An Overview Of 1800 Numbers

1800 numbers are hugely popular among companies because they offer customers a free way to call with their questions, request service and more. In some cases, companies use toll free numbers as an important marketing device. Vanity toll free numbers are special toll free numbers that spell out a company’s name or the name of a product or service. These numbers are also popularly used for marketing purposes.

Rise of Toll Free Numbers

It was in 1967 that AT&T came out with the first toll free numbers with the intention to give its overworked operators some respite. In the U.S. these numbers are known as 1 800 numbers while in the rest of the world they are known as “Free phone Numbers”.  As more companies realized the advantage of toll free numbers, their popularity rose and there was a time when 800 numbers went out of supply. This was the time when another toll free prefix “888” was released. But the demand for this number continued to rise and so other toll free prefixes including 877, 866 were also released. “855” was the latest addition on this list of toll free prefixes.

The Unique Edge

Although it was assumed that cell phones would finally destroy the importance of toll free numbers that has not been the case. Some were of the opinion that cell phones would completely ruin the toll free number system. The cost of long distance calls has come down remarkably because of the fierce competition among the different cell phone service providers. There was a notion that this would make 800 numbers irrelevant. But this is did not happen. In fact, 1800 numbers have their own business value that has made them a pre-requisite for all businesses.

Gives a Marketing Edge

Someone does not need a degree to understand that people would prefer to call a number which is free. People might need to inquire about your product/service and they may not feel comfortable paying just for an inquiry. Moreover, it is a courtesy not to charge your prospects and customers. Your customers feel relaxed to call you and inquire about your products. They also feel convinced about the service they can expect from you. This is a true advantage over your competitors. 1800 numbers make a business look big, professional and smart. These numbers help to attract more customers which in turn boost sales.

Proposes Better Business Value

Once you know the needs of customers, it is easier to address them. This can actually help you to engage a caller more effectively. No advertising works better than word of mouth and a reference from a satisfied customer can do miracles. Both these can work together to get better sales for your business.  1800 numbers help you to provide better customer service and add value to your service/product. This way the business value of an 800 number far exceeds the merits of a cell phone.

Using Vanity Numbers

For marketing and advertising reasons, it is always better to use vanity numbers. Vanity numbers are unforgettable and make your business and contact information memorable simultaneously.  A vanity number is an alphanumeric number that contains a combination of words and numbers. The letters of this number spell out the business name/ product name/service name it’s associated with.

1 800 Numbers: A Great Resource for Small Businesses

1 800 numbers are probably the greatest investment for many small sized businesses. This is the most popular toll free prefix used by businesses worldwide. This number allows customers to call a business for free. This is a great tool for enhancing the credibility of a business. If you are also planning to use one such number for your business, following are a few of its significant advantages:

Keeps Your Customers Close

Using 1 800 numbers is a smart decision for businesses to stay connected with customers and prospects. Though it looks like a simple telephone number, it allows customers from across the U.S and Canada to connect for free. It practically makes your product and service available anytime and anywhere. The customers do not have to pay even when they are calling from somewhere far. This not only strengthens your relationship with customers but also helps in building a reputation nationwide. This number is certain to captivate more customers.

Improved Customer Service

1 800 numbers also enhance the efficiency of a business that results in better customer service. Toll free numbers – when used with a virtual phone system – allow the creation of multiple extensions. You can dedicate each extension to each department like sales, accounting, etc. Calls can easily be re-directed to the right person or department without being forwarded through a series of wrong recipients. It also helps in improving the productivity of your employees because now they can also easily reach out to their colleagues. Moreover, this number shows that you are available to your customers 24×7.

More than a Communicative Device

Other than a communicative device, 1 800 numbers can also successfully be used as a marketing tool. These numbers are especially effective in making your promotional campaigns a success. Research has shown that a toll free number is able to generate more responses than a normal telephone number. The success of a vanity toll free number is even greater than a general toll free number.

As a Marketing Tool

A vanity number is a special number that contains a combination of numbers and letters. It usually closely represents the business it is associated with. For example, 1 800 POPCORN, if you are selling popcorn. The letters in this case are related to the digits of keypad of a telephone. So it tells the customers what you do and how to reach you. This is the basic information a customer needs to contact you. A vanity number is as successful as a marketing tool as it is like a communication tool. Research has proven that a vanity number can generate maximum customer responses.

Benefits of Using it with a Virtual Phone

Using a toll free number with a virtual phone system can have multiple benefits. First, it ensures that all the callers are greeted professionally and are quickly connected to the right person or department. It also allows the use of such advanced features like voicemail, virtual fax, etc. You can also make use of advanced call forwarding features to stay in contact with your customers all the time.

iTeleCenter Announces the Addition of a New Resource Section on their Website

iTeleCenter recently launched its new Resource Section to keep customers informed about some of its important business aspects. The new iTeleCenter Resource Page links to a collection of videos, FAQs, client testimonials and articles that are meant to make customers aware of some of the important working principles of iTeleCenter.

Each of the internal Resource pages is continuously updated for the convenience of its customers. Customers and visitors can access the latest videos, FAQs, testimonials and articles simply by clicking on the respective tabs in the iTeleCenter Resource page.

The videos explain some of the important features and functionalities of iTeleCenter like call forwarding and sending online faxes. The video tab has quite a few videos that show how to use some of the significant features of iTeleCenter for the benefit of a business. The FAQs section lists some insightful Frequently Asked Questions about iTeleCenter. It is a compilation of questions and answers to address some common customer concerns.

Customers and customer feedback both are important for the success of a business. The Testimonial tab gives access to customer feedback and opinions about iTeleCenter. The article section, on the other hand, contains a number of articles that talk about the different features of iTeleCenter and the use of 1 800 numbers. The Resource page is meant to enrich the visitor experience by placing important information in one easy to find location. Visitors can learn about the various features of iTeleCenter and how they have been successfully implemented by a variety of successful business owners.

About iTeleCenter
iTeleCenter was founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Paul Champaneria who wanted to build a company that catered to the needs of virtual companies, direct salespeople, affiliate marketers, real estate professionals, and all forms of home-based or small businesses. iTeleCenter is a virtual phone system that provides individuals with the ability to utilize toll free phone numbers, local numbers, or vanity numbers, with call forwarding and voicemail that make professional life a little easier. With the best in customer care and service, along with the latest and most innovative features, it’s a must have for professionals who want to compete on a regional or national level, whether it’s a one-man operation or a million-dollar corporation.