It’s 2018. Do you still need a phone number on your website?

Daryna Kulya
OpenPhone
Published in
3 min readApr 20, 2018
Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

These days with so many channels for communication like messaging apps, live chat and email, should you, as a business owner, even bother putting your phone number on your website?

If you want to create a better experience for your buyers and, in turn, boost your revenue, you might want to consider it.

Here are the 4 ways a phone number on your website will increase your sales.

1. Increase customer trust and, in turn, conversion

On average, a visitor spends 59 seconds on your website. They make an impression about whether or not they can trust you much sooner.

According to a recent study, 54% of visitors would leave a website that doesn’t include contact information, completely diminishing the credibility you’re trying to build online.

Having a phone number on your website immediately tells them that you care about their experience. They may never call, but can rest assured that that someone will help them should anything go wrong.

Instead of listing your personal number, use an app like OpenPhone to get a business phone number on top of your existing device.

2. Convert visitors who need to talk to someone

Some consumers need to talk to a human before making a purchasing decision.

Source: 2018 State of Chatbots Report

Based on the 2018 State of Chatbots Report, telephone is still one of the main channels used for communicating with businesses. 60% of consumers interviewed mentioned communicating with businesses through phone in the last year.

According to Google, 70% of mobile searchers have used click to call to connect with a business directly from the search engine results page. The majority of respondents prefer calling because they’re looking to get a quick answer or talk to a human before making a purchasing decision.

3. It’s a universal way for people to reach you

Unlike messengers, website live chat, and social media platforms, a phone number is the most universal channel. There’s no need for the consumer to download a specific app or to be on your website. They can call or text message you right from their phone just like they normally would.

Speaking of texting…

4. 89% of consumers want to be able to message a business

Based on a recent study, 89% of consumers would like to message a business. They find it faster and more convenient than email and phone calls. The vast majority of them prefer native text messaging (SMS) to using a specific messaging app.

Texting is great for small business owners too. Unlike live chat on your website, there’s no expectation for an instant reply with SMS so you don’t have to be glued to your phone.

By putting your phone number on the website and letting your customers know they can text you, not just call, you’ll save time and make them happy. Happy customers spend more.

Conclusion

Does converting more website visitors, providing a universal way for people to get in touch and improving customer experience sound interesting to you?

What about giving your consumers peace of mind and instilling trust in your company?

Imagine saving time and making your customers happy by letting them text you.

It’s 2018, and you still need a phone number on your website to drive revenue.

Products like OpenPhone can give you a dedicated business phone number that help you look more professional, save time and earn more money. It’s free to get started and you can get set up in 30 seconds.

So, have you listed a phone number on your website yet?

Thanks for reading! Do you include a phone number on your website? Why / why not? Would love to hear in the comments below!

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