How Pay‑Per‑Call Numbers Help Drive ROI for Canadian Businesses

Phonexa
14 minute read
Phonexa
14 minute read

This article is part of our pay-per-call marketing series, where we explore pay-per-call advertising, pay-per-call affiliate marketing, and pay-per-call lead generation. Check out these guides to step up your marketing game.


Pay-per-call advertising remains one of the most reliable ways to acquire customers. It not only speeds up client acquisition but also lets you analyze callers in real time, ensuring each is routed to the appropriate sales representative. 

Using the right pay-per-call numbers prominently can distinguish your company, leave lasting impressions on callers, and make connections easier. In fact, 65% of small-to-medium businesses run pay-per-call campaigns, while 79% of marketers acknowledge PPC’s strong impact on business growth. 

Book a free demo to get vanity or toll-free pay-per-call numbers from Phonexa and kickstart your pay-per-call campaigns. 

A carefully designed pay-per-call affiliate marketing campaign can quickly transform your business, whether you’re an affiliate, an advertiser, or part of an affiliate network.

Everything begins with selecting the right pay-per-call number and understanding how these numbers work.

Pay-Per-Call Campaigns and Pay-Per-Call Numbers

Pay-per-call advertising provides businesses with an effective method to boost brand awareness by up to 80%, primarily through personalization. The right pay-per-call advertising let you contact the right people at the right time with the right message, bringing in callers who are serious about what they want.

Pay-per-call lead generation results are often predictable: callers convert at 10 to 12 times higher rates compared to other leads — provided you select the appropriate numbers and use them wisely in your 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, Phonexa

Here’s what a pay-per-call number is:

A pay-per-call number is a special phone line that connects callers directly to your sales team. It also collects information on the caller so that your sales agent can be ready for the call. 

Pay-per-call advertising provides a transparent understanding of your customers and delivers fairly precise ROI estimates. It’s like having a superpower for lead generation.

800 & 900 Pay-Per-Call Numbers

One challenging aspect of using pay-per-call numbers involves adhering to strict regulations. For instance, the Federal Communications Commission permits only certain types of audio content, entertainment, and calls via pay-per-call numbers. 

In reality, many businesses frequently utilize 900 phone numbers:

  • “900” numbers carry fees determined by the company rather than the government or telecom providers.
  • “900” numbers require explicit permission for individuals under 18 to remain connected on the line. 
  • “900” calls generally come with higher charges than typical long-distance calls. 

When choosing a 900 pay-per-call number, ensure callers receive clear information about your company name, the call cost, and your service details before deciding to proceed. 

The downside of 900 numbers is that scammers have abused 1-900 telephone numbers, charging callers by the minute and quietly inflating phone bills. 

The longer the caller remains on the line, the greater the per-minute fees become. A safer option is to use toll-free numbers such as 800, 888, 877, and 833, which include predefined payment or subscription terms. 

Fees for information accessed via an 800 number are only allowed if there is a written agreement between you and the service provider, which must specify:

  • The cost per call 
  • The name of the information service provider 
  • The business address 
  • A contact phone number 
  • A unique PIN or security device designed to prevent unauthorized access or charges. 

The main advantage of pay-per-call marketing is its direct correlation between your spending and results. You pay only for incoming calls, providing a clear, measurable ROI.

Additionally, using call tracking software such as Call Logic allows you to gather detailed data on pay-per-call interactions. A live dashboard gives you full control, offering access to call insights, recordings, marketing triggers, and much more.  

How Do Pay-Per-Call Numbers Operate? 

Since 60% of consumers continue to contact businesses by phone after finding them on Google, a well-advertised pay-per-call line can boost your business significantly. Let’s look closely at the caller’s journey to better understand the pay-per-call numbers’ role. 

Initially, a potential customer notices your advertisement and calls your toll-free 800 pay-per-call line. As the advertiser, you are charged only if the call meets specific conditions, such as location and duration, making this model both safe and cost-efficient. 

This is how pay-per-call works in affiliate marketing:

Pay-per-call affiliate networks connect advertisers with affiliates. Whether you’re an advertiser or affiliate, joining a network isn’t mandatory. However, although it costs a portion of your profits, it grants access to a broader pool of partners than you could find independently. 

Why Should You Consider Pay-Per-Call Numbers? 

Pay-per-call numbers can revolutionize your communication strategy. Customer engagement is just one aspect; numerous other elements contribute to business growth that have never been seen before, as well as to building relationships with your target audience.

Low investmentWith just call monitoring software and pay-per-call numbers, you may launch your pay-per-call business with no financial outlay. Cloud-based call management systems offer excellent value and revenue potential, ranging from as little as $100 to as much as $500 per month.
Global ReachEmbrace 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.
ScalabilityPay-per-call phone marketing offers boundless growth possibilities, enabling you to investigate countless angles. 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-effectivenessPay-per-call, unlike typical advertising models, lets you maximize your investment by paying only for calls that match. This targeted approach will ensure that every dollar yields measurable results.

How to Begin a Pay-Per-Call Business 

Let’s review each step in detail so you can confidently integrate pay-per-call numbers into your campaigns.

Step 1: Understand the Concept of Pay-Per-Call Marketing 

Before utilizing pay-per-call numbers, prepare strategically. To start generating pay-per-call leads, you need to define your specialty, campaign goals, target audience, geographic locations, and the best ways to reach them.

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: Define Your Pay-Per-Call Campaign Objectives

Clarify the outcomes you aim to accomplish with your campaigns and understand how pay-per-call tracking tools can support you. This will serve as your roadmap throughout the process.

Here are some common goals for campaigns built around pay-per-call numbers:

  • Boosting ROI and sales conversion rates
  • Enhancing targeting & customer engagement
  • Expanding into related markets
  • Making it easier to talk to the audience

Offering a direct communication channel via pay-per-call campaigns enables prompt responses to customer inquiries, thereby enhancing satisfaction levels.

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.
  • Within a day, 76% of consumers who search for anything local on their phone go to a linked business.

Step 3: Select a Pay-Per-Call Number Provider

Numerous reliable providers offer intuitive interfaces and powerful tracking solutions to oversee your campaigns and evaluate the performance of pay-per-call numbers. Still, it’s important to know how to get a pay-per-call number while choosing the finest service, which is usually the one that meets your quality needs at the lowest cost.

For example, Phonexa provides call tracking specifically for pay-per-call campaigns, enabling effortless monetization of calls and access to toll-free and local phone numbers.

Are you ready to execute and level up your pay-per-call business?

Book a free demo to learn more about Phonexa’s call management platform.

Picking an affiliate network for your phone call campaign is typically the easiest way to go. There are many pay-per-call affiliate programs online for both advertisers and publishers. A comparison chart will help you find the one that works best for you.

Over time, you can cultivate a strong reputation by partnering with top pay-per-call affiliate programs and simultaneously engaging businesses directly. Consistent efforts foster trust and durable collaborations.

Step 4: Configure Your Pay-Per-Call Campaign

It is very important to ensure there are enough resources to handle incoming calls. Unanswered calls may incur charges and potentially damage your reputation over time.

While major brands typically forward calls to centralized contact centres, other effective options include routing calls directly to individual stores or franchises or using a hybrid, time-based approach. Additionally, some companies use pay-per-call answering services to qualify calls before forwarding them to the right recipient.

Formulating clear call-handling strategies is essential to the success of your pay-per-call campaigns.

When ready, it’s time to get creative:

  1. Make pay-per-call interesting Google advertising that is meant to entice your target demographic to call
  2. Make sure your call to action is clear, persuasive, and supports your objectives.
  3. Establish a budget that maximizes your campaign’s cost efficiency.

Step 5: Promote Your Pay-Per-Call Number

You should promote your pay-per-call number both online and offline.

Key pay-per-call traffic sources include:

Online channelsOffline channels
Paid ads: Utilize search engines for speedy customer acquisition through a call optionFacebook lead forms: Target the widest audience with a “Call Now” CTA buttonLanding page forms: On customized landing pages, include a phone number to encourage deeper interaction.SEO: Focus on organic traffic, but address challenges like dynamic number insertion to prevent confusionCombine PPC with more conventional advertising channels, such as direct mail, print, radio, and television. Although offline advertising might not reach as many potential customers as your online PPC ads, it can work well alongside your in-person initiatives.
For instance, you could include your company’s number on the flyers or other materials you give out to guests at a workshop. Local audiences respond particularly well to offline advertising.

Step 6: Track and Improve Your Pay-Per-Call Campaigns

Launching your campaign is only the start. Once it’s up and running, keep an eye on key performance metrics such as call volume, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). Assess successes and adjust strategies to enhance your pay-per-call marketing efforts. 

Pay-per-call numbers that are intricately incorporated into pay-per-call campaigns should yield the following results:

  • Global reach & ROI expectations
  • In-depth real-time & strategic call analytics
  • The caller journey is unlocked from the first ad display until the end of the call

Even event photographers can use pay-per-call marketing to draw clients seeking professional coverage, streamlining bookings and maximizing returns.

Book a demo to explore how Phonexa can grow your pay-per-call business. 

Essential Call Tracking Numbers for Pay-Per-Call Campaigns

All business phone numbers fall into one of these three categories:

Mobile Numbers Example: (416) 555-9876Regular numbers linked to a SIM card and assigned to a mobile provider are known as mobile phone numbers. Companies continue to use these numbers because they cover the majority of your needs; the only drawback is that mobile numbers rely on the cellular network and do not include built-in call monitoring.
Virtual phone numbers are more effective than mobile numbers for pay-per-call advertising. Mobile numbers are more difficult to automate and scale, have limited tracking and analytics capabilities, and do not support DNI.
Landline Numbers Example: (604) 555-1234Landline 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) 555-4567Virtual 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: (416) 555-6789
Local virtual phone numbers use the area code of a city at the start of the number to direct users to a particular business location. Because customers prefer local brands over their overseas counterparts, local numbers are more effective for local campaigns than other phone numbers.
For instance, the virtual number (416) 555-6789, located in Toronto, signals to callers that they are contacting a local firm.
International Virtual Phone Numbers 
Example: +44 20 7946 0958.
Businesses can establish a presence in a specific market by using international virtual phone numbers that begin with the country code. Free international calls are possible with these numbers.
For instance, a Canada-based department serving customers in the UK may use the UK-based number +44 20 7946 0958.
Toll-Free Virtual Phone Numbers 
Example: 1-800-123-4567
Numbers beginning with 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888 are examples of toll-free virtual phone numbers that allow free consumer calls within Canada, while maintaining the convenience of contacting and the professional image of your business.
Vanity Virtual Phone Numbers 
Example: 1-800-LAWYERS
Numbers that spell out a term representing your company’s name or the essence of your offerings are known as vanity virtual phone numbers. These figures set your business apart and are entertaining and memorable.

Phonexa’s Custom Vanity Toll-Free Numbers for High-Impact Pay-Per-Call Campaigns

You may get personalized 800 vanity toll-free numbers from Phonexa to help you get many more incoming calls. Memorable numbers like 844-411-YOGA or 1-800-DENTIST make your business stand out and bring leads directly to your call centres—not your competitors.

“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, Phonexa

Need other prefixes? We offer a wide range to match your campaign goals. Already using third-party phone numbers? You can import them to Phonexa at no extra cost. Maintenance fees remain the same for both imported and leased numbers—no need to purchase new ones.

Here are the maintenance fees for call tracking numbers with Phonexa:

Phone Number Management Fee: 800 toll-free (Imported)CA$3.50
Phone Number Management Fee: non-800 toll-free (Imported)CA$2.00 
Phone Number Management Fee: 800 toll-free (Leased)CA$3.50
Phone Number Management Fee: 888 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: 877 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: 866 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: 855 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: 844 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: 833 toll-free (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone Number Management Fee: Local (Leased)CA$2.00
Phone No. Porting Fee (In/Out)CA$15.00

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, using the proper call tracking numbers significantly elevates pay-per-call campaigns, revealingvaluable caller insights. You learn where the caller found your ad, their journey across various touchpoints, call duration, keyword data, and much more through Call Logic.

Call Logic Explained: Phonexa’s Call Tracking & Distribution Product

Managing a high volume of calls? Take it further with Cloud PBX—a specialized virtual call centre designed for large-scale call processing. 

Cloud PBX works alongside Call Logic to ensure your business has 100% uptime, plus features such as call scoring and outbound dialling. Setup and upkeep costs are significantly lower than physical call centres, and if you’re a Phonexa client.

Cloud PBX Explained: Phonexa’s Cloud Phone System Product

Looking Ahead: The Vital Importance of Pay-Per-Call Numbers

Pay-per-call marketing goes beyond just phone numbers; it’s the key to getting people to interact with you in real time and seeing results. As technology reshapes business-to-consumer interactions, this method remains adaptable, powerful, and reliable. 

Businesses focused on customer needs increasingly rely on pay-per-call numbers to gain and keep leads. This strategy blends traditional and digital marketing seamlessly, honouring the past while embracing innovation.

Optimize Your Pay-Per-Call Marketing with Phonexa

Regardless of your pay-per-call sophistication, it’s likely one of several lead channels you use. You’re probably also running email, social media, referral marketing, and web lead generation alongside phone campaigns. 

Phonexa is an eight-in-one software package that combines your campaigns and channels, making it easier to handle everything. Seamless data sharing, real-time reports, and advanced analytics empower ongoing growth, better results, and higher ROI.

How to Master Performance Marketing & Unlock Revenue with Phonexa

Get access to the Phonexa platform at a single price:

LMS SyncLead management software
Call LogicCall tracking and distribution platform
E-DeliveryEmail and SMS marketing platform
Cloud PBXCloud-based phone system
LynxClick tracking software
Opt-IntelSuppression list management tool
HitMetrixUser behaviour tracking and analytics solution
Books360Automated accounting software

Build your plan now, or take a product tour to learn more about Phonexa. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pay-per-call?

Pay-per-call is a marketing model in which advertisers pay publishers for generating high-quality phone calls. Like pay-per-click in digital marketing, advertisers run campaigns that direct customers to their sales teams.

Why invest in pay-per-call numbers and call tracking?

Pay-per-call phone campaigns yield 30%-50% conversion rates, significantly higher than the typical 1-2% for clicks.

What benefits do pay-per-call numbers provide for advertisers and publishers?

Advertisers can easily get more calls across all channels and see and control calls and customer journeys more effectively. Pay-per-call tracking systems help advertisers test campaigns and publishers evaluate offers with very little risk.

By using call monitoring, analytics, and premium offers that increase commissions, publishers can make more money from their marketing.

Which marketing channels are best suited for pay-per-call numbers?

Pay-per-call campaigns fit nearly all online and offline channels: paid and mobile search, display ads, SEO, email, print media, and radio. Popular sources include Google Ads, social media, directories, newspapers, and direct mail.

Got Questions?

Get in touch! We are available 24/7.

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Phonexa
Phonexa is the leading all-in-one platform for call tracking, lead distribution, email, marketing, and digital marketing. The Phonexa staff is responsible for authorship of Phonexa blog posts.
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