Like it or not, the world is going mobile. As of 2015, there are officially more mobile-only internet users than PC-only internet users. This also means a greater number of searches for businesses happening on mobile devices, and subsequently calls as well. The 2016 Call Intelligence Index shows that mobile phones are actually enabling more calls to businesses, contrary to the popular line of thinking that smart-phones are used more for data and PC-like functionality, with their voice functionality becoming just one feature among many.

Interestingly, 92% of calls to businesses in 2015 were because of digital marketing. This shows an increase of 8% from the previous year. A contact form on your website is a good idea, but only 24% of potential customers prefer to make use of it. A lot of people (48%) contact businesses after searching for them on their mobile devices, so it makes sense to get your site mobile-ready. Google also tends to rank you higher if your site has been optimized for mobile devices (it only takes the addition of a few lines of code), so you have nothing to lose, only to gain. The same survey shows that only 17% of potential customers get in touch with a business after a desktop search. By staying PC-centric, you lose out on business – 63% of all those complete a search online make an offline purchase.

• Having click-to-call buttons on your mobile-friendly site is not only brilliant, but also convenient for those who see your contact number(s). It eliminates a lot of unnecessary steps, like the caller having to jot down your number on a notepad or piece of paper before calling you. It works too – 70% of callers make use of this feature.

Those who find your website after a mobile search stay on the line for 4 minutes and 25 seconds, while those who view your number on a mobile screen hang up only after an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds. Not only could your convert inquiries into business in three minutes, you could also get more callers if you focus more on your digital marketing strategy. Those who contact businesses after reading an online review make the longest calls, with an average duration of 5 minutes and 54 seconds. Listing on local directories which allow users to post reviews and ratings is therefore a wonderful way of increasing business. Search engines rank your site higher too.

Handle Your Calls Intelligently

Men make more calls than women – 53% of callers are male. The average calls last for 4 minutes and 52 seconds. The most frequently called time is between 11 AM and 12 PM on Monday, so it makes sense to shake off those Monday blues and be more pro-active when answering the phone. The least number of calls are made on Sunday, and most calls are made between 12 PM and 1 PM.

With mobile devices becoming the preferred choice of those who use the internet, the lines between digital marketing and mobile marketing have become blurred. Mobile isn’t the future. It is already here, and now. Do you need help with mobile optimization? We're here for you!