The contact information of a business is something that most web developers give much less attention than it deserves.
Web developers obviously understand technology inside out and are aware of the current developments in software and hardware. They also, most often, personally own the latest gadgets and use them on a regular basis.
Because of this, it is easy to think that that’s what everybody does. However, this is simply not true. Many people still prefer to use the phone when getting information from a business or placing an order. Having a phone for a business is important for yet another reason: people who use it make an effort to pick up the phone and make the call. While it is a small effort, it is still an effort compared to simply looking at several websites. This means that these people are much more motivated to deal with the particular business and if the business has good salespeople on the phone with great sales scripts, it can significantly increase sales.
Obviously, just like any other marketing, what a business should do to increase sales depends on the industry and the customers. If a business mostly deals with the millennials, then it may not be getting a lot of calls.
However, if most customers are 40+, then including a phone number in the contact information of a website is an absolute must. This becomes even more important if the customers are 60+.
Having a phone number is also critical in the luxury segment of the market because most buyers of luxury goods expect and demand personal attention and professional courtesy.
Finally, having a phone number and a physical address on a website greatly increases the credibility of a business and website. People may not be thinking about this consciously, but subconsciously, they associate a physical address with the ability to meet someone in person, which automatically increases trust.