How to Set Up a Tracking Number on Your Google Business Profile Using CallRail

Understanding where your calls originate is crucial for optimizing your marketing efforts and enhancing customer interactions. By setting up a call tracking number on your Google Business Profile using CallRail, you can gain valuable insights into which marketing channels are driving phone calls to your business. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of integrating CallRail with your Google Business Profile, ensuring accurate call tracking without compromising your existing citations and online presence.

Why Set Up a Tracking Number on Your Google Business Profile?

Implementing a call tracking number on your Google Business Profile provides numerous benefits that can significantly impact your business’s growth and customer engagement strategies.

Benefits of Call Tracking

• Insightful Analytics: Understand which marketing campaigns are generating the most phone calls, helping you allocate your marketing budget more effectively.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Track call durations and outcomes to improve your customer service and address any recurring issues.
• Optimized Marketing Strategies: Identify high-performing keywords and marketing channels to refine your advertising efforts.
• Improved ROI: Measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns in driving actual leads and conversions, ensuring better return on investment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Tracking Number on Google Business Profile Using CallRail

Follow these detailed steps to set up a CallRail tracking number on your Google Business Profile, ensuring seamless integration and accurate call tracking.

Step 1: Sign In to Your CallRail Account

1. Access CallRail:
   • Open your web browser and navigate to CallRail.
   • Click on the Sign In button located at the top-right corner.
   • Enter your CallRail account credentials to log in.
2. Navigate to Your Dashboard:
   • Once logged in, you’ll be directed to your CallRail dashboard, where you can manage your tracking numbers and settings.

Step 2: Create a New Tracking Number

1. Add a New Number:
   • In the CallRail dashboard, click on the Numbers tab.
   • Select Add Number to create a new tracking number.
2. Choose the Number Type:
   • Destination Type: Select Other instead of Google My Business to maintain minimal third-party integrations and avoid potential account suspension issues.
3. Select a Local Number:
   • Choose a phone number that is local to your business location to ensure consistency in your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) citations.
   • For example, select a number with the area code 360 if your business is located in that region.
4. Name Your Tracking Number:
   • Assign a descriptive name to your tracking number, such as Vancouver GBP, to easily identify its purpose and associated Google Business Profile location.

Step 3: Configure Number Routing and Settings

1. Set Up Number Routing:
   • Scroll down to the Number Routing section.
   • Enter your actual office phone number where you want the calls to be forwarded.
2. Enable Call Recording (Optional):
   • Toggle on Inbound Call Recording if you wish to record calls for quality assurance and training purposes.
3. Activate Whisper Message (Optional):
   • Enable Whisper Message to inform your team members that the call is being tracked, helping them provide better service.
4. Finalize and Activate:
   • Click Activate Tracking Number to finalize the setup. Your new tracking number is now ready to be used.

Step 4: Integrate the Tracking Number with Your Google Business Profile

1. Access Your Google Business Profile:
   • Go to Google Business Profile and sign in with your Google account credentials.
2. Navigate to Profile Settings:
   • Select the appropriate business location if you manage multiple profiles.
   • Click on the Info tab in the left-hand menu.
3. Update the Primary Phone Number:
   • Locate the Phone section and click the Pencil Icon to edit.
   • Replace your existing primary phone number with the new CallRail tracking number.
   • Ensure that the format matches Google’s preferred phone number format for consistency.
4. Save Changes:
   • Click Apply to save the updated phone number to your Google Business Profile.

Step 5: Verify and Monitor Call Tracking

1. Test the Tracking Number:
   • Call your Google Business Profile phone number to ensure that the call is correctly routed to your office number and is being tracked in CallRail.
2. Monitor Call Data:
   • Log in to your CallRail dashboard to review call analytics, including call sources, durations, and outcomes.
3. Adjust Settings as Needed:
   • Based on your call tracking data, make necessary adjustments to your marketing strategies and call routing settings to optimize performance.

Best Practices for Setting Up Call Tracking on Google Business Profile

Implementing best practices ensures that your call tracking setup is both effective and secure, providing accurate data without disrupting your existing online presence.

Use Local Tracking Numbers

• Consistency in NAP: Ensure that your tracking number is local to your business to maintain consistency in your Name, Address, and Phone citations, which are crucial for local SEO.
• Customer Trust: Local numbers enhance customer trust and increase the likelihood of them answering calls.

Avoid Excessive Third-Party Integrations

• Minimal Integrations: Limit the number of third-party platforms connected to your Google Business Profile to reduce the risk of account suspension and maintain control over your data.
• Direct Integration Benefits: Directly integrating CallRail with your Google Business Profile ensures smoother operations and fewer technical issues.

Regularly Review Call Analytics

• Performance Insights: Use CallRail’s analytics to gain insights into which marketing channels are driving the most calls.
• Optimize Campaigns: Adjust your marketing strategies based on call data to focus on high-performing channels and improve ROI.

Maintain Updated Contact Information

• Accurate Information: Ensure that your business information, including your primary phone number, is always up-to-date on your Google Business Profile.
• Consistent Branding: Consistent contact information across all platforms helps in building a reliable brand image.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding these common pitfalls can enhance the effectiveness of your call tracking setup and prevent potential issues with your Google Business Profile.

Using Non-Local Tracking Numbers

• Impact: Using tracking numbers from different area codes can disrupt your NAP citations, negatively affecting your local SEO.
• Solution: Always choose a tracking number that is local to your business location to maintain consistency.

Disconnecting Primary Phone Numbers

• Impact: Removing your actual office number and replacing it solely with a tracking number can lead to confusion and missed calls if the tracking service experiences downtime.
• Solution: Forward your tracking number to your actual office number rather than replacing it entirely.

Ignoring Call Analytics

• Impact: Failing to monitor and analyze call data can result in missed opportunities for optimizing your marketing strategies.
• Solution: Regularly review call analytics to make informed decisions about your marketing efforts.

Overcomplicating the Setup

• Impact: Adding too many tracking numbers or overly complex routing settings can make it difficult to manage and interpret call data.
• Solution: Keep your call tracking setup simple and focused on key marketing channels to ensure clarity and ease of management.

Neglecting Security Measures

• Impact: Inadequate security can expose your call tracking data to unauthorized access and misuse.
• Solution: Implement strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and restrict access to your CallRail and Google Business Profile accounts to trusted individuals only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use CallRail with Multiple Google Business Profiles?

Yes, you can use CallRail to set up tracking numbers for multiple Google Business Profiles. Each profile can have its own unique tracking number to accurately attribute calls to specific locations or services.

Will Using a CallRail Tracking Number Affect My Local SEO?

No, using a CallRail tracking number will not negatively impact your local SEO as long as the tracking number is local to your business location. Google prioritizes NAP consistency by matching the business name and address rather than the phone number.

How Do I Change My Tracking Number in CallRail?

1. Log In to CallRail: Access your CallRail account.
2. Navigate to Numbers: Click on the Numbers tab.
3. Select the Number: Choose the tracking number you wish to change.
4. Edit Routing: Update the call routing settings or replace the number as needed.
5. Save Changes: Confirm and save your updates to ensure the new settings take effect.

Can I Track Calls from Specific Marketing Channels?

Yes, CallRail allows you to assign different tracking numbers to various marketing channels (e.g., Google Ads, social media, email campaigns). This enables you to attribute calls accurately and analyze the performance of each channel.

Do I Need to Connect CallRail Directly to My Google Business Profile?

No, connecting CallRail directly to your Google Business Profile is optional. You can manually set up tracking by creating a tracking number in CallRail and updating your Google Business Profile with that number. This method provides greater control and minimizes third-party integrations.

Maximizing the Impact of Call Tracking on Your Google Business Profile

To fully leverage the benefits of call tracking, integrate these strategies into your broader marketing and operational plans.

Align with Your Marketing Goals

• Define Clear Objectives: Determine what you want to achieve with call tracking, such as increasing lead generation, improving customer service, or optimizing ad campaigns.
• Tailor Tracking to Goals: Set up specific tracking numbers for different marketing channels to attribute calls accurately and measure campaign effectiveness.

Use Data to Optimize Strategies

• Analyze Call Data: Regularly review call analytics to understand which campaigns are driving the most calls and conversions.
• Refine Marketing Strategies: Use insights from CallRail to adjust your marketing strategies, focusing on high-performing channels and improving underperforming ones.

Integrate with Other Marketing Tools

• Connect with CRM Systems: Integrate CallRail with your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to streamline lead management and follow-up processes.
• Leverage Google Analytics: Combine CallRail data with Google Analytics to gain a comprehensive view of user behavior and campaign performance.

Leverage Advanced CallRail Features

• Dynamic Number Insertion (DNI): Use DNI to display unique phone numbers to visitors from different traffic sources, enhancing call attribution.
• Call Recording and Transcription: Utilize CallRail’s call recording and transcription features to gain deeper insights into customer interactions and improve service quality.

Foster Team Collaboration

• Regular Reporting: Generate and share regular call reports with your team to keep everyone informed about campaign performance and lead quality.
• Training and Education: Ensure that your team members are trained on using CallRail effectively, understanding how to interpret call data and act on insights.

Enhance Customer Experience

• Prompt Lead Follow-Up: Use CallRail’s call tracking data to ensure that leads are followed up promptly, increasing the likelihood of conversions.
• Personalize Interactions: Leverage call data to personalize customer interactions, addressing their specific needs and preferences effectively.

Conclusion

Setting up a tracking number on your Google Business Profile using CallRail is a strategic move that can significantly enhance your understanding of where your calls are coming from and how your marketing efforts are performing. By following this step-by-step guide, implementing best practices, and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure a seamless and effective call tracking setup. Proper call tracking not only improves your ability to measure campaign performance but also empowers you to make data-driven decisions that drive business growth and success in the competitive digital landscape.