Choosing Your Marketing Phone Number: Importance of Choosing the Right Vanity Number

The rise of Digital Marketing over the past two decades led many to believe that the use of phones would no longer be important but that has been far from the case.

The use of phones for directly contacting businesses among today’s consumers has actually never been higher – and that has not gone unnoticed by today’s brands (particularly those who invest heavily in search-based advertising. Why? Consider the following data points that show why phone numbers, and vanity or custom phone numbers, are not only still relevant to today’s businesses, but increasingly critical components in producing the best digital advertising campaign results possible.

Mobile Usage is Booming

In 2013 there were 144.5 million smartphone users in the U.S. (more than double the 2010 number). In 2018, that number exceeded 220 million, more than two-thirds of the U.S. population. (Source: Comscore)

Mobile Search Has Doubled

More than twice as many consumers prefer to contact a business via the phone than an online form – 65% versus 24%. (Source: Invoca, State of the Mobile Experience)

Lift in Brand Awareness

A memorable phone number strengthens brand image and awareness. 47% of searchers told Google that ads without a phone number would make them more likely to explore other brands. (Source: Google Mobile Insights)

Ad Performance Improvements

Adding an option to call increases ad clicks by 8%, but including a custom phone number included in a search advertisement increased clicks by 33%. (Source: RingBoost)

Results-Driven Marketing

52% of all mobile advertising results in a phone call – the highest-performing custom conversion of all potential actions (source: xAd)

Increase in Business Leads

61% of businesses rate their inbound phone calls as an excellent source of leads – higher than any other inbound lead source (Source: BIA/Kelsey).

Small Number, Big Impact

Sometimes it is the small adjustments you make to a search advertising campaign that make the greatest difference. Consider leveraging a vanity or custom phone number from RingBoost to create a more memorable experience for consumers that encounter your brand on the results pages of popular search engines and start experiencing better campaign and business performance.

Expert Tips for Vanity Phone Number Marketing

When it comes to effective marketing, phone number importance is something that is often overlooked. However, vanity phone numbers can easily boost your brand’s marketing efforts when used the right way. Here are some tips to help you reach more people:

Keep It Simple

The importance of numbers for marketing can’t be overstated. Vanity phone numbers are effective because they’re easy to remember. What does that mean for you when choosing a solid marketing phone number? Importance should be placed on keeping yours simple and relevant to your brand.

Reflect Your Brand

Ensure your vanity number is an accurate representation of your brand. For example, think of 1-800-CONTACTS. Their vanity number works well because it tells people exactly what the business sells.

Avoid Confusing Digits

Try to avoid adding extra numbers or digits in the middle of your words that may throw potential customers off. You want to reduce the chances of someone making a mistake when trying to contact your business.

Use a Local Area Code

A good marketing vanity number strategy is to connect with your community. When choosing your marketing phone number, importance should be placed on the local area code. This can help you grow your customer base in your area and boost your credibility.

Promote Effectively

The more you promote your business and your vanity number, the more people will remember it. For example, think of 1-800-FLOWERS, one of the most memorable ad phone numbers of all time. Everyone is familiar with it thanks to several successful commercial campaigns and the simplicity of the number.

Optimize Call Handling

Marketing by phone numbers can go a long way for your brand. When the calls come in, make sure your team is ready. Be personable and positive and walk them through what your business can do for them, step by step. Your vanity number gets people excited to call, so it’s important to live up to those expectations once they do.

Protect Your Number

Getting your marketing phone number right extends beyond your region. If you can, trademark your vanity number. This prevents a business with a different area code from using your vanity slogan. 

Gather Customer Feedback

The best way to determine whether your vanity number is memorable and beneficial to your brand is to ask your customers directly. Consider sending an email survey or asking your customers in person for their opinions. 

Integrate With Your Marketing Strategy

You likely took time to come up with the perfect vanity number, so share it everywhere you can! When running marketing campaigns through email or on social media, emphasize your vanity number as the perfect way for prospects to contact your business.

Be Consistent

You want customers to view your brand as reliable. Be as consistent as possible when it comes to your vanity phone number marketing. Emphasize your business’s expertise and use your vanity phone number to help differentiate your brand from the competition. When in doubt, the experts at RingBoost can answer any questions you have.