More and more businesses are registering for toll free phone numbers even in this economically unpleasant atmosphere. This is because of the sheer advantage they get using these numbers. This number magically improves your sales and also your relationship with your customers. Toll free numbers are, in fact, especially designed for business needs keeping in mind a definite purpose. Following are a few basic principles of toll free phone numbers that you should know:
Free Calls
Unlike any regular number, anybody calling you on your toll free phone numbers will not be charged. Instead the recipient bears the cost of the call. Most of the service providers of toll free numbers offer flexible plans that include considerable number of free minutes. You only pay for overage usage. This is the primary difference of a toll free number from a regular phone number. Since the caller does not pay for the call, you can expect a large volume of inbound calls. Your customers and prospects can call you with their inquiries. These calls are your opportunities to turn a prospect to a dedicated customer.
Flexible Service Plan
Most of the service providers of toll free phone numbers will not ask you to sign a contract for using their service. There are no contracts and so you can terminate the service anytime you are not happy. The service providers usually offer multiple plans to cater to the needs of all of its customers. Most of these plans include free minutes and you pay only for overage usage.
Choose Your Toll Free Number in Line with Your Business
If you think that your customers will remember a 10 digit toll free number (http://www.itelecenter.com/Toll-Free-Number.aspx) they saw on a billboard while passing on a highway, it is simply impossible. But you can give them a clue to remember your number. Vanity numbers are special alphanumeric toll free phone numbers that contain a word or a phrase related to your business. For example, if you have a popcorn business then your vanity number could be: 1 800 POPCORN. Now, this is easier to remember rather than 1 800 7672676. These numbers work as an extension of your brand. Use this number as a way to communicate to your customers what you do and how to contact you. They are highly successful in marketing and promotional exercises.
Answer Your Customers – Always
If you are using toll free phone numbers with a virtual phone system you definitely have an extra edge. You can take your vanity number with you wherever you go. You can advertise your vanity toll free number on all your banners and promotions and your customers will call you in that number. You can format your virtual phone to forward your calls to your personal cell phone from a specific time of the day or day of the week. So you can answer your customers anytime – even when you are out of your office.
New Toll Free Prefixes
With the rising demand for toll free phone numbers there has been a scarcity of the 800 prefix. So new prefixes like: 888, 877, 866 and also 855 are now being used. “800” is the most recognized toll free prefix and there has been always a preference for it. But if you do not find any available 800 number do not hesitate to use other prefixes. After all, a toll free number is more important for your business than a prefix.
