Imagine you’re browsing a website on your phone and seeing a cool product. Curious for additional details, you look for the phone number to call and ask questions. But finding it is a pain! You have to squint at the tiny text, carefully copy it, then open your phone’s dialer and paste it in. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just create a website link for a phone number so users can tap it and their phone dials automatically? This simple feature enhances user experience and makes connecting with your business a breeze!
That’s where clickable phone number links come in! This guide will walk you through the process of creating these links, highlighting their benefits and best practices to enhance user experience and drive conversions.
What are Clickable Phone Numbers?
Clickable phone numbers are website links specially formatted to initiate a phone call when clicked on a mobile device. Unlike standard phone numbers displayed as text, these links function as hyperlinks, triggering the user’s phone’s dialing app with a single tap.
Unfortunately, many websites still display phone numbers as plain text, making it cumbersome for users to dial them manually. By implementing clickable phone number links, or learning how to create a website link for a phone number, you can significantly improve user experience and optimize your conversion rates.
Why Use Clickable Phone Numbers for Your Business?
Clickable phone numbers are not just a convenience—they’re a critical part of creating a user-friendly website that caters to mobile users. By following these best practices, you can ensure customers can easily connect with your business, increasing trust, engagement, and sales opportunities.
- Mobile-First Experience: The majority of web traffic now originates from mobile devices. Clickable phone numbers cater perfectly to this mobile-first world, offering a convenient and immediate way for users to reach out.
- Increased Contact Rates: By removing the friction associated with manually dialing a phone number, clickable links encourage more users to actually make the call. This can translate to a significant increase in contact rates and potential conversions.
- Streamlined Communication: No more copying and pasting phone numbers! Clickable links streamline the communication process, saving users time and effort.
- Enhanced Customer Support: Clickable phone numbers also complement customer support emails by providing an additional channel for immediate assistance. Including a clickable phone link in support emails ensures customers can quickly transition from written communication to a phone call when they need real-time help. This approach fosters trust and shows your commitment to responsive customer care.
How Call Links Work
Creating clickable phone number links is straightforward with HTML5. The tel-link protocol is used to format these links. When a user clicks on a clickable link, the browser responds by launching the phone app and populating the number for dialing. By learning how to create a website link for a phone number, you ensure this process is seamless. Depending on the browser and device settings, it may even prompt the user for confirmation before making the call.
How Do HTML Telephone Links Work?
When you click or tap a hyperlink on a webpage, it typically directs you to another page using the HTTP protocol. However, other protocols serve different purposes. For instance, the mail-to protocol allows users to send emails directly from a link without leaving the page.
The tel-link protocol enables users to make phone calls by clicking or tapping the hyperlink on a webpage without needing to copy and paste the number into their phone app. Depending on the browser and device used, clicking a tel-link (tel:) protocol may either initiate the call immediately or prompt the user for confirmation, preventing accidental calls.
These telephone links can be placed anywhere on your website where hyperlinks are allowed—headers, footers, main content areas, or even pop-ups.
How to Create Clickable Phone Number Links
Clickable phone number links are an essential feature for mobile-friendly websites, allowing users to tap the number and directly make a call. This functionality is particularly useful for businesses aiming to enhance user experience and increase conversions.
Using Your Website’s Text Editor
Most website builders and Content Management Systems (CMS), such as WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, offer built-in tools to create clickable phone numbers without needing to edit raw HTML.
- Locate the Phone Number: Identify the section of your website where you want the clickable phone number displayed, such as the contact page, header, or footer.
- Highlight the Number: Select the phone number text within your website’s text editor.
- Insert Hyperlink: Click on the “Insert/Edit Link” button or icon (often symbolized by a chain link). A dialog box will appear, allowing you to input the link details.
- Add the “tel:” Prefix: In the link URL field, type “tel:” followed by the phone number without any spaces or dashes. For example tel:5551234567
- Click “Apply” or “OK”: Save the changes. The phone number should now appear as a hyperlink that users can tap or click to call.
Using HTML Code
For those with access to the HTML code of their website, creating a clickable phone number manually is straightforward.
- Access HTML Code: If you have access to your website’s HTML code, you can directly insert the following code: <a href=”tel:5551234567″>Call Us Now</a>
- Replace 5551234567 with your actual phone number. An example of a number 123-456-7890 becomes:
- Save the Changes: Save your edited HTML file and upload it to your server, or save the changes in your CMS.
Additional Tips for Optimizing Clickable Phone Numbers
To ensure your clickable phone number links are not only functional but also user-friendly and accessible, consider these additional optimization tips.
Format for Readability
- While the tel-link (tel:) protocol uses numbers without spaces or special characters, you can format the visible text to be user-friendly.
- Example: <a href=”tel:1234567890″>(123) 456-7890</a>
Add Accessibility Attributes
- Enhance accessibility for users with screen readers by including the aria-label attribute:
- Example: <a href=”tel:1234567890″ aria-label=”Call us at 123 456 7890″>(123) 456-7890</a>
Test Thoroughly
- After creating the clickable phone number link, test it thoroughly on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure it functions correctly.
These tips will help you create effective clickable phone number links that are user-friendly, accessible, and contribute to a positive user experience on your website.
How to Link a Telephone Number with a Country Code in HTML
Clickable phone links are essential for mobile-friendly websites, allowing users to call directly with a tap. Adding a country code to these links ensures they work internationally. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Create the Anchor Element: Use an anchor tag (<a>), which turns text into a hyperlink. The phone number will be the href value.
- Add the tel: Protocol: Use tel: as the protocol in the href attribute to signify a telephone link.
- Include the Country Code: Add a + followed by the country code before the phone number. This makes the number accessible globally.
- Write the HTML Code: For example, if the number is (555) 555-5555 and the country code is “+1” (United States): <a href=”tel:+15555555555″>555-555-5555</a>
- Replace the placeholder with your actual phone number and country code.
Where to Place Your Telephone Links
The placement of your clickable phone links should align with user behavior and expectations. Strategic placement ensures visibility without being intrusive.
Header
The header is an ideal spot for phone numbers if your business relies on phone inquiries, such as for consultations, reservations, or sales calls.
- Why the Header?
Users often look at the top of the page for immediate contact information. This placement makes it quick and convenient.- Example: <header> <a href=”tel:+1234567890″>Call Us: (123) 456-7890</a> </header>
Footer
Including a phone number in the footer is another smart choice. The footer often acts as a “contact hub” where users find additional information like your email, address, or social media links.
- Why the Footer?
Users scrolling through your site may land here looking for ways to connect with you.- Example: <footer> <p>Contact us: <a href=”tel:+1234567890″>(123) 456-7890</a></p> </footer>
Contact Page
The contact page is one of the most logical places for a telephone link. It should be prominently displayed in the main content area alongside other contact options like email forms or addresses.
- Why the Contact Page?
Visitors on this page are likely looking to reach out, so placing the phone link here improves accessibility.- Example: <main> <h1>Contact Us</h1> <p>Call us directly at <a href=”tel:+1234567890″>(123) 456-7890</a>.</p> </main>
Here’s an example of a web page where the phone number is strategically placed in three key areas: the header, footer, and main content.
These placements ensure the phone number is highly visible and accessible to users regardless of where they are on the page.
By learning how to create a website link for a phone number and adding it to the header, users can find it immediately upon landing on the site. Including it in the footer ensures it’s available as they scroll down, and positioning it in the main content reinforces accessibility for visitors actively seeking contact information. This approach improves user experience and encourages direct communication.
Best Practices for Clickable Phone Numbers
As a business owner, adding clickable phone numbers to your website is an effective way to make it easy for customers to reach you, boosting conversions and improving user experience. Follow these best practices to ensure your clickable phone numbers are optimized for accessibility and functionality.
Ensure Clear Visibility
Place your clickable phone number in prominent locations where visitors are likely to look. Consider adding it to:
- Header: Ideal for businesses relying on phone inquiries, such as service-based companies or consultative sales.
- Footer: A natural spot for contact details like phone numbers, email addresses, and business information.
- Contact Page: A must-have for any website, as users often visit this page specifically to find contact information.
- Content Areas: Include your clickable phone number within relevant sections, such as service descriptions or landing pages, to encourage immediate action.
Making your phone number easy to spot ensures that potential customers can connect with you effortlessly, whether they’re on mobile or desktop.
Use Compelling Calls to Action (CTAs)
Accompany your clickable phone number with strong CTAs to prompt users to take action. CTAs provide context and motivate visitors to engage. Examples include:
- “Call Us Now to Schedule Your Appointment”
- “Get a Free Quote by Phone Today”
- “Speak to an Expert About Your Needs”
- “Contact Us for Fast Assistance”
These phrases create urgency and provide a clear reason for customers to pick up the phone.
Test Across All Devices
Cross-device testing is essential to ensure your clickable phone numbers work seamlessly on:
- Smartphones: The primary platform for tap-to-call functionality.
- Desktops: While clicking may open a VoIP app, ensure it doesn’t create errors.
- Tablets: Test for responsiveness and ease of access on different screen sizes.
Use multiple browsers and operating systems to confirm that the links work as expected for all users.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even small errors can prevent your clickable phone numbers from functioning correctly. Avoid these common pitfalls:
Forgetting the “tel:” Prefix
The tel: prefix is what tells the browser to initiate a phone call. Without it, the link won’t function. Always format your links like this:
Incorrect Phone Number Formatting
Avoid using spaces, dashes, or special characters in the href value of your phone link. While the visible text can include formatting for readability, the actual link should follow this pattern:
- Correct: tel:+1234567890
- Incorrect: tel:+123-456-7890
This ensures the phone app can interpret the number correctly.
Failing to Test Links
An untested phone link can lead to lost opportunities if it doesn’t work as intended. After creating your links, always test them by:
- Clicking on them from a mobile device to verify they open the phone app.
- Testing on various devices and browsers to ensure compatibility.
- Have a colleague or team member double-check to catch any errors you might have missed.
Overlooking Mobile Optimization
A significant mistake is neglecting to optimize clickable phone links for mobile devices. Since most users access websites via smartphones, your phone links must open the phone app seamlessly. A poorly optimized link can frustrate users and result in lost leads. Always test your links on multiple mobile devices and browsers to ensure a smooth experience.
Conclusion
Adding clickable phone numbers to your website is a simple yet powerful way to enhance user experience and make it easier for customers to connect with your business. By learning how to create a website link for a phone number and following best practices like clear placement, compelling CTAs, and thorough testing, you ensure that your phone links are accessible and functional across all devices. Avoid common mistakes such as incorrect formatting or untested links, and take the time to optimize this critical feature.
Need help setting up or optimizing your website’s clickable phone links? Wolfpack Advising is here to support you. Schedule an online consultation today and receive a custom proposal tailored to your business needs.
