As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience helping small businesses choose software, I know first-hand how important it is to find a phone service that meets your unique needs. After researching the latest market trends and evaluating numerous providers, I‘m sharing my expert advice on the top business phone services for WordPress sites.
Recent surveys show that a staggering 82% of customers will stop doing business with a company after just one bad customer service experience. Your phone system has a huge impact on the quality of support you can provide.
Let‘s look at why you need a proper business phone service and how it can benefit your WordPress site:
I‘ve helped hundreds of small business owners switch from makeshift personal lines to professional business phone systems. They are always shocked by how much it improves their customer service. Here are some of the key advantages:
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Detailed Call Analytics
Business phone services provide call tracking features like call logs, recording, wait times, durations, and more. With hard data, you can optimize your talk times, hold durations, and staffing to improve satisfaction.
Call Management Functionality
Features like call routing, interactive voice menus, hold music, and voicemail transcription greatly enhance your customer support capabilities.
Centralized Business Identity
A single business number presented consistently builds brand recognition. Customers can easily call your help line and sales team directly.
Seamless Scalability
With business VoIP systems hosted in the cloud, you can easily add or remove extensions without changing hardware. Growing your team is easy.
Mobility
Top providers like Nextiva offer desktop and mobile apps to take your business number on the go. Never miss an important call!
Cost Savings
VoIP solutions save up to 90% on internal calling costs. Advanced features are usually included without extra fees.
Customer Relationship Building
Personable, knowledgeable reps can build relationships with customers for referrals and repeat business.
In 2021, 61% of businesses reported that phone calls were their most effective sales channel. Don‘t leave this critical component to chance.
Let‘s explore the top business phone service options for WordPress sites. I‘ll share the pros and cons of each based on extensive research and real-world testing.
1. Nextiva
Over the past 5+ years using Nextiva for my own business, I‘ve been extremely impressed by their reliable service and intuitive interface. Here are some of the standout features:
Call Quality
Nextiva‘s HD audio quality is noticeably crisper than traditional phone calls. This makes long support sessions less tiring for everyone.
Uptime
With 99.999% uptime, dropped calls are virtually eliminated. Redundant data centers ensure connectivity even if local networks go down.
Support
Nextiva‘s live technical support has solved any issues promptly, even on weekends. Their experts feel like an extension of my own team.
Feature Set
From customizable call routing to real-time analytics, Nextiva packs powerful enterprise-grade capabilities. Yet it remains easy enough for non-technical folks to manage.
Integrations
Nextiva integrates with popular WordPress plugins like WooCommerce seamlessly. Connecting sales and support workflows has never been easier.
Affordability
Their tiered pricing model scales cost-effectively as your business grows. Plus, annual contracts come with discounts up to 25% off monthly rates.
If you‘re looking for an all-in-one communications platform, Nextiva also offers premium capabilities like:
- CRM for managing pipelines
- Live chat for instant support
- Online surveys for customer feedback
- Shared team workspaces
Overall, Nextiva hits the sweet spot between features, quality, and affordability. Their reliable system gives me peace of mind that every call will connect quickly and clearly.
2. RingCentral
As one of the largest and most established business VoIP providers, RingCentral offers an incredibly robust solution packed with cutting-edge capabilities.
Mobility
RingCentral‘s mobile and desktop apps enable you to use your business phone system on any device or location. Great for remote teams.
Video
Natively integrated video conferencing makes it easy to transition phone calls to face-to-face conversations.
Phone Selection
Support for new and legacy hardware means you can use IP phones, softphones or traditional desk sets based on your needs.
Integrations
Zapier, Google Workspace, Dropbox and other popular platforms are pre-integrated to streamline workflows. APIs enable further customization.
Support
Their dedicated implementation specialists help you transition seamlessly from old on-premise systems. Tech support is available 24/7.
RingCentral shines for larger businesses ready to invest in advanced capabilities like:
- Automatic call recording
- Unlimited video meetings
- Call analytics dashboards
- Advanced call queues
While their pricing starts higher at $20 per user, the extensive feature set and support may justify the premium for high-volume call centers.
3. Ooma
Used by over 450,000 businesses, Ooma is a cost-effective virtual phone service perfect for lean startups.
Simplicity
The setup wizard makes getting started with your new business line quick and painless. Minimal training needed.
Support
Their customer support team has been very responsive the few times I‘ve needed help. Issues are typically resolved quickly.
Flexibility
You can forward Ooma calls to any device, or use their mobile and desktop apps. Great for part-time and remote staff.
Cost
Starting at just $19.95 per month with no contract, Ooma is roughly 40% cheaper than most competitors.
While Ooma lacks some advanced features of Nextiva and RingCentral, their affordable pricing and quality support make them an appealing option for cost-conscious businesses.
It‘s also worth highlighting that Ooma offers a 45 day risk-free trial. So you can take their service for a spin before fully committing.
4. Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone integrates seamlessly with Zoom‘s wildly popular video conferencing software.
This unified experience makes Zoom Phone ideal for businesses who already use and love Zoom meetings.
Familiar Interface
The call interface will be instantly familiar to anyone already using Zoom for web meetings and webinars.
Video Integration
Natively transitioning between voice and video provides a more engaging user experience.
Bundled Pricing
Zapier integration is included free with all plans. Bundling video can reduce total technology costs.
Device Support
In addition to mobile and desktop apps, Zoom Phone supports traditional desk phones from Polycom, Yealink and others.
International
Plans come with support for local dial-in numbers in roughly 50 countries around the world.
One trade-off is Zoom Phone requires a separate Zoom Meetings plan for advanced video features and conference rooms. However, the deep integration between the services may justify the combined cost.
5. Grasshopper
Specializing in virtual phone numbers, Grasshopper is ideal for solopreneurs on a budget.
Simplicity
Their easy online dashboard requires minimal training for you or staff. Great for non-technical founders.
Independence
You manage and configure the system directly, rather than relying on an IT provider.
Affordability
Plans start at just $29.99 per month for 3 extensions. One of the most cost-effective solutions.
Portability
Web and mobile apps allow taking business calls anywhere without a dedicated desktop phone.
Grasshopper‘s system works well for standard calling features. Be aware you need a separate carrier plan for outbound calls though. Larger teams may desire more sophisticated call handling capabilities.
So which service should you choose for your WordPress site? Here are my top recommendations based on over 15 years advising small business owners:
For the overall best blend of value, features, and ease of use, Nextiva is my #1 recommendation. Their VoIP system powers my own business website and I highly recommend them to clients daily.
Businesses wanting a more robust enterprise-level feature set should consider RingCentral. The additional capabilities justify the premium pricing for larger call centers.
If keeping costs down is the top priority, Ooma delivers an affordable yet still highly capable phone solution.
Zoom Phone is best suited to businesses already invested into Zoom‘s video ecosystem who want tighter integration.
Finally, ultra lean startups would benefit from Grasshopper‘s simple low-cost virtual phone numbers.
At the end of the day, carefully reflect on your budget, business size, and customer support needs. This will guide you to make the phone system decision that‘s right for your unique WordPress site.
Don‘t leave such a critical piece of customer experience to chance. I hope this guide gives you confidence to finally choose a professional business phone service that elevates how you present your brand to every caller.
Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to offer unbiased advice to help you pick the best tools for your needs.
