Still Marketing By Phone? Your Customers Aren't Picking Up.

Not everyone in the marketing world can agree on the effectiveness of reaching out to customers by phone. Some say phone calls are “ so last decade ” and a complete waste of time. Others claim phone communication, done the right way, can still serve as an effective marketing tool.

No matter which side of the fence you’re on, a new study done by ZipWhip reveals some pretty startling stats that you need to see. You may be surprised how consumers really feel about their ringing phone.

And by a lot I mean a LOT. Upwards of 90% of the 520 adults surveyed by ZipWhip said they “often” or “very often” ignore calls from businesses or unknown numbers. Here’s the breakdown.

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Of course, robocalls, IRS scams, and various other cons have a lot to do with this. But the reasoning is irrelevant – People just don’t answer their phones for numbers they do not recognize. And that includes your business number.

Sure, none of us want to be hassled by robocalls. But the potential for scams is not the sole reason people have largely stopped answering unknown callers. Check out the top reasons ZipWhip found in their study.

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Notice a theme here? It seems people simply can’t (or won’t) make the time to have a phone conversation anymore. Whether they’re too busy, calls take too long, or they consider phone calls as a general interruption, it all boils down to time.

The way we manage our time and priorities has changed drastically in the digital age. This is apparent in the amount of time people are willing to spend on a phone conversation with an unknown caller.

Well, the obvious thing – People don’t answer their phones. But more than that, consumers care about who is contacting them, why they’re being contacted, and how that communication is being made.

As a business owner, it’s important you’re communicating with your customers the way they prefer. This means taking a close look at your customer base and demographics and incorporating alternative communication methods, like texting or mobile notifications, when it’s appropriate.

The answer to this question is a definite “no.” While it seems cold calling doesn’t work so well anymore and many people only answer their phones for callers known to them, that doesn’t mean no one uses phones anymore. In fact, the 60% of consumers have stated they prefer reaching out to small businesses by phone.

Don’t get rid of your business phone quite yet – just consider changing the way you’re using it.

Looking to change the way you communicate with your customers? Reach out to us at Locallogy ! We're digital marketing experts and we'd love to connect you with your customers in new and exciting ways.