Hey there! Are you looking to drive more leads and sales from your WordPress website? One powerful strategy you may not have considered is business call forwarding.
By allowing visitors to simply click a button and instantly call your business, you can engage prospects at the peak of their interest and dramatically increase conversions. In fact, a study by Invoca found that customers who call a business are 10-15 times more likely to convert than those who don‘t.
But how do you actually set this up on your WordPress site? Don‘t worry, it‘s easier than you might think! In this step-by-step guide, I‘ll walk you through three different methods for enabling business call forwarding, complete with tool recommendations and pro tips.
Whether you‘re a solo entrepreneur or part of a distributed team, by the end of this post you‘ll be ready to implement this valuable feature on your own website. Let‘s get into it!
What is Business Call Forwarding?
First, a quick definition. Business call forwarding is a phone system capability that automatically redirects incoming calls to another number, like your cell phone or a colleague‘s extension.
The beauty of call forwarding is that it allows you to maintain a professional business presence and stay accessible to customers no matter where you are. You can easily route calls based on criteria like time of day, caller location, or agent availability.
And the benefits are powerful:
- 61% of mobile searchers say click-to-call is most important in the purchase phase (Google)
- 28% of calls to small businesses result in a conversion, such as a purchase or appointment set (Sound Telecom)
- Calls convert 10-15 times more than web leads (Invoca)
- Phone leads have a 28% higher lead-to-deal conversion rate (Forrester)
Clearly, making it easy for prospects to call you from your website can have a big impact on your bottom line. So let‘s look at how you can implement it, starting with my recommended method – using a cloud phone system.
Method 1: Set Up Call Forwarding with a Virtual Phone System
The most flexible and full-featured way to enable business call forwarding is to use a virtual phone system, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or a cloud phone system.
With a virtual phone system, you can get a dedicated business phone number that forwards calls to any device, anywhere. You also get a host of advanced call management features beyond just forwarding.
Here‘s how to get started:
Sign up with a VoIP provider. My top picks for small businesses are:
- Nextiva – Best overall with 40+ features, 99.999% uptime, and 24/7 support
- RingCentral – Most flexible with 250+ integrations
- Phone.com – Most affordable with plans starting at $12.99/user/month
Here‘s a quick comparison:
Provider Starting Price Notable Features Nextiva $18.95/user/month Auto Attendant, Call Recording, CRM Integrations RingCentral $19.99/user/month 250+ Integrations, 24/7 Support, 99.999% Uptime Phone.com $12.99/user/month Video Conferencing, Phone Trees, Call Parking Choose a business phone number. Most providers will let you choose a local number for your area code, a vanity number like 1-800-FLOWERS, or a toll-free number. Consider which will be most memorable and accessible for your customers.
Set up your call forwarding rules. This is where a virtual phone system really shines. You‘ll have a web portal or mobile app where you can easily configure how incoming calls are handled. For example:
- Forward calls to your cell phone from 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
- Forward to an answering service on nights and weekends
- Ring multiple team members simultaneously until someone answers
- Send calls to voicemail outside of business hours
Record a professional greeting. Don‘t overlook this step! Your main business number should have a friendly, informative greeting that represents your brand and directs callers to the right place. Most virtual phone systems include built-in tools for recording and uploading greetings.
Configure your call flow. Also known as an auto attendant or IVR (interactive voice response), a call flow presents callers with a menu of options and routes them accordingly. For example: "Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support." Map out your ideal call flow and build it using your provider‘s visual editor or by uploading an audio file.
And that‘s it! With a virtual phone system, you can start receiving professionally forwarded calls in no time. Plus, you‘ll have access to advanced features like call analytics, voicemail transcription, mobile apps, and CRM integrations to help you get the most from every conversation.
Method 2: Forward Calls From Your Existing Phone Line
If you already have a business phone number through a landline or mobile carrier, you may be able to set up call forwarding directly through your provider.
The exact process will vary, but here are the general steps:
Contact your phone service provider. Call the customer service number or log in to your online account dashboard. Common providers include Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
Request call forwarding to be enabled. You may need to navigate a phone menu or talk to a few different representatives to find someone who can help. Be prepared with your account information and the number(s) you want to forward calls to.
Choose your forwarding preferences. Your provider will likely give you a few different options for when and how calls are forwarded:
- Always: Forward all incoming calls immediately
- When busy: Forward calls only when your main line is in use
- When unanswered: Forward calls if the main line isn‘t answered after a set number of rings
- When unreachable: Forward if the main line is out of service or powered off
Confirm and test your settings. After making your selections, your provider should give you a confirmation that call forwarding is enabled. Place a few test calls to make sure it‘s working properly.
Keep in mind, most traditional providers charge extra fees for call forwarding – around $5-$15 per month on top of your regular service. And you won‘t get the advanced routing options and analytics that come with a virtual phone system.
But if you just need a quick and easy way to forward calls to your cell phone or another line, this method can do the trick! Check with your specific provider for detailed instructions.
Method 3: Use a WordPress Call Forwarding Plugin
If your business website is powered by WordPress, adding click-to-call buttons is a breeze with the right plugin. Here‘s how it works:
Install a call forwarding plugin. There are a few good free and paid options in the WordPress plugin repository, including:
- WP Call Button – Best free option with customizable buttons and analytics
- Crazy Call – Starts at $14.99/month with advanced features like dynamic call tracking
- ConnectAndSell – Includes free and paid plans with appointment scheduling
- Talkroute Click-to-Call – Easily embed or float click-to-call buttons anywhere
Enter your forwarding number. In the plugin settings, enter the number you want calls to be forwarded to when someone clicks your button. This could be your cell phone, a colleague, or even a third-party answering service.
Customize your button. Most plugins will let you customize the size, color, and placement of your click-to-call button. Brand it to match your site and make it eye-catching! For example: "Questions? Click here to speak with a live expert!"
Place the button on your site. Use a shortcode or widget to embed your button in a prominent place, like your header, sidebar, or just above your contact form. You may want to add it to key sales and landing pages.
Test and track. Of course, give your button a few clicks to make sure calls are connecting properly. Depending on your plugin, you may also be able to see analytics on button clicks and call volumes.
And voila! Your WordPress site is now optimized to capture valuable phone leads. The only downside of this method is that calls are simply forwarded to your personal device – you won‘t get the professional routing and tracking of a virtual phone system.
Pro Tips for Business Call Forwarding
Whichever method you choose, here are a few expert tips to keep in mind:
Use a memorable vanity or local number. Make it as easy as possible for people to get in touch by choosing a number that‘s short, catchy, and relevant to your business. For example, 1-800-FLOWERS or (425) 123-4567 for a local Seattle-based company.
Craft a clear, branded greeting. When people call your business, the first thing they hear should instill confidence in your brand. Avoid generic greetings and long menu trees. Keep it short and sweet with just 2-3 options. For example: "Thanks for calling Acme Inc! Press 1 for sales or 2 for support."
Consider your call distribution strategy. How will you get the right calls to the right people? There are a few common approaches:
- Simultaneous: Incoming calls ring multiple agents at once until someone picks up
- Round Robin: Calls are distributed evenly to the next available agent in a continuous loop
- Tiered: Calls go to a top tier of agents first, then roll over to a second tier if unanswered
Optimize your call flow for conversions. Your IVR should be designed to connect callers with a live agent as quickly as possible. Avoid long hold times and too many menu options. Consider placing sales calls ahead of other inquiries. And always include an option to reach a human!
Integrate calls into your CRM and marketing analytics. By connecting your call data to the rest of your sales and marketing tech stack, you can build a complete picture of your lead funnel and identify top opportunities. Look for a call forwarding solution with built-in CRM integrations or web hooks.
Real-World Examples & Case Studies
To give you a better idea of business call forwarding in action, here are a few examples and success stories:
"With Nextiva, we never miss an opportunity." The Little Gym, a children‘s fitness franchise, uses Nextiva to seamlessly forward calls from 400+ locations to a central call center. They‘ve increased revenue by 35% while saving over $70,000 per year compared to their old phone system. (Source)
"Switching to RingCentral was a real game-changer for our business." Illuminate Education, a K-12 software provider, uses RingCentral to power sales and support for over 1200 school districts. Features like call forwarding and HD video conferencing help their distributed team stay connected and productive. (Source)
"With the click-to-call widget, our sales went through the roof!" Neon Retro Arcade, an online game retailer, added a Crazy Call button to their product pages and saw a 250% increase in sales within 30 days. "[It] truly changed our business and customer happiness," says owner Glen Planamento. (Source)
The common thread? By making it incredibly easy for prospects to connect in real-time, these businesses are turning more website visitors into paying customers. And you can too!
Next Steps: Set Up Call Forwarding Today!
Are you ready to start driving more phone leads and sales from your WordPress site? If you‘ve made it this far, you‘re well on your way!
Here‘s a quick recap of your options:
- Sign up for a virtual phone system like Nextiva, RingCentral, or Phone.com for the most flexibility and features
- Forward calls from your existing landline or mobile number if you just need a simple redirect
- Use a WordPress call button plugin to embed click-to-call buttons on your site
Whichever route you choose, don‘t overthink it – the most important thing is to make your business easily accessible by phone. Every day you wait is a missed opportunity to engage your ideal customers.
To get started, I recommend checking out a few different virtual phone providers to find the best fit for your needs and budget. Most offer free trials so you can test out features risk-free.
For more tips on converting leads into customers, check out our guides on building landing pages that convert, writing irresistible calls-to-action, and optimizing your WordPress site for sales.
And of course, if you have any questions, our team of WordPress experts is just a phone call away! We‘d love to help you implement a winning call forwarding strategy.
Happy selling!
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