which could prevent them from completing their reservation, Red Lion Hotels sought to implement a solution to assist the customer. With eStara Click to Call, Red Lion now offers customers the opportunity to directly connect with a customer service representative when they require personal assistance. An additional benefit is that Red Lion Hotels can monitor the point in the process when the customer used the Click to Call feature and improve the process.Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2303http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/contactcenterworld4.htmlCommitting to losing weight is a difficult decision, which makes timing even more critical in the sales process. Previously, visitors to the Jenny Craig website were required to fill out a form and wait several hours for a local Jenny Craig center to respond. With that long a delay, many people became unreachable, went to a competitor, or even abandoned the idea of making a lifestyle change in order to lose weight. To help address this issue, the company turned to Click to Call.Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2293http://21talks.net/voip/french-yellow-pages-starts-click-to-call-serviceBehind the tool, eStara, the click-to-call provider. The company isn’t at its first try and has been bundling Yellow Pages Singapore since March 2007. Click-to-call is usually considered as a low-cost tool to generate qualified leads that completes direct prospection through call centers.Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2283http://localonliner.com/?p=380PalmBeachPost.com’s also works with eStara to direct-connect buyers to sellers by letting online buyers click on an icon in Shopping or Classifieds, or call a phone number, to call the advertiser. Calls can be pre-scheduled and are announced as “another lead from The Palm Beach Post.” The Talk-to-a-seller service is working well, with almost 3,000 users a month. It had 40 percent growth between 2006 and 2007.Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2273http://kelseygroup.com/visitorsearch/view-ILM-Summary.asp?DocID=1651&SFlag=NoThe ability to save and share search results has historically shown success in building the consumer experiences of online retailers and businesses such as Amazon.com and Netflix. Internet product functionality that allows users to save and share local information across platforms, devices and media has the ability to close the consumer loop that local search sites often overlook. The Kelsey Group believes this will change rapidly as new product implementations and positive metrics push save and share functionality into the mainstream. Click-to-call technology provider eStara also has a save and share feature (branded as “Save & Send”) as part of its Click Suite for Local Search platform. This similarly allows users to save and share listings on both their PCs and mobile devices. This is meant to galvanize important listings for users by storing them across devices, which in turn drives repeat business. Tracking numbers are also included for more effective ROI assessment for publishers.Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2263http://destinationcrm.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=6834Most of Red Lion's decision to implement chat was born of its multimillion-dollar investment in completely overhauling the design of its Web site (the company launched its redesigned site about 21 months ago). Like most commerce-driven outfits, the company's online presence is particularly important as it provides customers with another method for booking reservations. So Red Lion sought a way to pinpoint any barriers thwarting site visitors from booking hotels online and ultimately to help transition a potential case of site abandonment into a completed reservation. "We wanted to make sure that we were touching those customers and retaining those customers that we otherwise might lose due to an error or frustration," says Julie Silbar, Red Lion's director of call center operations. The hospitality company tapped eStara's flagship product, Click to Call, and implemented the solution across its reservation and hotel directory Web pages (and across its meeting-planning pages). Site users can connect immediately to live representatives over the telephone for assistance during the online-booking process. "If I've got a more complex product or I've got a shopper who's got a nice full basket that I want to make sure converts and has a little extra help, then I can selectively offer click to call or click to chat," says Kelly O'Neill, commerce product marketing director at ATG. That agent can "be fully informed as to where that shopper is in that process."Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2253http://kelseygroup.com/services/local-media-journal.aspClick-to-call technology provider eStara last week announced a new platform for interactive ad agencies to manage click-to-call ad campaigns. Known as Click Suite for Interactive Marketers, it provides a dashboard to integrate click-to-call buttons across banner ads, Web sites, e-mails and search engine marketing campaigns. This will include reporting features, as well as a dynamic number replacement for more effective ROI assessment through tracking numbers that are unique to individual keywords or Web sites. The tool has already been used by online marketers including McDonald’s, ESPN and Comedy Central.Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2243http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/122123.phpBased around eStara’s industry leading Click to Call technology for the voice enablement of online campaigns, Click Suite for Interactive Marketers couples innovative technology with advanced tracking and reporting features to help interactive agencies build distinct and engaging campaigns, while measuring across channels. Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2223http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/04/25/atgs-artful-acquisition.aspxIt also seems that ATG's $48.3 million acquisition of eStara is paying off. eStara contributed a strong customer list and new capabilities such as click-to-call, click-to-chat, and call tracking. Based on its projections, management thinks the unit will achieve 2007 revenues of $25 million or more; in Q1, eStara generated $5.2 million in revenue.Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2233http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/contactcenterworld3.html Consumers rely on the web for an increasing array of activities from shopping and applying for credit cards, to booking hotel rooms and buying cars. As product and service purchases become more complex, and transaction sizes increase, customers are demanding personal and customized online experiences.Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2213http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=58618 Stephanie Hobbs, vice president of marketing communications, Yellow Pages Association, noted the significance of attracting eStara as a sponsor, since it's not a member of the Association: "They're part of the search space"--which, she said, points to the efficiency of Yellow Pages services. "It's a $24 billion slice of revenue. The single most critical thing we offer is the whole measurement piece," Hobbs said. "eStara is helping to measure search. It's not enough that people [merely] came to your site. "Local advertisers are looking for ROI [return on investment] and they're far more sophisticated than they used to be," Hobbs added.Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2183http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2007/04/12/superpagescom-estara-sponsor-local-search-guide/Superpages.com and eStara, a provider of call-tracking and conversion solutions, have signed on as sponsors of the Local Search Guide...The new sponsors are a sign that online yellow pages are making a mark in the estimated $4 billion global interactive directory market - which consists of Internet Yellow Pages and local search. The Kelsey Group forecasts the global interactive directory market to grow at a 22.3 percent compound annual growth rate, from $4.1 billion in 2006 to $11.1 billion in 2011. Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2193http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive5.htmlYou have put together an excellent Web site that’s sleek, functional, answers customer queries and allows online customers to easily complete transactions. You’ve solved the e-commerce problem, right? Well…maybe not. You may have overlooked a key area of the sales process…cross-selling and up-selling. With nearly four out of 10 travel bookers researching online but booking offline, you’re probably happy to get the sales you do get online without worrying about how you can up-sell and cross-sell wary customers. Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2163http://hotelexecutive.com/bus_rev/pub/002/920.aspWith nearly four out of 10 travel bookers researching online but booking offline, you’re probably happy to get the sales you do get online without worrying about how you can up-sell and cross-sell wary customers. While concerns about the security of using credit cards online to pay for their purchases still plague many consumers, a recent Forrester Research report found that hotel and travel companies can potentially expedite the online sales process, and boost the total order by up-selling and cross-selling relevant products, simply by implementing tools such as online chat and click to call.Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2153http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/e-mail-marketing/40631.htmlAccording to a recent Forrester Research study, 76 percent of marketers had no way to determine ROI from their lead agencies, with 69 percent saying ROI was too difficult to measure. For this reason, there’s a growing trend of agencies partnering with technology providers to help add that extra element to campaigns. As more and more e-mails and banner ads flood our computer screens, response rates drop, and marketers are forced to think beyond the click. Companies are realizing that by integrating campaigns across channels, they can create truly unique branding experiences for consumers and still track results for performance-minded clients.Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2146http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/121865.php“As the leading directory in Singapore, it is important for us to offer the latest features and strategies to continue to be the guide of choice for users seeking precision searches and advertisers targeting to connect with our pool of ready buyers,” said Yellow Pages Singapore’s Vice President of Digital Media and Customer Management Chris Rogers. “eStara’s Click to Call technology bolsters our already strong advertiser tool box and provides us with a differentiator that will help drive our ROI for customers’ business listings.”Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2143http://kelseygroup.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=1728eStara announced this week that it will power the new click-to-call functionality of Yellow Pages Singapore’s online directory, Yellowpages.com.sg. YPS is the largest directory publisher in Singapore and its online directory is the most trafficked online business directory there, according to Hitwise. eStara’s platform will allow YPS’ online advertisers to receive phone leads from their listings and detailed reporting on their associated return on investment.Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2133http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3625312eStara hired Shari Solis as VP of sales, local media. Solis was most recently with Cox AutoTrader and Who's Calling Inc., where she was VP of sales.Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2123http://www.yptalk.com/archive.cfm?ID=267&CatID=15It is no secret that consumers are increasingly relying on Internet based search to find local products and service businesses, moving mind-share away from traditional print yellow pages and other classified advertising. But I’m not convinced it’s the ultimate experience it could be. Just think of your own experiences as a consumer – maybe you’ve searched the web for that product or service, and you are now ready to make your buying decision. But what method do most of us prefer to use to make that purchase? And do most consumers take that buying action immediately? You might be surprised to find that the preferred method for contacting local advertiser is still…The telephone. Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2063http://arc.typepad.com/customercrossroads/2007/02/upcoming_webina.htmlSince Marketing Communications Manager Dan Obregon at eStara was good enough to put a "click to call" link right in his e-mail to me about the event, I decided to call him and ask a bit more about this product, and why it's a good idea. I was familiar with click-to-chat, but not click-to-call. When you click, a web page asks you to input YOUR phone number, and completes the call to your phone, either immediately, or later. Dan tells me that this approach means that the person you connect with on the phone (call centre agent, most likely) would then have access to your shopping cart, browsing history, or similar types of data. Hopefully meaning they can be more helpful to you.Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2073http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/kJdsanODTiv6we/Turning-Online-Conversations-Into-Online-Sales-Conversions.xhtmlClick-to-call offers the power of voice, which can help explain complex issues and close sales faster. Many consumers still value this type of interaction and are much less likely to buy certain products without discussing it with a human. Chat enables customer service agents to handle multiple Web visitors at once and allows consumers to interact with an agent to answer a few questions.Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2053http://www.serviceuntitled.com/guest-writer-cut-back-on-phone-service-no-way-enhance-it-instead/2007/02/22/However, in those instances where customer contact is desired or required, click to call not only helps offer quality service, but enhances the customer experience and increase sales conversion as well. But not all click to call deployments are equal. Before deciding which solution is right for your business, it’s important to understand the deployment options for click to call functionality.Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2043http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/121411.phpClick to Call allowed customers to connect with a Spanair agent directly from its website, plus eStara’s real-time reporting helped Spanair identify sections of its site that would lead to abandonment.Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2033http://www428.pair.com/pinpub42/bizbuzz/2007/02/spanair_wins_converts_with_cli.html“Nothing frustrates customers more than having to ‘start all over again’ with a customer service representative when they transition from the Web to the phone,” said John Federman, CEO of conversions solution company eStara in a press release today. I couldn’t agree more. Last week I was booking a flight through a travel company I’ll leave un-named, and at the end of my booking process, an error appeared. I didn’t want to click “buy” until I understood the problem, so I grudgingly picked up the phone and dialed the call center, bracing myself for the fact that I’d have to start from scratch -- or even worse, lose the great low airfare I found after painstaking research. Long story short, I was on hold for 15 minutes and eventually prompted to leave a message, so I hung up the phone and booked on another site for a higher price.Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2003http://www.eyefortravel.com/index.asp?news=54698European airline Spanair is using eStara’s Click to Call on its website as part of its initiative to identify key points of abandonment during booking process and reduce customer attrition. Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2013http://www.destinationcrm.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=6713ATG, which acquired eStara (a provider of VoIP-enabled click to call, click to chat, and call tracking offerings) in 2006, is known primarily for its strengths in e-commerce and e-service. "Because many B2B sites have shifted to enabling consumer shopping capabilities, ATG's core e-commerce functions have positioned ATG to support B2C and B2B sites," writes Gene Alvarez, Gartner research vice president and report author. "ATG's scenario server is appealing in B2B and B2C models because it enables the ability to navigate customers through the buying process." Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2023http://www.crmdirectory.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=721&Itemid=57A recent analyst report published by Forrester Research cites that cross-channel tools like click to call “give travel technology pessimists the confidence and comfort to engage with you online, providing a virtual safety net for the customer should a problem occur.” (Understanding Travel’s Technology Pessimists, Forrester Research, January 18, 2007). In Spanair’s case, the airline found that users overlooked error messages generated when required fields were not completed during the reservation process. Oftentimes, these users would not understand why they could not proceed, so they would abandon the site completely. Spanair needed a way to rescue these customers, so it turned to eStara’s Click to Call.Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-2203http://www.dmnews.com/cms/lib/7506.pdfWith online sales growth outpacing offline sales this holiday season, there is no doubt that the era of e-commerce has arrived. But this does not mean that companies no longer have to worry about multichannel strategies to keep and retain customers. Analysts have shown that while online commerce is becoming an increasingly popular option, most consumers still prefer to research products online, and make purchases offline — either via a call center, or a bricks-and-mortar store.Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1993http://searchengineland.com/070205-090911.phpWhile the site doesn't guarantee the product information displayed is real-time inventory it offers "click to call" from eStara so that consumers can call local stores and ask whether items are in fact in stock.Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1943http://localonliner.com/?p=310For the appliance service, Krillion is crawling national retailer feeds for appliance availability, store location and sales info. Retailers include Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Ikea, Sears (and in the Bay Area, Orchard Supply Hardware). In addition to providing very good product and price information, Krillion provides a click-to-call capability via eStara, allowing consumers to check on inventory in a local store (since there is no inventory function, per se).Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1953http://www.eadp.org/index.php?q=node/15354With the addition of Save & Send, eStara rounds out its suite of tools for tracking and measuring local ad effectiveness. Save & Send capabilities, which are integrated into eStara’s Click Suite for Local Search, allow consumers to save or share the advertisement in whichever electronic format they desire – on their desktop, on the Web or on their mobile device – predisposing them to make repeat purchases from their preferred merchants, and giving publishers the ability to measure ROI more accurately for advertisers.Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1963http://www.speechtechmag.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=6F7CC462F9804BA7B86FEE59A43BCA04&nm=ARCHIVES&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&AudID=C7BACAE873424C4AA3347BD794887D05&tier=4&id=CD919657EBDF46A1A585Another early example of this kind of multimodal marketing was on display last year in a campaign by European car maker Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors. Opel, looking to herald the launch of a new convertible, emailed 80,000 addresses in its database, asking recipients to supply their phone numbers. In exchange, Opel promised to enter them into a sweepstakes, and not to share the phone numbers with anyone. Interest was surprisingly high: 16,000 people sent in their phone numbers, and were greeted with a second email providing a link to a Web site. Once there, consumers viewed a comedic three-minute movie, personalized with their names in one scene. Moments later, when a character in the film is seen dialing a phone, the consumer’s own phone rang, with a 30- second message from the character inviting the consumer to test drive the new car. The innovative combination of media snowballed into a viral mania, with recipients providing email addresses and phone numbers for their friends so they, too, could get “called” by the Web movie. In just a few weeks, the campaign generated 450,000 calls. This, says Elisabeth Jane Bertrand, a Belgian interactive marketing consultant who worked on the project for eStara, a division of e-commerce solutions provider ATG, “is a typical example of how cross-media integration works. This was a bilateral approach, using two media channels.” Because of the personalized component, she says, “you see a much higher level of consumer engagement with the brand.” Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1893http://thebankwatch.com/2007/01/27/strategic-customer-engagement-click-to-call-for-the-right-reasons/This information provides the foundation from which financial services companies can provide the right kind of customer interaction, and increase online conversion rates without driving up CRM costs. Financial services companies can use existing, less costly customer information tools (Click to Chat, FAQs, search, email) to assist with non-transactional customer exchanges, and utilize services like Click to Call to help close complex transactions such as loan applications or new account inquiries.Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1973http://directmag.com/searchline/1-17-07-eStara/Click-to-call and call tracking are growing in popularity as ways to monitor the gap between online marketing and offline sales. Onlne directories and Internet Yellow pages sites offer the features to the businesses they list not only as a convenience to shoppers but as an important metric to let those advertisers source their call traffic. That helps the directories and IYPs by crediting them with generating phone sales leads. But if consumers simply note down business-listing numbers for later use or call a second time using a click-to-call number, that credit can evaporate. Advertisers lose visibility into that call data, and the directories lose some of the shine from the return on investment they can show their clients. Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1903http://directmag.com/news/estara_online_listings/Call-based conversion enhancer eStara announced today that it has launched a new Save & Send feature that will let users send online directory and classified listings or search results via text message, Skype IP voice, e-mail or fax. eStara, a division of e-commerce provider ATG since its acquisition last September, is rolling out the Save & Send feature as part of its Click Suite for Local Search. Other capabilities in the product suite include click to call services, call tracking, and call recording.Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1783http://www.adotas.com/2007/01/estara-launches-save-send-options-for-directory-publishers/Online sales company eStara today launched a new program that will allow Web participants to send online classified listings, search results or online directories by using Skype, SMS, email, or fax. By adding the new features that will let buyers share information and prolong local searches, eStara adds to its existing business model of providing conversion options for online sales boosts and support.Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1793http://businessinnovation.cmp.com/articles/archit_070116.jhtml;jsessionid=V43ZPJOVIJCXAQSNDLPSKH0CJUNN2JVNBusinesses have big expectations for the little button. They look to it to drive new sales by leveraging inbound customer queries and serving as a lifeline to customers engaged in online transactions. Continental Airlines installed click-to-call and notched a 35 percent sales conversion rate, approximately double the traditional sales conversion rate in the airline's reservation group. Even better, abandonment of its Web site by prospective passengers dropped 25 percent. In most cases, click-to-call integration is a matter of remotely adding a modest amount of JavaScript code to the Web site, some applications integration and training of the call center staff. Calls are routed to the existing telephony infrastructure. Some click-to-talk vendors, like eStara, operate on the ASP model as a hosted service. Many vendors provide reporting and tracking features.Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1803http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelbusinessreview.htmlIn the past, whenever a customer had a question online, companies were quick to offer them FAQs, and perhaps an email address. While these self-help strategies are fine for handling routine questions, they are ineffective at turning undecided prospects into customers. The days of using the Web as an interactive brochure are long gone. Hotels need to do much more to assure they turn online lookers into bookers. In addition, now that the competition is just a click away, customers will not hesitate to leave your site (and your brand) if they do not get quick resolution to their problems...Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1773http://twestc.com/Blog/2007/01/12/discuss-topic-by-phone/Recently I added the new ‘Discuss by Phone’ widget below the posts on the blogs to refect the flexible usability of eStara’s Click to Call feature on any kind of websiteThu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1983http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/marketingsherpa.htmlIf your company’s policy is offline-only in terms of direct sales, how would you effectively use the Web site to drive prospects to the call center and retail outlets? Just in time for all those New Year’s resolutions, see how one dieting program marketer is using a Web-to-phone system to not only dramatically improve conversions but also better track customers and prospects ... not to mention synching up national marketing with stores to give the campaign a truly local feel. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1763http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid11_gci1235794,00.htmlJohn Ragsdale, vice president of research at the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA): Technical support is finally being viewed as a strategic part of a long-term customer relationship. The SSPA's 2006 Technology Spending survey, examining companies with under $1 billion in revenue, estimates that 2007 spending by these companies in North America on eService, CRM, contact center and field service technologies will be $565 million, with 57% of budgets for new technology earmarked for CRM and contact center products. ATG's acquisition of click-to-call specialist eStara provides online self-service with a new channel. This seamless transition from unassisted to assisted service provides an incredible customer experience. SSPA expects both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) companies to begin adopting this technology in 2007 for high-value customers, both pre- and post-sale. Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1743http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/marketingsherpa2.htmlWith all the email clutter, it’s difficult enough to make a momentarily positive impression on consumers (i.e., open and read the offer). But what if your aim is to unveil a personalized experience that intends to generate buzz for a new product? And not simply for the near future but also for the long term? See how one European automaker synchronized video-messaging and telemarketing in a viral email campaign to create an unforgettable experience for users.Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1723http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/contact_center_advisor/callcenter_Website/Most multichannel merchants do a fine job of branding across channels. But few are leveraging the information gathered across business units to enhance their multichannel strategy. For too long, companies have separated their online channels from their contact centers without realizing that the two units can work in unison to boost overall sales and improve customer experience. Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1706http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/internet-marketing/39347.htmlClick-to-call combines the measurement and ad dollar accountability of pay-per-click online advertising with live interaction with a sales representative. After reading a product review, PC Magazine readers can click a link to call a product manufacturer's customer service representative directly. The service will connect the shopper with the customer service representative by ringing the phone at each end. Reston, VA-based Technology provider eStara, a wholly owned subsidiary of Art Technology Group Inc., powers the functionality. PCMag.com attracts first adopters and tech-savvy readers, who the magazine claims are more accepting of the still emerging click-to-call ad format. The channel may attract more high spend purchases as consumers will have the opportunity to speak to someone in person. Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1713http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/120777.phpPCMag.com, has launched a service for its visitors, specifically those ready to make a major purchase online. Click to Call enables PCMag.com visitors to immediately connect to a product manufacturer’s customer service representative–by telephone–with a simple click of a button. In an exclusive partnership through eStara, the preferred provider of proactive conversion solutions for enhancing online sales, PCMag.com is a Web publisher to utilize this next-generation technology within its product review pages to deliver leads to national advertisers.Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1685http://www.inc.com/magazine/20061201/sales-into-science.htmlFor businesses that primarily serve local customers, the promise of the Internet has long been tantalizing. However, the inability of search engines to match up customer queries with truly local ads has made collecting sales leads online difficult. That has begun to change, as Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), MSN, and AOL (NYSE:TWX) have ramped up their local search functions. Indeed, online local advertising is poised to jump 53 percent, to $2 billion in 2007, according to Web research shop eMarketer.com. Meanwhile, a number of start-ups targeting local advertisers are providing new vehicles for local online advertising.Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1733http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid11_gci1232360,00.htmlIn this podcast he discusses the future of self-service technology, its evolution from a tactical to a strategic imperative and how vendors in the market are innovating. He also shares his take on highly customized "microsites" that allow users companies to create personalized pages for customer eservice and the growing importance of "click-to-call."Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1705http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2006/11/28/2116454.htmeStara's Click to Call, Click to Chat and Call Tracking products were eyed by ATG in hopes of furthering ATG's mission of "enabling online sellers to find customers, convert them to buyers and ensure their satisfaction so they become loyal, repeat, and profitable customers," in ATG official boilerplate. eStara's Click to Call solution allows an online consumer to request an immediate call from a salesperson or customer care agent, via the telephone or computer.Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1645http://www.adotas.com/2006/11/click-to-call-mythbusting-why-the-marketing-strategy-is-more-than-just-a-flavor-of-the-week/In the past year, click-to-call has been cast in the limelight, and for good reason: enterprises, search engines, online publishers and interactive agencies have all found new and exciting applications for the technology, and are leveraging it in innovative ways to proactively connect buyers and sellers. But with any new technology there will be both early adopters and early detractors.Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1655http://www.btobonline.com/article.cms?articleId=29995In a pioneering move for an online media site, PCMag.com is teaming up with eStara to provide its visitors with a click-to-call feature that enables them to directly connect to a product manufacturer’s customer service representative—by telephone—with a click of a button.Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1665http://crmguru.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/crmguru.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1791Because sports teams compete not only with other teams in their area but also movie theaters and concerts for customers' disposable income, purchasing tickets is often an emotional decision for customers. That is why it is important to connect with customers while they are browsing your web site to capitalize on their enthusiasm. Any adversity the customer encounters during this delicate timeframe may result in an abandoned online cart, so companies must instill marketing strategies that engage customers. Faced with this dilemma, the Golden State Warriors chose to implement click-to-call and click-to-chat functionality within their marketing and sales channels to improve their online sales conversions.Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1595http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/imediaconnection3.htmlIn August, much ado was made about internet giants Google and eBay agreeing to jointly develop click-to-call text advertising. Click to call allows users to click on a button embedded on an online ad, and instantly be connected to that business over the phone. Google and eBay have adeptly recognized that, in many instances, a voice connection is the most efficient way to connect buyers with sellers and convert sales. Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1535http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06110117.htmHere's why the buying may prove to be smart: in September, ATG beefed up its portfolio of services by acquiring e-commerce customer care specialist eStara for roughly $48 million. As a result, management has revised its full-year sales target upwards to $100 million to $108 million. What's more, the additional capabilities offered by eStara, which are geared to help e-retailers close more business, could smooth earnings and boost cash flow. Meanwhile, analysts now expect ATG to grow the bottom line by an average of 20% annually over the next five years for a price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 1.14, well below the industry average of 1.46. That's good enough to earn a spot in my CAPS portfolio.Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-1545http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/franchiseupdate.htmlNational franchise operations have marketed in the same ways for years and years. That is, the national budgets were applied to brand building and the local franchisees were charged with creating local lead flow. But as they say: that was then, this is now. Certainly the approach I described above will continue to be the chief formula for many franchise marketing strategies for years to come. But new technologies afford franchises the opportunity to explore new formulas. Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1515http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive4.htmlHotel operators have been, for the most part, aggressive and smart in offering potential customers information about their properties online. In fact, the Web and e-commerce play such a central role in attracting customers, we often don’t think about how a Website might actually turn off prospective clients. I’m a frequent traveler – hundreds of flights, countless hotel rooms and entirely too much time spent with unhelpful online booking services. The frustration has driven me to be disloyal to many well-known brands. My profile makes me the exact target customer that all of you are trying to reach. I travel all over the country several days a week. So I have a few helpful tips that might help you create stronger, more loyal relationships with frequent business travelers like me. Hotels in the U.S. generated more than $105.3 billion in revenue last year. That number is expected to grow according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. That said, here are five Website missteps that that are sure to turn off your customers, before you’ve even spoken with them.Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1505http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/sunsentinel.htmlGreg Cook is one South Florida real estate agent who doesn't mind when clients push his buttons. In fact, he encourages it. Cook's Web site and e-mails contain buttons that say "Talk Now. Click here to speak with us." Click on the button, and within three seconds your phone will ring. A few seconds later, Cook gets on the phone to answer any questions you may have.Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1495http://stage.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/15658483.htmTechnologies instantly connecting shoppers with merchants have been used by banks or others since the late 1990s, when Virginia-based Estara, now the industry leader in click services, began offering them.Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1465http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/localmediajournal.htmlIn many ways 2007 has the potential to be a breakout year for call tracking and pay-per-call solutions. Therefore, it was no surprise this week when eStara gained another local partnership, this time with Cox Newspapers. The publisher announced plans to embed eStara’s click-to-call platform across its major daily newspaper sites. The click-to-call feature will be integrated with both classified and display advertising. As newspapers continue to revamp their businesses to remain competitive with portals and search engines, offering advertisers a solution for tracking calls and consummating transactions has become a necessity.Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1461http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/washingtonpost2.htmlPutting customers in touch with the service providers they need at the exact moment they need help is becoming increasingly important to businesses as more people make purchases and find vendors online. To prevent customers from abandoning a site or a sale because they run into problems or have a question, companies are now using a "click-to-call" feature, which lets people call a customer service agent directly by clicking an icon on the page.Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1455http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/TMR_spotlight.pdfSeveral links throughout Warriors.com give fans the opportunity to “talk with an account representative” or “chat with an account representative.” The team brought on eStara—a company that provides solutions for enhancing online sales and support initiatives—to install the click-to-call and click-to-chat features.Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1675http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/119922.php“Our most recent forecast indicates that performance-based advertising, which includes pay-per-call and click to call services like eStara’s, will account for 26 percent of traditional directional ad revenues by 2010,” said Matt Booth, senior vice president, Interactive Local Media, The Kelsey Group. “We expect newspaper publishers will play a significant role in the demand for these services, as they look to attract the growing number of advertisers that are interested in performance-based options.”Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1445http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2006/09/25/cox_newspaper_sites_deploy_estara_clicktocall_tech/index.phpClick-to-call and click-to-chat solutions provider eStara announced that Cox Newspapers is embedding eStara click-to-call technology in the websites of all of its newspaper properties. Cox - which owns the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Austin American Statesman, among others - is the first multi-newspaper owner to offer click-to-call services across all of its properties, throughout classified advertising, customer service and advertising sales pages, eStara said. "Our most recent forecast indicates that performance-based advertising, which includes pay-per-call and click-to-call services like eStara's, will account for 26 percent of traditional directional ad revenues by 2010," said Matt Booth, SVP, Interactive Local Media, The Kelsey Group.Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1425http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2006/mft06092009.htm Now, with the eStara purchase, ATG increases its customer care segment of its business. This means doing things like click-to-call, click-to-chat, and call tracking. For example, if a prospective online customer needs help, he or she can request an immediate call or chat with a customer care specialist. The value proposition has been strong. Apparently, eStara's solution helps increase online sales conversions by 50% and reduces shopping cart abandonment rates by 10% to 45%. And it's enough to attract top-notch customers, such as DaimlerChrysler(NYSE: DCX), Dell(Nasdaq: DELL), Apple Computer(Nasdaq: AAPL), and Continental Airlines(NYSE: CAL). Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1405http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/L5hNBg5Lt7L8wM/ATG-Nabs-eStara-in-483-Million-Deal.xhtmleStara specializes in click-to-call technology -- an online e-commerce tool that lets a customer care rep contact a buyer online to see if the buyer has any questions, ATG Chief Marketing Officer Cliff Conneighton told CRM Buyer. One of the ways retailers typically use the technology is to rescue a sale. For instance, if a potential buyer of a high-ticket item appears to become confused or seems to be dithering over whether to purchase the item, a talk icon appears on the buyer's desktop with a message inviting questions. "It can be surprisingly beneficial to talk to an agent at this point," Conneighton said, noting that eStara's data shows retailers can increase conversion rates by 50 percent. The technology can also reduce Web site and shopping cart abandonment rates by 10 to 45 percent, and reduce call handling time by up to 60 seconds, according to ATG. Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1415http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/09/18/daily22.htmlArt Technology Group will acquire software maker eStara in a deal worth up to $48 million. Reston-based eStara's "click-to-chat" and "click-to-call" software is used by customers such as Apple Computer, Dell and Verizon for connecting customers from their Web sites directly with customer service or sales representatives. The company says the service its software provides can cut Website and shopping cart abandonment by up to 45 percent. Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1395http://www.estara.com/resourcecenter/pdfs/LMJ_Google_Ebay.pdfPay-per-call is a medium that is already growing, and Google’s entrance in the market will help, says John Federman, chief executive officer of click-to-call technology provider eStara. Pay-percall has been a bit slow to catch on with both users and advertisers. Google’s name recognition and reach, however, could soon change that. “For the advertiser base, in terms of how they quantify and qualify the value of those calls, I think Google’s entry into the marketplace will have a huge effect,” Federman says. “I would liken that to the way they created the standards for bidding for search results and what they’ve done with AdWords.”Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1385http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/wsj2.htmlAn increasingly popular online technology is making it easier for marketers to reach out and talk to someone. So-called click-to-call technology allows consumers -- by clicking an icon on an email or a Web ad -- to either request a phone call from the marketer or else telephone the company directly using a microphone attached to the computer. Early indications are that the feature, embraced by a growing number of marketers, can significantly lift response rates for some ads.Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1355http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3623330Companies are beginning to use click-to-call in more creative ways, according to eStara CEO John Federman. eStara client Jenny Craig puts click-to-call links on its Web site and in e-mail. When a user clicks on the link to initiate a call, a recording of spokesperson Kirstie Alley plays, congratulating the user on their choice and passing the time while the system locates the nearest Jenny Craig franchise. The local franchise's phone rings, and they hear a message from Alley identifying the call's source, and the user is connected. "Click-to-call can increase sales conversion rates, extend and deepen the brand experience, and localize leads," Federman told ClickZ.Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1345http://www.serviceuntitled.com/an-old-dog-learns-a-new-trick-how-to-drive-phone-leads-from-your-web-site/2006/09/05/Remember the golden age of e-commerce when the entire industry leaned almost exclusively on internet self-help tools to address their customer service? Finding a 1-800 on a Website was next to impossible. The problem with this singular reliance is simple: consumers shy away from large or complex online purchases if they are not 100% certain about their expenditure. One issue, however insignificant, can spook the potential customer, resulting in Website abandonment and great dissatisfaction.Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1365http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/businessweek2.html"It's a logical extension for Google, as they try to create an easier path of new kinds of advertising," says John Federman, chief executive of eStara, a Reston (Va.) provider of click-to-call services to Amazon.com (AMZN), Verizon (VZ), Sears (SHLD), and others. "Consumers have absolutely embraced it." And that kind of enthusiasm is music to the ears of any Web giant. Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1315http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/nytimes2.htmlBut most of these tests so far, including those by Google, are focused on calling using regular phones, rather than calling by PC using services like Skype. Indeed, eStara, a company that provides pay-per-call advertising technology to companies including Verizon’s SuperPages.com unit, offers both telephone and PC calling options. It has found that only 10 to 15 percent of people choose to talk using their computers, and that this proportion is not increasing.Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1325http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/washingtonpost.htmlClick-to-call aims to solve a problem with online shopping: If customers are interested in a product but have a question, it can be time-consuming and difficult to get in touch with the business offline. Most businesses offer a toll-free customer service number on their Web site, but that can be slow and cumbersome, said John Federman, chief executive of eStara Inc., a Reston firm that provides click-to-call technology for Amazon.com, among others.Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1335http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/destinationcrm2.htmlThe click-to-call announcement, according to Leslie Ament, director of the Customer Intelligence Research Practice at Aberdeen Group, is "a welcome step in allowing advertising to directly track the ROI from their marketing investments."Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1295http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/forbes.htmlTen years ago, executives restructured the Yellow Pages so that it essentially became a print extension of SuperPages.com, now a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. The division produces 1,218 directory titles in the United States and has an online registry of 17 million business listings. SuperPages.com already partners with eBay and Google and has click-to-call and other advanced features. "We wrote the playbook on getting small businesses to advertise online," said SuperPages.com spokeswoman Mary De La Garza. Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1305http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/insidebayarea.htmlGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS fans can now talk or chat live with ticket representatives within seconds of clicking a button. The team hopes that using this technology on its Web site will encourage more sales and customer satisfaction, especially in the tech savvy communities of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. "What better way to communicate with customers than through the Web?" said Warriors President Robert Rowell. He said the new features are creative, user-friendly and most importantly, fan-friendly. It will be easier for customers to get their questions answered and purchase ticket packages, he said. Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1285http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/sfgate.htmlProspective ticket buyers simply click on a button at warriors.com and a sales rep is calling you up faster than a Baron Davis crossover. And the service is available from about 8:30 in the morning till 10 at night. The technology, served up by a Virginia company called eStara, actually allows you to choose how quick you want to get that call. One minute. Two minutes. And so on. So, it might be more like an Adonal Foyle crossover than B-Diddy's handle, but that's your call.Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1275http://www.bceelix.com/knowledgecenterMC7.asp?lng=1Click-to-call, the technology that is bridging the gap between the online and phone channels, has garnered considerable attention from a range of businesses. With the click of a button, buyers can be connected immediately from any web site, by telephone, to a contact center agent. Let’s start with a quick primer on the technology. Click-to-call services let users click a button embedded on a web site, an e-mail, an ad banner, a search engine, or an online directory listing, and immediately speak with a customer service representative. Customers can either place a call over the computer using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology or request an immediate call back from the advertiser by entering their phone number. Unlike a toll-free phone number, click-to-call services allow companies to monitor and control when and where online visitors can migrate from the web to the phone sales channel.Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1255http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/banktechnology.htmlWith more customers looking to deal with a real human, rather than a chat menu or FAQ list, banks are offering "click-to-call," which provides a live-conversation option for those who begin their interaction via keyboard. TD Canada Trust, the retail bank division of TD Bank Financial Group, recently introduced a slew of online sales and customer-service tools, Easy Web, centered around click-to-call technology. The move, designed to increase sales on TD Canada's site, is also focused on customers with bigger needs, like a mortgage application, says TD Canada's Jeff van Duynhoven, vp of electronic channels. "People aren't going to buy a mortgage online, at least not most people. They want to talk to someone face to face or at least over the phone," he says. Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1245http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/destinationcrm.htmlTo reduce its abandonment rate in the Equip & Price area and leverage its call center operations handled by agency BBDO Detroit, the Chrysler Group selected eStara, a provider of hosted voice-enabling B2C communications solutions. The automaker started its eStara pilot in November 2004 and went live in February 2005. The flagship product, VoIP-enabled Click to Call, enables Chrysler Group Web-site users to connect immediately to reps who can assist them with tasks like making a purchasing decision or applying for finance. Site visitors can click on an HTML button embedded in the automaker's brand sites and talk directly from their PC with a Chrysler Group rep. Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1235http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/clickz5.phpI'm sure you've heard that many people believe there are no new stories, only repackaged tales with a different spin. I wonder if e-mail technology falls into that bucket. Six years ago, I got a revolutionary e-mail from a vendor. It contained a button that said "click here to call me." I did, and I was connected to him within 5 seconds. It was so much fun I immediately knew we needed to integrate that service into all the e-mail we sent. A lot of press and accolades came from being an innovator and using this revolutionary technology.Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1225http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=GlobeInvestor/config&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&date=20060720&archive=cnw&slug=C8307TD Canada Trust is committed to providing customers with the best in online products, services, features, and security. With the EasyWeb Security Guarantee, customers will receive 100% reimbursement in the unlikely event account losses occur resulting from unauthorized online banking activity. TDCanada Trust was the first among the major Canadian banks to offer an online security commitment. Two recent enhancements include a new feature called "Click to Talk," which makes it easy for online customers to reach a banking specialist right away, and Symantec Norton Confidence Online, a free anti-phishing tool that boosts security for customers.Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1215http://blogs.zdnet.com/micro-markets/?p=244E-mail Experience Council co-founder Jeanniey Mullen, of OgilvyOne, believes “email is one of the four key channels of communication (phone, mail, digital and face to face).” The new Council’s mission is: to enhance the image and celebrate the ROI value of email marketing through the proliferation of email and digital marketing best practices, trends and cutting edge technologies through the demonstration of applied success. Leading e-mail delivery firms and advertising agencies are backing the E-Mail Experience Council’s mission.Sat, 15 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1195http://www.adrants.com/2006/07/strange-opel-clicktocall-campaign-generat.phpWhile this click to call promotion for the Opel Astra Twin Top is Dutch, we're told it's good and when we visited it seemed to be so if in a very weird way. Somehow the car is being promoted by having people blown into the sky by a jet airplane and then landing on a billboard. Oh, and there's this weird scientist dude who mumbles into a phone and holds up a sign. Yes, it all has to to with the Estara-powered click to call feature but we'll leave it to our Dutch speaking friend over at Adland to explain further. At least we think she speaks dutch or whatever language this is in because, clearly, we are just a clueless, lazy American who can't get off his ass to learn a second langauge. The campaign has generated 300,000 calls from 15 countries so we suppose "successful" would be a good label to give this campaign.Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1185http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/dmnews3.htmlThe home page opens with a globe welcoming people to Sheraton's "global neighborhood," which is organized by region and includes pictures and guest- submitted stories. Visitors also will be able to choose a 'click to call' option that will put them in touch with a Sheraton employee. The company has plans for a live chat feature where guests will be able to ask questions in real time.Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1175http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/directmag2.htmlWhat’s led all these performance-based call providers to look further afield than the traditional local mom-and-pop stores and service providers? For one thing, says eStara CEO John Federman, it’s that marketers recognize that voice calling around a transaction has grown from a customer service function into a sales conversion tool. “Merchants get the opportunity to respond to questions and concerns in real time and close the sale,” he said, speaking before the eStara-Azoogle announcement. He pointed to the example of the Chrysler Group, which incorporated eStara Click to Call into its brand and dealer Web sites, originally to smooth the transition of high-value leads from the brand sites to the local dealerships. But the result was a bottom-line improvement in phone conversions: Up to 20% of Click to Callers bought a vehicle, compared to 10% conversions for traditional inbound calls. And those sales happened faster, too: three to five days for a Click to Call contact versus 35 to 40 days for a standard phone call. “Voice is an effective catalyst for selling,” Federman says. “It takes a cold, generic Web experience and makes it a more personable, actionable one.” Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1165http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.searchenginejournal.com/index.3572.htmlAzoogleAds and eStara have reached an agreement to partner for a new AzoogleAds click-to-call service. eStara’s click-to-call technology will provide AzoogleAds advertisers with the opportunity to bid on live conversation and lead generation with targeted customers.Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1155http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/callcentermagazine.html"BCE Elix says eStara's Click to Call system rounds out their suite of multi-channel contact technologies."Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1135http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/inmannews.htmlThe Internet is a goldmine of information, but occasionally you hit a wall where you need a real person to answer a question. Albert Clark saw that wall about seven months ago when he was booking some complicated flights through Continental Airlines online at about 11 p.m. He'd already spent a lot of time entering information about his trips when he had a question about the airline's cancellation policy. Clark said a button popped up on the Web page he was viewing and asked if he had any questions. He clicked on "yes" and his phone rang in less than two seconds, he said. "They knew what page I was on. They knew where I was in the transaction so I didn't have to start from scratch," said Clark. And that was when he realized this option had to be made available on real estate Web sites.Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1145http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/businessweek.htmlA lot of buyers in the U.S. aren't familiar with Skype either-and that could mean eBay has to play catchup with a few established rivals. eStara Inc. has been offering so-called click-to-call services since 1999, including the ability for buyers to get an instant call back on a landline phone. "A lot of consumers still aren't comfortable talking through their PCs," notes eStara CEO John Federman. "The use of landline is really important to make it approachable to consumers."Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1105http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/ababm.htmlHarris Bank, Chicago, is so pleased with its "Push to Talk" telephone technology that employees have nicknamed it "The Double Wow Application." The bank's senior vice president of e-channel services, Hilde Betts remarks, "It wows the customer and it wows our sales force."Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1095http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/inc.html"Todd Walrath, executive vice president of Leads.com, specializes in using the Web to generate business leads for clients. He uses eStara's call-tracking service to track calls generated from clients' ads on sites such as Yahoo and Google. Not only is it cheaper than purchasing a new toll-free number for each promotion, but customers can also check their logs in real time to see who has called in and from where--and not just the calls they got but the calls they missed. "What's really cool is that we can use the Internet to drive consumer demand through the existing phone network, which everyone has," says Walrath."Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1075http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/globeandmail.html"It's lonely out in cyberspace, which is why the latest spin on Internet banking is to add a human touch. Or, rather, a human voice. Through a new service introduced this month on the website of Toronto-Dominion Bank's TD Canada Trust division, people can arrange to have a bank representative call them while they're on-line to answer questions. The service is called "click to call" and it's already in use by the on-line retailer Amazon.com and other companies. Customers simply click on a Web link, type their phone number into a pop-up box, and then specify whether they want to be called immediately or in a couple of minutes." Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1085http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.ecommercetimes.com/story/emarketing/50743.html"Some online retailers, like Amazon.com and Verizon Superpages.com, reckon they have already proved that click-to-call can work in a text ad environment. These companies have figured out the right way to deploy the technology to make sure people can only click when they are most likely to make a purchase, or if they have a complex question the Web site can't answer. For the most part, companies using click-to-call have not developed the technology themselves. Third party developers, like eStara, which is the leader in click-to-call deployments worldwide, have powered the trend, and their customers in this segment include Amazon and Yahoo UK. The technology is being touted in earnings released by the companies who are using it, however. "The company introduced click-to-call, a new feature for our U.S., UK, German and French Web sites that allows customers to be connected quickly with a customer service representative who often already has the customer's account information in front of them, saving the customer time and increasing satisfaction," stated a recent Amazon.com press release." Mon, 29 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1065http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/montrealgazette.html"A customer-service clerk who knows exactly what you need sounds like science fiction, but it may be close to reality thanks to new technology. Call centres can now track customers' online activity to determine what they want when they call in for help. That may mean the end of frustrating touch-tone menus and agents who transfer callers to the wrong departments."Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1045http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/internetretailer5.html" eStara, a provider of multi-channel communications solutions linking buyers and sellers, has promoted Joe Siegrist to chief technology officer and Thibaut Behaghel to general manager of eStara’s European office. The company also has named Nancy Liberman senior director of marketing."Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1035http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/yahoo.html"The Unitrin Direct website has a click-to-call feature that gives online car insurance customers the option of having an agent call them directly."Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1025http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/editorpublisher.html"It's a common dilemma: You're shopping online and have a question about an item, or hours, or shipping, but the only way for you to contact the advertiser is through sometimes slow, often unanswered e-mail. Until now." Thu, 04 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1015http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/marketingprofs.html"Click-to-call, the technology that enables instant phone leads, has garnered considerable attention from a range of businesses. With the click of a button, buyers can be connected immediately over the phone to advertisers from any Web site or ad listing."Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-985http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/TDCT-0608-Cabin-Final.dv.mpgeStara's Click to Call was recently featured in a television commercial for TD Canada Trust.Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-995http://www.revenuetoday.com/cover.asp?c_id=featurearticle_rev11.htm"Federman, whose company provides click-to-call services for Amazon, DaimlerChrysler and Continental Airlines said that after switching from form-based leads to click to call, DaimlerChrysler cut conversion time from 30 days to four days or less, and doubled conversion rates."Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-1005http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/stores.html “Online retailers are using click-to-call technology to create immediacy and to raise the level of comfort,” says John Federman, CEO of Reston, Va.-based eStara, which specializes in click-to-call and call-tracking solutions. “The reality is that self-service cannot always be achieved online, particularly when making complex purchasing decisions; having click-to-call as an option reduces the friction between the consumer and the retailer. More retailers are finding that for high-value transactions, there’s nothing like the power of voice for closing the deal.”Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-965http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/newsandtech.htmlMost people likely associate “push to talk” with the little chirp that is heard when a cell phone communicates with another on the same carrier using the short-range radio feature. But push to talk has new meaning for users of the online classifieds at The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post. Using technology from Reston, Va.-based eStara Inc., The Post (daily, 154,000; Sunday, 190,931) added a button that lets potential buyers connect to sellers in a very immediate way, according to Dan Shorter, PalmBeachPost.com’s general manager.Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-975http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/webpronews2.html"Among its highlights, Amazon noted the implementation of click-to-call functionality for its US, UK, German, and French websites. That allows visitors to quickly reach a customer service rep for assistance." Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-945http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/editorsweblog.html"Just being able to create connectivity between the buyer and the seller -- that's worth it," Shorter said. "But to nail it with some branding and some validation of our part in the sales process -- that really puts it over the top, said Dan Shorter, general manager of PalmBeachPost.com."Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-925http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/kelseygroup.html"An interesting development by Verizon. We’ll see where it goes, and who else follows suit."Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-935http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/searchenginejournal.html"Verizon is taking a page from the Search Engine Marketing handbook and applying it to the traditional Yellow Pages as Pay Per Call ad auctions are sending phone calls to the top paying bidder in the Boston Area."Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-915http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/webpronews.html"Art imitating life, Web imitating print, and now it's print imitating Web. Since December, says the Associated Press, Verizon has been testing an auction model in its printed Boston Yellow Pages."Mon, 10 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-895http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/mediapost2.html"PalmBeachPost.com recently introduced the Talk to Seller feature which allows users to click on an icon attached to an ad in order to be immediately connected to the seller. On the other end of the Internet connection, the seller sees a pop-up notation that reads, "Another lead from The Palm Beach Post."Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-885http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/dmnews2.html"And we've got people like craigslist and eBay and Google trying to steal our business. They have a lot of cool tools, and we think of eStara as just one example of tools we need to add...to show [advertisers] that their local newspaper had some nice functionality, too."Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-875http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/april1.pdf"The Palm Beach Post is the first U.S. newspaper to use Click to Call technology in online classifieds, connecting buyers and sellers and proving the Return On Investment (ROI) to advertisers."Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-855http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/eStara%20Page%20from%20EMP06-0331.pdf"Simple, easy-to-use technology that makes it possible for a job-seeker (or shopper) to connect immediately with a recruiter."Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-905http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060331/ap_on_hi_te/yellow_pages_1.html"The call routing is handled by eStara Inc., which provides "click-to-call" services for Web sites, including Verizon's online directory. There, Internet users can click a button next to a company listing, supply their own phone number and immediately receive a call from the listed company. For the printed SuperPages, eStara keeps track of what companies a consumer calls through the generic numbers."Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-865http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.adotas.com/2006/03/adotas-conversations-a-tell-all-on-click-to-call-with-estaras-john-federman/"The other distinction is that we also have a very robust marketplace service the enterprise marketplace and so what one of the things we feel uniquely [able] to do is to take that experience of what we’ve learned through customers like Sears and Dell and HSBC and Allstate Insurance and others and translate that to the world of directories and online media. We sort of understand how to respond, so for instance, Amazon who has been a partner of ours for some time now."Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-845http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive3.html"When fighting to get noticed is challenging enough, optimizing technology is usually furthest from the mind of a small hotel operator. However, what if that technology optimization can help you cut costs and provide you with a unique competitive advantage? It may just be motivation enough to give new technology a shot."Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-835http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/wsj.html"Amazon.com Inc. recently launched a customer-service feature that enables shoppers to pose questions to a customer-service representative without dialing a number. The service works by asking shoppers to enter their phone number in a field off the site's help section and to indicate whether they would like to be contacted "right now" or in five, 10 or 15 minutes. The customers' data go to a third-party service, eStara Inc. of Reston, Va., which connects customers' phones to the Amazon phone system. After testing the service for a year, Amazon launched the feature on all U.S. help pages in January, as well as on all German help pages and for some customers in France and the United Kingdom."Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-825http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/imediaconnection2.html"The term "click-to-call" is sometimes confused with "pay-per-call." "Pay-per-call" is a business model for ad listings in search engines and directories that allows publishers to charge local advertisers on a per-call basis for each lead (call) they generate. "Click-to-call," along with call tracking, is a technology that enables the "pay-per-call" business model. But click-to-call can also be offered as a value-added lead generation and customer service solution."Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-815http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/18376.pdf“Looking at that tool, we thought, ‘Why couldn’t we work with eStara to tweak it so it could recognize phone numbers in our classified ads and display ads and direct connect people not just to customer service, but to the sellers?’”Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-805http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/multichannelmerchant2.html"Recently e-commerce media buzz has focused around click-to-call technology, with Internet search giants Google and Yahoo! testing ways to enable immediate Web-to-phone connections between buyers and sellers through their local search ads. But what exactly is click-to-call, and what does it mean to you?"Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-785http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/ecommerceguide2.htmleStara's Marketing Communications Manager, Dan Obregon, stresses the power of voice and the need for businesses to offer the right form of communication at the right time. "For more complex or high value transactions, voice is often the most comfortable form of communication for a client." Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-795http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/technology/27ecom.html"Verizon's Superpages.com, a Yellow Pages site, also features a pay-per-call system that it built in conjunction with eStara. Robyn Rose, vice president of Internet marketing for Superpages, would not say how many advertisers had signed up for the service. "But we're one of the largest, if not the largest," she said."Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-765http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/clickz4.html"Lots of agencies are being challenged to constantly move the bar for ROI. By incorporating a 'click-to-call' button into creative, we're able to create a quantifiable ROI that can increase conversions by as much as 25 to 50 times," John Federman, CEO of eStara, told ClickZ News.Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-725http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/marketingvox.html"Pay-per-call vendors are also trying to convince agencies that pay-per-call will help expand relationships with clients and bring in clients new to online advertising."Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-735http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/multichannelmerchant.html"SuperPages.com also offers its own click-to-call feature. Through a partnership with eStara, advertisers who’d rather get IP voice calls than clicks from their online listing can pay extra to display a link that lets users connect to them directly over their computers."Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-745http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/multilingualsearch2.php“The rapid acceptance of pay per call in the local search market has resulted in mass acceptance of eStara’s click to call technology across the globe. By providing these services, both TPI and QDQ are showing thought leadership and paving the way for offering added value to their advertisers.”Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-718http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/adotas.html"While companies such as Google and eStara have already begun to implement click-to-call technology..."Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-717http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/adweek.html"Google has experimented with a clickable call feature, and startups like eStara have partnered with SuperPages.com and Amazon's A9 search engine."Fri, 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-715http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive2.html"Ebookers also makes it easy for prospective bookers to initiate contact with a customer service representative should a problem occur while booking online. As one survey result showed that 37 percent of respondents simply needed more information while 22 percent initiated contact because they couldn’t find what they were looking for online."Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-710http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/ecommerceguide.html "For high-value and complex sales transactions, voice is still preferred by an overwhelming number of online shoppers. However, there's also tremendous value in providing customers with options like text chat, in order to handle lower-value sales or service-oriented inquires. Combined, these solutions empower customer service representatives to engage customers at key points during the online transaction to assure sales conversion and improve the customer experience."Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-709http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/marketingblurb.html"Chrysler also uses the click-to-call technology, provided by eStara, to solicit feedback to improve the customer experience."Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-706http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/multilingualsearch.html"This is an agressive approach to the market place which anyone which has found Yellow Pages style advertising in France to be successful - would be wise to take up!"Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-702http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/excession.html"PagesJaunes is the first in France to offer the Click to Talk service on such a large scale."Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-703http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/dmnews.html"To ensure that those visitors could build and price their desired vehicles, Chrysler implemented Push to Talk, a click-to-call technology from eStara, Reston, VA, that connects these potential customers with a live Chrysler contact center representative by telephone without leaving the Web site. The click-to-call technology also has been implemented on the "Get a Quote" feature."Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-704http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/clickz3.html"Click-to-call, recently tested on Google, is also offered by eStara through SuperPages.com and Amazon's A9. This service allows users to enter their phone numbers so businesses can call them back."Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-705http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/clickz.html"eStara powers SuperPages.com and Amazon's A9."Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-696http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/clickz2.html"The pay-per-call market has also seen its share of growth, with providers like eStara..."Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-697http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/future50.jpg"We expect demand to increase."Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-695http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/InfoCommerce%20Report%20December%202005.pdfThu, 29 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-693http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.smart-keywords.com/2005/12/estara-discusses-click-to-call.htmWed, 21 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-694http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/itbusinessedge.html"eStara's click to call service "voice-enables" any online medium, including your Web site, advertising banners, search engine ads and even outbound customer e-mails. Instead of dialing a phone number, your customers simply click a customized Push To Talk graphic (we call it a "button") to speak immediately with one of your telephone sales or customer service agents. With our patented IP telephony technology, callers can use any land-line or cellular phone by simply entering their phone number. eStara places standard phone calls to both the customer and your inbound call center, and connects them together. Or, if their PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, your customer can also choose to talk directly from their PC without installing any special software."Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-692http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.searchenginejournal.com/index.php.htmlWed, 07 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-685http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/voipnews2.htmlTue, 06 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-687http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/DCEO-estara.pdfThu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-689http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.inc.com/magazine/20051201/columns-freedman.phpThu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-691http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/internetretailer4.htmlWed, 30 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-682http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/autonews.html"The Chrysler group wanted to convert more browsers on its Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brand Web sites into buyers. So it turned to eStara Inc. for a Click to Talk button that connects the online shopper with a Chrysler group call center here. The shopper talks to a call center agent by land-line phone."Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-680http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelexecutive.htmlMon, 28 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-681http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/internetretailer3.htmlMon, 21 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-678http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/venturewire.htmlThu, 17 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-675http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/tmcnet2.htmlTue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-670http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/btobonline.htmlTue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-673http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/potomactechwire.htmlTue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-674http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/ecommercetimes.html"By far [e-commerce sites'] biggest mistake is failing to systematically maximize sales conversions," said eStara COO John Piescik. "Conversion rates from e-commerce sites average about 5 percent across industries. Can you imagine retail stores where 19 out of 20 customers left without buying and no one ever asked them what they were looking for?"Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-669http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/11/14/tidbits1.htmlMon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-672http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/voipmagazine.htmlTue, 08 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-668http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/voipnews.htmlTue, 08 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-679http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/presstime.htmlTue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-667http://www.vonmag.com/issue/2005/nov/depts/pulver100.aspTue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-688http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/click-to-call-continues-to-grow.asp.htmlTue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-716http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/Revenue%20Fall%202005.pdfFri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-665http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.revenews.com/bradwaller/archives/001096.htmlThu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-664http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.imediaconnection.com/news/6997.asp.htmlWed, 19 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-663http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3557236.htmlTue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-662http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/yptalk3.htmlThu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-660http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelnewsresource.htmlWed, 12 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-659http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/voipnow.htmlSat, 08 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-658http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/intrapromote.html"eStara – Here’s a company that not only does pay per call, but also offers voice cards, classroom conferencing and many other cool applications. The company was founded in 2000 and has since brought on clients such as Verizon SuperPages, Amazon’s A9, HSBC, Gerber, and many other big brands as well."Wed, 05 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-657http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/mediapost.htmlWed, 05 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-661http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/eyefortravel.htmlMon, 03 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-656http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/yptalk2.htmlFri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-653http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/breakingtravelnews.htmlFri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-655http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/internetretailer2.htmlThu, 29 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-652http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/internetretailer.html"Many retailers are turning to click-to-call-back because research shows that consumers spending more than $500 per month online prefer phone-based service to text chat by a three-to-one margin, says Ian Halpern, director of marketing for eStara Inc., which offers both text-chat and click-to-call services."Wed, 28 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-651http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelnews.htmlMon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-648http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/contactcenterworld.htmlMon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-649http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/voipplanet.htmlMon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-650http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/bizwomen.htmlFri, 23 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-647http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/09/19/daily27.htmlThu, 22 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-646http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/yptalk.htmlThu, 25 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-645http://www.netimperative.com/2005/08/10/Yahoo_pay_per_call"Yahoo! UK & Ireland is to launch a pay-per-call search advertising service across its retail channels. The service is already available in Yahoo! Cars and will be introduced into Yahoo!’s other e-commerce properties, Shopping and Travel following an initial introductory period beginning in early August on its shopping comparison portal Kelkoo."Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-955http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/hotelmarketing.htmlThu, 04 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-671http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/techtarget.htmlWed, 29 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-644http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062202077_pf.html"Amazon.com offers a slightly different version in the Yellow Pages service it recently released in trial form. It is powered by Reston-based eStara Inc., a rival of Ingenio's. Instead of displaying special phone numbers, eStara pops up a box and invites visitors to type in their phone numbers. eStara's technology automatically dials the customer seconds later, then patches the call through to the merchant's call center or, in the case of a smaller company, its place of business."Thu, 23 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-643http://www.estara.com/whitepaper/forrester.php?var1=newsMon, 16 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-642http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/a9_washpost/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42681-2005Apr10.html#estaraMon, 11 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-641http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/imediaconnection.htmlThu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-676http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/nytimes_pork.htmlFri, 04 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-601http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/directmag.htmlThu, 03 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-755http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/a9/news.com.com/Amazon+search+pictures+your+destination/2100-1024_3-5552342.htmlThu, 27 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-577http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/a9/www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-01-26-amazon-usat_x.htm"Amazon also is adding a "Click to Call" feature that lets customers call a business at the click of a mouse, for free. Users register a phone number with Amazon. The technology phones the customer and the business simultaneously. Users pick up the phone when it rings and are connected with the business. Battelle thinks "Click to Call" could be lucrative if Amazon starts charging. "This is one small step away from a pay-per-call model, which is one of the most sought-after features from businesses," he says. America Online announced a move into pay-per-call last week, charging some advertisers based on how many calls are generated by ads on its search engine."Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-579http://www.insurancetech.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=53700235Sun, 14 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-684http://www.executivetechnology.com/ViewCA.cfm?ID=348Mon, 08 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-401http://es.biz.yahoo.com/041105/4/3qdq7.htmlFri, 05 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-407http://stage.estara.com/aboutus/news/esurance.html#clicktocallMon, 01 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-282http://fr.biz.yahoo.com/041007/175/434ff.htmlThu, 07 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-405http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/gerber.phpMon, 09 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-82http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D16F93A550C748CDDAF0894DC404482Mon, 07 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-81http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/interchange.htmThu, 22 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-34http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.clickz.com/experts/search/strat/article.php/3340821.htmlFri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-33http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/targetonline.htmlMon, 29 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-31http://www.ad-tech.com/Wed, 18 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-28http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/tkralert0304f.pdfWed, 19 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-27http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/1584451Fri, 14 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-26http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/microsoft/Tue, 21 Jan 2003 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-24http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.clickz.com/experts/em_mkt/case_studies/article.php/1441811.htmlThu, 08 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-23http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/news_prankcall.htmlMon, 17 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-20http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/features/061702.aspMon, 17 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-21http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/variety/Thu, 23 May 2002 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-19http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/Simba.pdfMon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-17http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/halpern.pdfMon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-18http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.clickz.com/experts/em_mkt/case_studies/article.php/919091.htmlThu, 08 Nov 2001 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-14http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/8471_802891.htmlTue, 17 Jul 2001 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-12http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/tmcnet.htmlMon, 04 Jun 2001 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-11http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.informationweek.com/832/estara.htmMon, 09 Apr 2001 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-9http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20010402S0007Mon, 02 Apr 2001 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-7http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.tmcnet.com/enews/040201l.htmMon, 02 Apr 2001 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-8http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-3942079.htmlFri, 01 Dec 2000 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-5http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/12/04/focus8.htmlFri, 01 Dec 2000 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-6http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/11/13/story5.htmlFri, 10 Nov 2000 00:00:00 -0500estara-news-4http://www.estara.com/aboutus/news/www.businessweek.com/print/smallbiz/content/oct2000/sb20001017_377.htm%3Fcontent.htmlTue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 -0400estara-news-2