This article is part of our pay-per-call marketing series, where we explore pay-pay-call advertising, pay-per-call affiliate marketing, and pay-per-call lead generation. Check out these guides to step up your marketing game.
One of the safest customer acquisition pathways is pay-per-call advertising. Not only does it allow you to acquire clients quickly, but you can dissect them on the fly, connecting the right caller to the right sales rep.
With the right set of pay-per-call numbers at the forefront, you can make your company look special, imprint ideas into the caller’s mind, and make it simpler to connect. In fact, 65% of small to mid-sized businesses actively run pay-per-call campaigns, with 79% of marketers affirming the immense benefits of PPC for business development.
Book a call to get vanity or toll-free pay-per-call numbers with Phonexa so you can kickstart your pay-per-call campaigns.
A well-thought-out pay-per-call affiliate marketing campaign can revolutionize your business almost overnight, whether you are an affiliate, advertiser, or even an affiliate network.
But it all starts with choosing the right pay-per-call number and understanding how these numbers work.
Pay-Per-Call Campaigns and Pay-Per-Call Numbers
Pay-per-call ads offer companies a compelling strategy to increase brand awareness by up to 80%, mostly via personalization. With the right set of pay-per-call ads, you can hit the right audience with the right message at the right time, generating high-intent callers at scale.
The impact of pay-per-call lead generation can even be predicted: callers bear 10 to 12 times higher conversion rates than other leads. But this is only if you’ve chosen the right phone numbers and implemented them strategically across your advertising campaigns.
| “With phone calls, you’re typically trying to generate a customer that is further down the sales cycle than potentially just a web lead that’s put their data on a website and you may or may not contact them.” – David Pickard, CEO at Phonexa |
Here’s what a pay-per-call number is:
➥ A pay-per-call number is a special phone number that connects the caller to your sales department while collecting the caller’s personal information so your sales representative can prepare for the upcoming call.
Pay-per-call advertising gives you a crystal-clear view of your clients and fairly accurate ROI expectations. It’s like having a superpower for generating leads.
800 and 900 Pay-Per-Call Numbers
One of the least pleasant aspects of using pay-per-call phone numbers is the regulations you must comply with. For example, the Federal Communications Commission allows specific audio content, entertainment, and conversations with pay-per-call numbers.
In practice, many companies often use 900 phone numbers:
- “900” numbers involve charges set by the company, not the government or phone companies
- “900” numbers require permission to stay on the line for those under 18
- “900” calls are usually more expensive than standard long-distance calls
If you opt for a 900 pay-per-call number, make sure customers on the line will be informed about your name, call cost, and details about your offerings before they make a decision.
The dark side of the 900 numbers is that scammers have exploited 1-900 telephone numbers, where callers are charged per minute, silently inflating telephone bills. For a caller, the longer you stay on the call, the higher the per-minute charges.
A safer approach would be to use toll-free numbers like 800, 888, 877, and 833, as they all come with pre-established payment or subscription arrangements.
Charges for information obtained through an 800 number are permissible only under a written agreement between you and the service provider, which includes:
- The cost per call
- The information service provider’s name
- Business address
- Phone number
- A unique PIN or security device to prevent unauthorized actions.
Anyway, the beauty of pay-per-call phone marketing is its direct link between investment and results. As calls come in, you pay based on actual connections, ensuring a transparent and measurable return on investment.
Moreover, with call tracking software like Call Logic, you can collect even more information on PPC calls. A real-time call dashboard will put you in the driver’s seat of the process, giving access to call insights, call recordings, marketing prompts, and so much more.
How Do Pay-Per-Call Numbers Work?
With 60% of consumers still contacting businesses by phone after discovering them on Google, a well-promoted pay-per-call line can take your business to the next level. But let’s examine the caller journey in detail so you can understand the role of PPC phone numbers in the game.
First, a potential customer sees your ad and dials your phone numbers – say, a toll-free pay-per-call 800 number. As an advertiser, you’ll be charged for this call only if it meets your location, call length, and other criteria, making this model cost-effective and safe.
Here’s how pay-per-call works in affiliate marketing:
Pay-per-call affiliate networks bridge the gap between advertisers and affiliates. Whether you’re an advertiser or affiliate, you don’t necessarily have to enroll in an affiliate network. However, even though it will cost you a share of your profits, you will get access to many more partners than you would manage to discover on your own.
Why Consider Pay-Per-Call Numbers?
Pay-per-call numbers can revolutionize your communication strategy. It’s not only about customer engagement but many factors contributing to unprecedented business growth and fostering connections with your target audience.
| Low investment | You can start your pay-per-call venture with minimal investment, as you only need call tracking software and pay-per-call numbers. Cloud-based call management solutions may only cost you a hundred to a few hundred dollars a month while having great value and revenue prospects. |
| Global Reach | Embrace independence by managing your pay-per-call business on your own. Utilize international pay-per-call phone numbers, reaching potential leads worldwide from the comfort of your own location. |
| Scalability | The potential for growth with pay-per-call phone marketing knows no bounds, allowing you to explore limitless perspectives. As your confidence grows, you can expand your customer base, enhance software functionality, and maybe evolve into a full-scale affiliate marketing agency if this is one of your goals. |
| Cost-effectiveness | Unlike traditional advertising models, Pay-Per-Call allows you to optimize your spending by paying only for matching calls. This focused strategy will guarantee that every dollar produces tangible outcomes. |
How To Start a Pay-Per-Call Business
Let’s examine each step in detail so you can confidently use pay-per-call numbers in your campaigns.
Step 1: Grasp the Concept of Pay-Per-Call Marketing
Before you can use pay-per-call numbers, you need some strategic preparation. To get a head start with pay-per-call leads, define your niche, campaign goals, target audience, locations, and effective outreach strategies.
Here are the best niches for using pay-per-call numbers:
Source: Your Best Guide To Pay-Per-Call Affiliate Marketing in 2024 and Beyond
Step 2: Identify Your Pay-Per-Call Campaign Goals
Determine what you want to achieve with your campaigns and how your pay-per-call tracking software can help you with it. This will guide your entire journey.
Here are some common goals for campaigns built around pay-per-call numbers:
- Increasing sales conversion rates and ROI
- Enhancing targeting & customer engagement
- Expanding into related markets
- Improving communication with the audience
Providing a direct line of communication through pay-per-call phone campaigns will let you address customer queries promptly and increase customer satisfaction rates.
Source: Think With Google
Here are some reinforcing statistics:
- Calls from mobile searches are likely to convert 30% to 50% more than web forms
- Call tracking can result in a 25% increase in conversion rates, helping with budget allocation
- 76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a related business within a day
Step 3: Choose a Provider of Pay-Per-Call Numbers
Many reputable providers offer user-friendly interfaces and robust tracking tools to monitor campaigns and specific pay-per-call phone number performance. But you still have to understand how to get a pay-per-call number while choosing the best provider, which is usually the cheapest number provider that matches your quality expectations.
For instance, Phonexa offers call tracking for pay-per-call campaigns while enabling seamless monetization of phone calls and the ability to get toll-free or local phone numbers.
Are you ready to execute and level up your pay-per-call business? Choose your subscription plan or book a demo to learn more about Phonexa’s inbound call management platform.
The path of least resistance would be to choose an affiliate network for your phone call campaign. The web is abundant with pay-per-call affiliate offers for advertisers and publishers, so you only need a comparison table to see which company resonates with you.
Over time, you will build a strong reputation by earning from the best pay-per-call affiliate programs and simultaneously reaching out to businesses directly. Consistency builds trust and long-term partnerships.
Step 4: Set Up Your Pay-Per-Call Campaign
It’s vital to have enough resources to handle incoming calls. Not only can unanswered calls be billable, but they can ruin your reputation in the long run.
National brands often route calls to centralized contact centers, but effective alternatives include directing calls to individual stores, franchises, or a hybrid time-based model. Likewise, some businesses qualify calls through a pay-per-call answering service before directing them to the appropriate destination.
Developing call-handling strategies is crucial for your pay-per-call phone campaigns.
Now, when you’re ready, it’s time to unleash your creativity:
- Craft compelling pay-per-call Google ads that entice your target audience to dial in
- Ensure your call-to-action is clear, compelling, and aligned with your goals
- Set a budget to maximize the cost-effectiveness of your campaign
Step 5: Advertise Your Pay-Per-Call Number
Promoting a pay-per-call phone number involves online and offline channels.
Here are some essential pay-per-call traffic sources:
| Online channels | Offline channels |
| Integrate PPC with traditional advertising methods like TV, radio, print, and direct mail. Offline advertising may not reach as many potential clients as your online PPC ads, but it may synergize well with your brick-and-mortar activities. For example, if you conduct a workshop, you can include your company’s number in the leaflets or whatever materials you give away to your visitors. Offline advertising works especially well for local audiences. |
Step 6: Monitor and Optimize Pay-Per-Call Campaigns
Launching your campaign is just the beginning. Once they’re up and running, start monitoring performance metrics like call volume, conversion rates, and ROI. Analyze what’s working and change what isn’t to improve your pay-per-call marketing.
Here’s what you can expect to receive from pay-per-call numbers elaborately integrated into pay-per-call campaigns:
- Global reach & ROI expectations
- In-depth real-time & strategic call analytics
- Unlocked caller journey from the first ad display until the end of the call
Even event photographers can leverage pay-per-call marketing to attract clients looking for professional coverage, ensuring a seamless booking process and maximizing their ROI.
Book a demo to explore how Phonexa can grow your pay-per-call business.
The Call Tracking Numbers You Need for Pay-Per-Call Campaigns
All business phone numbers fall into one of these three categories:
| Mobile Numbers Example: (555) 987-6543 | Mobile phone numbers are regular numbers assigned to a mobile carrier and tied to a SIM card. Businesses are still actively using these numbers because they support most of what you need, with the only limitations being that mobile numbers depend on the cellular network and don’t provide call tracking as a native option. Using mobile numbers for pay-per-call campaigns is less effective than using virtual phone numbers. Mobile numbers do not support DNI, provide limited tracking and analytics capabilities, and are harder to automate and scale. |
| Landline Numbers Example: (212) 555-1234 | Landline phone numbers are tied to a specific physical phone line and office. These numbers cannot be used in pay-per-call campaigns. |
| Virtual Numbers Example: (888) 123-4567 | Virtual phone numbers use VoIP and are not tied to a SIM card or a specific location. These are the numbers you need for profitable pay-per-call campaigns. |
So you need virtual phone numbers for pay-per-call campaigns.
Here are the types of virtual phone numbers for pay-per-call marketing campaigns:
| Local Virtual Phone Numbers Example: (212) 555-6789 | Local virtual phone numbers point to a specific business location through a city’s area code at the beginning of the number. Local numbers work better for local campaigns than other phone numbers because, all other things being equal, consumers prefer local brands over their international analogs. For example, a New York-based virtual number (212) 555-6789 informs callers they are dialing a business from their area. |
| International Virtual Phone Numbers Example: +44 20 7946 0958. | International virtual phone numbers start with a code of a specific country and allow businesses to establish a presence in that market. These numbers enable free international calls. For example, a UK-based number +44 20 7946 0958 can be used by the department serving UK customers. |
| Toll-Free Virtual Phone Numbers Example: 1-800-123-4567 | Toll-free virtual phone numbers – numbers starting with 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888 – enable free customer calls within the United States while retaining the ease of calling and the professional image of your company. |
| Vanity Virtual Phone Numbers Example: 1-800-LAWYERS | Vanity virtual phone numbers are numbers that spell out a word representing your brand’s name or the gist of your services. These numbers are memorable and fun and make your company stand out. |
What Are the Best Toll-Free Prefixes for Business?
There are seven toll-free prefixes that businesses can use in the United States, according to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP): 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888. Area codes 822, 880 through 887, and 889 are reserved for toll-free in the future, and 811 is excluded because it is a special dialing code for local utility location services.
Here are the differences between the toll-free number prefixes:
| 800 | 800 is the oldest, most recognizable, and trustful toll-free prefix. 800 is likely the best phone number prefix, but the ever-increasing demand has made it less available or more expensive, which is why additional prefixes were introduced. |
| 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888 | The newer prefixes, introduced in the sequential order, work exactly the same way as the 800 prefixes, but they are easier to get and cheaper. |
Overall, any toll-free prefix would look great on your pay-per-call campaign, with the 800 prefixes getting a slight edge because of higher memorability and trust.
Phonexa’s Vanity Toll-Free Phone Numbers for Pay-Per-Call Campaigns
As a client with Phonexa, you can get custom-made 800 vanity toll-free numbers to generate more inbound calls than ever. Numbers like 844-411-YOGA or 1-800-DENTIST can make your business look different than any of your competitors, driving calls to your – not their – call centers.
| “By choosing Phonexa, you’re not only meeting regulatory requirements – you’re also making the consent process easier for consumers while ensuring full transparency. With Phonexa’s Consent Branches, you stay ahead of the game.” – Arshalus Guliyan, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Phonexa |
Other prefixes? We have them galore as well.
And if you already have phone numbers from a third-party provider, you can import them with Phonexa without purchasing new numbers. The maintenance fees are the same for imported and leased pay-per-call numbers, so you’re not forced to buy phone numbers with Phonexa.
Here are the maintenance fees for call tracking numbers with Phonexa:
| Phone Number Management Fee: 800 toll-free (Imported) | $ 2.50 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: non-800 toll-free(Imported) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 800 toll-free (Leased) | $ 2.50 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 888 toll-free (Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 877 toll-free (Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 866 toll-free (Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 855 toll-free (Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 844 toll-free (Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: 833 toll-free(Leased) | $ 1.25 |
| Phone Number Management Fee: Local (Leased) | $ 1.00 |
| Phone No. Porting Fee (In/Out) | $ 10.00 |
It’s simple: If you want more recognition and trustworthiness, go for more expensive 800 numbers; if you want to save on maintenance fees, use non-800 prefixes. Both categories of numbers have proved successful for pay-per-call campaigns, though, so you’re good to go either way.
The best part? You can get a free vanity phone number when using Call Logic!
Book a demo to explore the power of Phonexa’s call tracking numbers.
Speaking of Call Logic, with the right call tracking numbers at work, it truly takes pay-per-call campaigns to the next level, unlocking tons of otherwise unavailable caller insights. From where the caller saw your ad to how they interacted across touchpoints to how long the call has lasted to specific keywords, you can get all of that and much more with Call Logic.
Handling an overwhelming number of calls? Then you can take it even further, equipping your business with Cloud PBX, a dedicated virtual call center for call processing at scale.
Cloud PBX effectively complements call logic by guaranteeing 100% uptime for your business and enabling call scoring and outbound calling. The setup and maintenance spending are hundreds of times cheaper than building a brick-and-mortar call center, and you don’t even have to pay extra fees for Cloud PBX if you’re already subscribed to Phonexa’s performance marketing bundle.
Pay-Per-Call Compliance with Phonexa’s Software Suite
Whether you’re an advertiser or affiliate running a pay-per-call campaign, it’s crucial to comply with the updated FCC’s consumer consent regulations, obliging businesses to obtain prior express written consent before contacting consumers with ATDS calls or SMS messages.
The good news is that Phonexa software, including Call Logic software for call leads and LMS Sync software for web leads, is fully FCC-compliant so you can generate, buy, and sell leads confidently. Likewise, our proprietary Consent Branches technology creates a friendly and FCC-compliant environment for buying and selling leads.
Last but not least, you can leverage our FCC-compliant lead generation forms to ensure that anyone connecting to a business through your forms is informed about the company and their marketing methods according to the updated FCC’s TCPA regulations.
Navigating Tomorrow: The Essential Role of Pay-Per-Call Numbers
Pay-per-call phone marketing is more than just phone numbers; it’s the path to real-time engagement and measurable success. In an industry where technology continually transforms the dynamics of business-consumer interactions, this approach stands out as resilient, versatile, and impactful.
As businesses strive to stay attuned to customer needs, pay-per-call numbers are becoming key to acquiring and retaining leads. Pay-per-call phone marketing harmoniously merges traditional and digital strategies, offering a respectful nod to the past while fearlessly embracing the future.
Maximize Your Pay-Per-Call Marketing With Phonexa
No matter how advanced your pay-per-call phone marketing is, it’s likely not your only lead acquisition channel. Chances are you’re also doing email marketing, social media marketing, referral marketing, and acquiring web leads on top of phone calls.
If so, you can streamline all your marketing efforts with Phonexa’s eight-in-one single software suite that effectively synergizes different campaigns and channels. Free data flows, real-time reporting, and advanced analytics of every consumer going through your pipeline translate into constant improvement, an ever-growing bottom line, and an ever-increasing ROI.
Here are the eight products you get with Phonexa at a single price starting at $250 per month (price calculator):
| Call Logic | Call intelligence platform |
| LMS Sync | Lead management system |
| Cloud PBX | Virtual phone systems for call control |
| Lynx | Click tracking and analytics software |
| E-Delivery | Email marketing software |
| HitMetrix | Customer behavior analytics |
| Opt-Intel | Suppression list management |
| Books360 | Automated accounting with invoice generator |
Build your plan now, or schedule a free consultation to learn more about Phonexa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pay-per-call?
Pay-per-call is a performance marketing model where advertisers compensate publishers for generating quality phone calls. Similar to click campaigns in performance networks, advertisers create call campaigns to drive customers to their sales department.
Why invest in pay-per-call numbers and call tracking?
Pay-per-call phone calls grant a 30%-50% conversion rate compared to 1-2% for clicks.
What are the benefits of pay-per-call numbers for advertisers and publishers?
Advertisers benefit from expanded call volume across channels with minimal effort, gaining visibility and control over call traffic and customer experience. Likewise, pay-per-call tracking software allows advertisers to test new campaigns and publishers with minimal risk.
Publishers also gain new revenue streams from pay-per-call marketing. They can monetize their marketing efforts while leveraging access to call tracking capabilities, analytics, and high-value offers with increased commissions.
What marketing channels work best for pay-per-call numbers?
Pay-per-call phone campaigns suit most online and offline marketing channels: paid/mobile search, display advertising, SEO, email, print, and radio. Common traffic sources include Google Ads, social media platforms, directories, newspapers, and mail.
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