Getting The Most Out Of Toll Free Business Phone Numbers
Toll free business phone numbers have been acknowledged as one of the most efficient
tools for establishing connectivity with clients and the smartest interface between
the buyer and seller in any commercial transaction. Current customer research
shows that buyers who search through 800 phone number listings, when faced with
a question of choosing from several similar marketers, are much more likely to
call a business with a toll-free number than a business with a long-distance number.
The customer turn-around time is short, and a toll free number or a vanity 800
number has the necessary power of persuasion to turn an intention for purchase
to a meaningful and profitable action. But is that enough? Can a toll free number
or a vanity 800 number be a stand alone success formula for a business? Probably
not.
While a toll free number boosts the company image in the eyes of a customer
who magnifies it and thinks positively right from the time he or she sees the
number, toll free numbers could also double up as an effective tool for internal
communications. A company with employees strewn all across the nation could
find an easy and free way to keep in touch with headquarters. With 800 voice
mail options, they could even leave a message while traveling. Calling card
rates are more expensive than in-bound toll free calls.
Because toll free numbers come with a number of prefixes like 800, 888, 887,
877 and more, it is not expected that customers can retain the number for too
long. Thus it becomes imperative to mention that the number is toll free –
in all out-bound communication which a customer is likely to see.
Other benefits of toll free numbers are:
- You could block calls from areas where your company does not operate or
does not have any presence.
- Owning multiple toll free numbers for a single location has its own advantages.
Especially when you wish to track the effectiveness and response rate of an
advertising campaign which carries a particular toll free number.
- Facility for caller identification exists with most providers.
- You could impose access codes against your toll free numbers. Automatically
you screen out those who don’t punch in the requisite code.
- Since call traffic is more with toll free numbers, it is always advisable
to install a dedicated phone line for handling toll free calls. Though initial
installations charges may be slightly high for a dedicated line but the cost
evens out through the low monthly charges.
- Unified messaging. This is a system, and an add-on benefit for a toll free
number, that provides a single in-box destination for voicemail, email, and
faxes. Tremendously beneficial for small businesses who might not have a separate
line for each service . it is very affordable – somewhere between $
10 to $30 a month. Some providers offer this service free.
Now that toll free numbers are portable, it is easy for a company or small
business to change providers to suit its convenience. Over and above, the portability
advantage allows a company to divide the in-bound call traffic amongst many
providers. Thus the same toll free number can be used as a local call by one
provider and as an interstate call by another provider. Better monitoring, better
control would be the most apparent result of this functionality.
Toll Free Number
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