5 min
Level: Beginner
The telephone is still the primary means of contact for online businesses, closely followed by instant chat and email. The reason for its use is simple: it is immediate and builds trust.
eCommerce businesses are already taking advantage of the benefits of virtual numbers and using them as a contact medium in online stores, effectively increasing sales and building trust with visitors.
WHAT IS A VIRTUAL NUMBER?
A virtual number is a geographical, international or premium rate number that is not associated with a physical location and is stored in the cloud.
As a virtual number, you can use it from anywhere with an internet connection, or you can redirect calls from the virtual number to another number to handle calls without an internet connection.
In addition to the technological benefits, virtual numbers also offer significant cost savings for businesses, allowing them to subscribe to national geographical numbers for €5.40 per month instead of the usual €15.00.
Virtual numbers use VoIP technology and are part of IP telephony, which sends communications over the Internet.
WHY HAVE A CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IN YOUR E-COMMERCE?
The problem with online shops is that customers don’t know who they’re dealing with and can’t get immediate answers to their questions.
That’s why using a phone number as a contact method is the fastest way to help users and let them associate a voice with your brand.
While many users will continue to make purchases without contact, others will prefer to send an email, but with a phone number you’ll reach the more traditional visitors looking for immediacy.
BUILD TRUST
Visitors to your website want to buy a product you sell. The challenge is that you only have a few seconds to gain their trust and get them to check out.
To do this, you need to use the tools available in your eCommerce, such as design, user reviews and contact methods such as your phone number.
eCommerce sites that display a visible contact number instil confidence in their users, who perceive it as a sign of security: they can contact a real person if they need to.
In addition, many people still need to speak to the seller before making a purchase, even if they are sure they want to. It’s a way of confirming that it’s a safe place to buy.
INCREASING SALES
Often, callers only need to clear up a small doubt to decide to buy your product.
Although you try to answer all the frequently asked questions on your website, sometimes it’s impossible to answer more personal questions in the FAQs.
In these cases, a quick contact channel is essential. When a potential customer has a question, they can dial your phone number, resolve their doubts and then proceed to checkout.
WHY SUBSCRIBE TO A VIRTUAL NUMBER IN YOUR E-COMMERCE?
Why use a virtual number instead of a traditional phone number in an eCommerce business?
First of all, consider that the type of numbering is the same, i.e. both a virtual number and a traditional number from Madrid will always start with 91 and the cost of the call will be the same for your customers.
The advantages of virtual numbering are mainly for the company that subscribes to it. There are many! Here are the seven best.
1. BETTER PRICE
While a fixed line number with a traditional company usually costs around €15.00 per month, with VoIP it is possible to subscribe to a virtual number for only €5.40 per month.
2. TOTAL MOBILITY
Just as you can run an e-business from anywhere with an Internet connection, the same applies to virtual numbers.
With just an Internet connection, you have the freedom to manage calls from any device: smartphone, tablet, computer… and even from an IP phone if you prefer.
3. VIRTUAL NUMBER FROM ANY COUNTRY
For commercial reasons, you may prefer to have a number from Madrid or Barcelona rather than the province in which you are located. In these cases, virtual numbers are perfect.
Because they are in the cloud, virtual numbers are not tied to the physical location of the business, so you can request a local number from any province.
4. CALL FORWARDING WITHOUT INTERNET CONNECTION
Unlike other devices, calls received on your mobile do not require an Internet connection. This means that you can answer incoming calls or calls that others have forwarded to you from your mobile phone without needing an Internet connection.
5. ANSWER CALLS FROM YOUR LAPTOP
Since you don’t go anywhere without your laptop, you can now use it to answer and make calls. All you need is a pair of headphones with a microphone.
6. AUTOMATIC SCHEDULING
It’s important that visitors to your website have a contact number, but that doesn’t mean you have to be available 24/7.
Given that e-commerce can take orders from anywhere in the world, at any time, it’s best to manage your opening hours.
From the control panel of your virtual number, you can specify the times you are available and schedule an answering machine message for calls received outside of business hours.
This way, people who need to contact you and call you outside of business hours will know when you are available and can call you back.
7. VIRTUAL NUMBERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES FOR YOUR E-COMMERCE
Remember we mentioned that virtual numbers have no physical location? This means that you can also purchase numbering from other countries.
If your eCommerce receives a lot of traffic from abroad, consider subscribing to a virtual number from countries with more potential customers. By offering callers a direct and cost-free connection, you will increase the number of calls you receive and therefore your conversion rate.
When listing different contact numbers on your website, we recommend that you include the contact number for each country for each language.
BOTTOM LINE
Including a phone number on your e-commerce site provides an immediate contact channel to resolve visitors’ doubts. By building trust, especially with new visitors unfamiliar with your brand, you can address their concerns and guide them to the shopping cart.
Unlike traditional methods, virtual numbers allow you to be location-independent and obtain local numbering from anywhere in the world, as well as use any device to manage calls.
Our virtual numbers offer a very intuitive control panel to configure service hours, for example. Request a demo and find out about our rates by calling our team of experts on +34 900 670 750 or using the chat below.
Subscribe
Ask for a demo