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.

1800 Numbers for Every Business

If you want to make your business successful you must strengthen your communication system. It is known to all that your communication system can make or break your relationship with your customers. 1800 numbers (also known as toll free numbers) are one of the most advanced means that help you build your relationship with your customers. If you are using this number with a virtual phone system you can also enjoy some smart features in addition to the features of a traditional phone system, like: call forwarding, auto attendant, voicemail, and text transcription of voicemail (voice message sent via email), online fax and others.

For the success of your business, it is important that you project the right image of your business to your customers and 1800 numbers help you doing that. It establishes your credibility and professionalism almost instantly. Getting a toll free number is not pricey at all today.

Real Estate Agents

All businesses benefit from 1800 numbers. But there are some professionals for whom toll free numbers are all the more important: for example the realtors. A real estate professional is perhaps someone who needs seamless and reliable connectivity with his customers all the time. At the same time they need to maintain the privacy of their number.  A realtor can put their 1800 numbers and extension on signs in front of properties and when people call in they can listen to hear about the features of the house – how many rooms, the yard, how old it is, any newly added features, etc. Then they can leave a message to have someone call them back. Also, since the phone system captures the caller ID of the caller, the real estate agent can call anyone who listened to the information about a specific property. Thus a realtor can maintain the privacy of his own personal number without compromising business needs.

Home Based Businesses

1800 numbers play an important role in all home based businesses.  They need to attract new customers and build on their customer’s base. The need to look professional and credible is all the more important for home businesses.  Unless they gain the credibility of their customers they cannot get business. If they are using 1800 numbers with their virtual phone they can make their business look and sound big easily.  They enjoy all the benefits of a virtual phone while at the same time enjoying the benefits of a toll free number. Moreover, the success of marketing campaigns is crucial for small businesses and home based businesses. A toll free number has proved to be more successful than any normal phone number in these marketing campaigns.

Customer Care Professionals

The business of call centers and customer care professionals are entirely dependent on phone number. Their work starts as soon as they receive a query or complaint from their customers. 1 800 numbers encourage your customers to call you because they are not spending anything for the call. A call from your customer is an opportunity for your business. A toll free number is important because it influences your customers and also your business.

1800 numbers are relevant for every business. The rising demand for this number has created a scarcity for the popular toll free prefix – 800. A new set of toll free prefixes has emerged in its place but the significance of this number has remained unchanged.

Why You Need 1800 Numbers?

Small businesses are constantly in search of ways to compete with big companies that offer similar products or similar services.  One of the ways small businesses can create a difference is by using 1 800 numbers. A toll free number is one of the most important investments for your company. It is one of the effective business tools that open up your communication with your customers and business contacts.  Your business can use this number to stay profitable. No matter you are starting your new business or you are in the business for quite some time, you can equally benefit from this 1 800 numbers without any hefty investment.

It’s Very Affordable

With the rising demand for 1800 numbers, service providers are offering toll free numbers at a very competitive rate. You can choose your 1800 numbers only by paying a one-time fee of $25 in addition to a fee for a phone service. This is a negligible fee to make your business look and sound bigger. This fee is nothing in comparison to the benefits that you reap using this number. Moreover, it is a one-time payment and you do not have any recurring commitments.

Offers Advanced Call Management Features

If you are using 1800 numbers with virtual phone system you get all the advanced call management features just by paying a minimal monthly fee. It has features like, call forwarding, call screening and voicemail. Whenever your customer calls on 1800 numbers an auto attendant receives the call. The auto attendant greets your customer and routes him to the right person or department he/she wants to speak to.

Be More Accessible to Customers

With a virtual phone system you can take your 1800 numbers wherever you go. It has call forwarding feature that can forward your call to your personal cell phone and you can answer your customers even when you are on the go. You can also set how you want your calls to be routed to your existing number, according to time of the day or day of the week.

Benefit of Caller ID

If you are using 1800 numbers on your virtual telephone your business can also benefit by using caller ID. If you are unable to answer your customer’s call for some reason the caller ID captures all the details of your customer like his phone number, time of call etc and you can call back your customer in a more appropriate time.

Decide Which Call is Most Important

1800 numbers on a virtual phone system also offers the benefit of voicemail box. If your customer cannot speak to your directly he can leave a voice message in your voicemail box.  You also have the flexibility to screen the call and decide which call needs more attention and should be answered immediately and which call you can route to your voicemail box so that he can get back at your convenience.

Reach Your Customers Anywhere

If you are using 1 800 numbers your customers no longer need to dial confusing long distance codes. He can directly dial your toll free number from anywhere to reach you at any time of the day. This feature becomes very important in today’s business scenario where your customers are no longer restricted to your local neighborhood.

Go Big with 1800 Numbers

In today’s economic scenario if you dream to make your business successful you have to find out your niche position not only in local business market but also beyond that. 1800 numbers help you establish yourself in the business arena. You first need to have your own business number because a sound communication system is the simplest way that helps you earn your customer’s confidence.  1800 numbers is the most ideal communication tool that you should utilize to make your business effort a success. This number not only makes your business look and sound big but also makes you accessible from anywhere in the country.

An Effective Marketing Tool

Most of the advertising agencies and marketing specialists will agree that the easiest way a customer can reach you is through phone. 1800 numbers help you expand your limit.  Advertising on the internet, TV or any other form of marketing tools comes only second to using 1800 numbers. It is a good way to make you popular across the country.  Using vanity numbers is another way to make people remember your number. Vanity toll free numbers works incredibly and you can expect calls from people during any of their emergencies.

Easy Accessibility

Toll free numbers help you maintain the privacy of your personal number and yet remain accessible for your customers all the time. You publish your 1 800 numbers on all your business communications – business cards, flyers, brochures and your customers will call you on that number. You can also forward your call to your personal cell phone or residential phone. So your number remains private without compromising your business.  1 800 numbers are accessible from anywhere. Your customers need not dial any complex long distance code to get connected to you. They can directly dial your number from anywhere.

New Toll Free Prefix

With the rising demand for 1800 numbers there has been a scarcity in the 800 prefix. So new prefixes like, 855,888,877 are now being used in place of 800 prefix. Though these new prefixes have similar benefits of 800 prefix yet businesses are little hesitant to use it. 800 prefix is the most recognized toll free prefix and there has been always a preference to use this. But in case if you do not find any available 800 prefix do not hesitate to use other prefixes.  A toll free number is more important for your business rather than a prefix.

No Obstruction for Your Business

Amongst the biggest perks for using 1800 numbers is the ability to work from anywhere. Even while you are on vacation or staying home with your sick child it forwards your call to your personal number. So there’s no chance of your business getting restrained because you are not available to answer your customer’s call or for some other reason.

Great Business Device

1800 numbers are a great boon for any business and more so for real estate professionals. A real estate professional receives a huge number of calls every day and when your customer knows that they are not going to pay for their call it is quite likely that they will call you even with a little query and you will have better chances of business.  A toll free number can change your business forever.

1800 Numbers Are the Best Business Numbers

Business owners are faced with many decisions on a daily basis. While some of these may be difficult, the choice to use 1800 numbers over traditional numbers is simple. These numbers promote professionalism and credibility, increase call volume and allow business owners to enjoy a national presence regardless of their locations.

Promote Professionalism and Credibility

When it comes to providing consumers with an image of professionalism, 1800 numbers are the way to go. Before consumers ever speak with an employee, they are already subliminally imagining a corporate environment that is eager to please when they see a toll free number. Back when these numbers were first introduced, they were terribly expensive and therefore reserved for only the largest and most successful businesses. Because of this, consumers still associate them with established businesses. Thusly, by simply choosing to use a toll free number, a business is instilling a sense of establishment into the minds of consumers.

Increase Call Volume

There have been multiple marketing studies and surveys conducted on the differences between 1800 numbers and standard telephone numbers. In these studies, it was found that more than 60% of the general public is more likely to dial a toll free number than a standard number. This means that toll free numbers are absolutely essential for getting ahead in any industry, perhaps because consumers associate them with a dedication to customer service. Whether or not these consumers would have incurred a charge for dialing a standard number seemed to be irrelevant in these studies, as well.

National Reach

Business owners who make use of websites to sell products and services should also consider toll free numbers as a way to enjoy a national presence rather than a local one. In studies similar to the one mentioned above, consumers who browsed websites for products and services were more likely to buy from a website that offered a toll-free number rather than a local number in almost 70% of cases. This is likely because when consumers make purchases online, they rely on telephone communications as their only form of contact with a business. Since a toll free number projects professionalism, consumers feel more comfortable making purchases from companies that make use of them.

Vanity Numbers

A vanity number is more than just a toll-free number; it makes use of alphanumeric characters to spell a word or phrase that is related to the business or its industry. While it is possible to turn standard telephone numbers into vanity numbers, this is often fruitless as it is difficult to find available numbers. 1800 numbers provide up to seven customizable characters that business owners can use to make their products, services and companies in general more memorable. When consumers are interested in the products and services on offer, they are more likely to remember a business with a vanity number than one with a simple string of numbers.

It is easy to see why 1800 numbers are the best choices for businesses of any size. Whether a business has only one employee or 100, these numbers create a positive mental image in the minds of consumers, and this can lead to any business’s ultimate success.