A Google forwarding number is a service that provides a unique phone number for your business. This number forwards to your existing phone number, which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as handling customer support inquiries, sales phone calls, call only ads, or marketing campaigns.
Types of Google Forwarding Numbers
There are two main types of Google forwarding numbers:
Local Numbers
Local forwarding numbers are specific to a certain geographic area code. This type of number is ideal for businesses that want to target customers in a specific region
Toll-Free Numbers
A toll-free number is a national number that can be dialled free of charge from anywhere in the United States. This type of number is ideal for businesses that want to make it easy for customers to reach them from anywhere in the country.
Capitalise on Long-Tail Keywords
Drive higher ROI by targeting high-converting long-tail keywords and optimising ad spend. Sign up for a 14-day free demo now.
Benefits of Using a Google Forwarding Number
There are several benefits of using a forwarding number for your business
- Improved professionalism: Having a dedicated phone number for your business can make it appear more professional to potential customers.
- Better customer service: By using forwarding numbers, you can route calls to the appropriate department or individual straight away, which can lead to better customer service.
- Track marketing campaigns: Forwarding numbers can be used to track the success of marketing campaigns. You can see how many calls are received from each campaign, as well as the average length of each call.
- Reduce costs: Local and toll-free forwarding numbers are cheaper than traditional phone numbers. They can also save you money on long-distance charges.
- Convenience: Forwarding numbers are easy to set up and use. You can start using them immediately to improve your business’s professional appearance and customer service.
- Call extensions: You can use call extensions with your forwarding number to give customers the option to connect with you directly, or to hear more information about your products or services.
- CTM tracking number: You can use a CTM tracking number with your forwarding number to track the performance of your Google Ads campaigns.
- Double forward to multiple numbers: You can use a double forwarding number to forward calls to multiple phone numbers. This can be useful if you have multiple employees who need to receive calls, or if you have an after-hours answering service.
- Tracking calls: All calls are automatically logged in your call history. This makes it easy to track calls, and to see how many calls each marketing campaign generates.
How to Get a Google Forwarding Number
There are a few different ways to do it:
Purchasing a Forwarding Number From a Third-Party Provider
If you decide to purchase a forwarding number from a third-party provider, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to choose a local or toll-free number. Then, you’ll need to sign up for an account with the provider and choose a plan. Once you have an account, you can start using your new number right away.
Porting Your Existing Phone Number to Google Voice
If you already have a phone number you’d like to use as your Google forwarding number, you can port it to Google Voice. Porting is the process of transferring your existing phone number to a new service. To port your number to Google Voice, you’ll need to sign up for a Google Voice account and follow the instructions for porting your number.
Signing Up for a New Google Voice Number
If you don’t have an existing phone number that you want to use as your Google forwarding number, you can sign up for a new Google Voice number. To sign up for a new Google Voice number, you’ll need to create a Google Voice account and follow the instructions for choosing a new number.
How to Choose a Google Forwarding Number
When choosing a Google forwarding number, there are a few factors you should take into consideration:
The Area Code and Prefix of the Number
You should choose a number with an area code and prefix that is easy for potential customers to remember. In addition, you should make sure the number is not already in use by another business.
The Type of Number
You should choose either a local or toll-free number based on your business needs. If you want to target customers in a specific geographic region, you should choose a local number. If you want to make it easy for customers to reach you from anywhere in the country, you should choose a toll-free number.
The Cost
You should compare the costs of different Google forwarding numbers to find the most affordable option for your business.
The Features
You should consider the features offered by different Google forwarding numbers to find the best option for your business needs. Some features you may want to look for include call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, and call blocker.
The Reputation of the Provider
You should research the reputation of different Google forwarding number providers to find the most reliable option. You can read online reviews or ask for recommendations from other businesses.