Business opportunities over the phone have increased 10% since 2018, as revealed in Ruby’s 2023 call trends report.

There’s a simple, reliable way for small businesses to gain new customers or clients: answer the phone. That’s according to Ruby’s 2023 call trends report.

The new report provides a detailed analysis of the approximately 62 million calls Ruby answered on behalf of thousands of U.S. businesses between 2018 and 2023. Findings include marked shifts in lead generation opportunities, robocall frequency, caller sentiment, and busy periods for different industries. Businesses can use these insights to improve operational efficiencies, customer acquisition, and customer service.

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The 2023 call trends report reveals that lead opportunities over the phone have increased by nearly 10% during the last five years. Simultaneously, more and more of the calls businesses receive are from first-time callers: an average of 56% across industries in 2022.

At a time when customers have more communication channels than ever, these statistics show the phone has transformed into an essential tool for growth, said Stephanie Copeland Weber, Ruby president and chief operating officer.

“People are no longer just calling businesses for general information,” said Copeland Weber. “Instead, they’re reaching out when they’re ready to connect—to check if a business is legitimate and take the next step in the buyer journey. But to earn that next customer or client, a business needs to be prepared to meet and exceed expectations with informed, responsive, personalized, and empathetic service.”

Lead opportunities aren’t the only trend on the rise, however. After appearing to decline in 2021, the rates of robocalls businesses receive sharply increased in 2022. These disruptions are more than nuisances, with the FCC estimating that robocalls cost small businesses upwards of $3 billion per year.

Among additional trends are growing numbers of frustrated callers, busier Fridays, and apparent changes in seasonal business for organizations in industries such as insurance and financial services.

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