A new entrepreneur tends to share his personal mobile number with his customers and prospects. This not only creates confusion while answering calls but also makes a business look small and unprofessional. Instead it is better to use toll free numbers as business phone numbers. These numbers make a business look professional, smart and polished. An entrepreneur might be hesitant to approach a provider for a toll free number simply because he thinks these numbers are expensive.
Yes, there was a time when a toll free number was the hallmark of a big company and hence quite expensive. The popularity of these numbers has brought down its cost significantly. Now toll free numbers are affordable even for small business owners and new entrepreneurs.
Traditionally, toll free numbers are identified by its prefix – “800”, which is why a toll free number is often referred to as an “800 number”. But the mounting demand for this number has given rise to other toll free prefixes including “888”, “877”, “866” and “855”.
A Toll Free Number Does Make a Huge Difference
A toll free number can instantly change the image of a business. It is possible to make a business look professional and bigger simply by including toll free numbers in its business contact list. A toll free number marks the difference between having a successful business or one that is barely surviving. This number plays a major role in the success of many areas of business operations including marketing, sales and promotion, customer service and satisfaction, and branding.
Marketing: Research has proven that toll free numbers generate 30% more response than a generic phone number. This is why businesses prefer to use a toll free number on all their marketing collateral including websites, billboards, business cards, email signatures, brochures and flyers. The success of a toll free number is primarily because of the fact that an “800” number does not charge its callers. Callers across the US and Canada can call a business for free. Moreover, this number increases the credibility of a business significantly.
Sales and Promotion: Toll free numbers need not be numeric all the time; it can also be alpha-numeric. For example, 855 ICE CREAM and 855 – 423-2732 – both of these numbers are toll free but which is more memorable? Obviously, 855 ICE CREAM – these numbers are called vanity numbers and are a type of toll free number. Vanity numbers are highly successful in any promotional campaign because they are very effective in generating customer response and consequently sales.
Customer service and satisfaction: Atoll free number on your website or on your business card assures customers and prospects of your business credibility and also of your availability 24/7. Moreover, this number does not charge the caller. An 800 number is one of the important tools in providing effective customer service. Customer satisfaction, to a large extent also depends on this number.
Branding: Vanity numbers not only make your business contact number memorable, but can also work as a branding tool. Vanity number of some well-known companies have become almost synonymous with their brands, for example, 1 800 GO FEDEX or 1 800 GO TOYOTA.
