Summary
1. What is call tracking?
Call tracking is a method used by businesses to monitor and analyze incoming phone calls. It involves the use of specific, trackable phone numbers for various marketing activities or channels, such as online directories, Google Business Profile, social media, or paid advertising. When a customer dials a call tracking number, the call is routed through a tracking system that captures important details such as the caller's phone number, the date and time of the call, the call duration, and whether or not the call was answered.
This valuable data allows companies to evaluate the success of marketing campaigns, understand customer behavior, and make informed decisions about future strategies.
2. Benefits of call tracking for small businesses
Call tracking is especially beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that rely heavily on telephone communication, such as real estate agencies, restaurants, healthcare providers, and law firms. Key benefits include:
Measure marketing performance: Determine which marketing channels or campaigns are generating the most calls and leads.
Improve customer service: Analyze call patterns, such as peak call times and missed calls, to optimize staffing and availability. For example, reduce missed calls by 15% during peak hours by adjusting staff schedules.
Increase conversion rates: Understand caller behavior to improve engagement and ultimately convert more calls into customers.
Optimize budget allocation: Use insights to focus resources on the most effective marketing channels, maximizing your return on investment. For example, reallocate 20% of your ad spend from low-performing to high-performing channels based on call tracking data.
3. How does call tracking work?
Most commonly, call tracking works by assigning unique phone numbers to different platforms or campaigns through specific call tracking services, allowing businesses to track the specific source of incoming calls. When a customer dials a tracking number, the call is routed through a tracking system that records key data.
Other methods include:
Dynamic Number Insertion (DNI): DNI automatically changes the phone number displayed on a website based on the source of the visitor (e.g., paid advertising, social media, or organic search). This allows companies to accurately track which marketing channels are generating the most calls.
Integrated Software Solutions: Some businesses prefer call tracking that is built into their phone system or customer relationship management (CRM) software. These solutions track calls to an existing business number without requiring new phone numbers.
When choosing a call tracking provider, consider your budget, integration options, call recording needs, and support reliability to ensure the best fit for your business.
4. How to use call tracking with rankingCoach
rankingCoach makes it easy to use call tracking by allowing you to publish your tracking number directly to the most relevant online directories for your business using the Directory Synchronization feature.
Steps to set up call tracking with rankingCoach:
1. Enter your call tracking number by navigating to “Settings” and clicking on the pencil icon next to “Business phone numbers”. Enter your call tracking phone number in the Phone field. This is the number that will be displayed in your online listings and tracked for incoming calls.
2. If necessary, enter your official business number or other relevant number in the “Additional Phone Number” field.
3. Don't forget to save your changes.
4. Once your call tracking number is set, go to “Online Presence” → “Listing and Publishing” and synchronize your business profile with online directories. This will ensure that your tracking number appears in your listings so that you can monitor incoming calls.
Call tracking is a powerful resource that helps businesses, especially those that rely on phone calls, measure marketing performance, improve customer service, and optimize budget allocation. With rankingCoach, businesses can simultaneously publish their tracking number to the most relevant directories in their country to track incoming calls, ensuring they maximize visibility and customer engagement.
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