Business Phone Numbers Archives

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1st October 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Get a Business Number

16th August 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Using Local Phone Numbers to Increase Global Lead Generation

2nd August 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How to Get a Toll Free Number for KaiOS

18th July 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

How ITFS Numbers Can Bring International Leads

3rd June 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Is Your Virtual Number Provider Big on Credibility? How to Tell if You’re Getting the Best Services

16th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Secrets of Using a Toll Free Number to Boost Your Business Calls

15th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers, Marketing

Toll Free Numbers for Social Media Marketing

Toll Free Number is Boring Woman on Phone

14th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Your Toll Free Number is BORING – Here’s How to Fix It

19th March 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Why Does My Business Need A Toll Free Number?

How to Get a Business Number

Tom Senkus 1st October 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Need to know how to get a business phone number? Whether for a large business or a small one, Global Call Forwarding offers virtual phone numbers to meet your needs. In this article, we will take a look at a few aspects to consider when purchasing a phone number, including:

Types of phone numbers available
Choosing a location
Enhancing your phone number with add-ons
Subscribing to a service for a business number

Types of Phone Numbers Available from Global Call Forwarding

Perhaps the primary consideration you should keep in mind when thinking about a business phone number is the type that fits your needs. Global Call Forwarding offers the following varieties of numbers:

Local numbers
Toll free numbers
Vanity Numbers
DID numbers (Direct Inward Dialing)
ITFS numbers (International Toll Free Service)
UIFNs (Universal International Freephone Numbers)

These virtual numbers can be augmented with mobile accessibility, enabling cellular phones to reach them, and vice versa. Also, it should be noted that virtual phone numbers are based on current inventory and availability.

Choosing a Location

Second, to the type of number that you will be using, choosing a location is the next important step. You will want to consider two location-based aspects:

Where you want to be reached
Who you want to reach

Location-Specific Phone Numbers

First, a virtual phone number serves as a type of location marker for your business. A business that uses a Canada local number will be perceived as having Canadian origins. Of course, thanks to the routing capabilities of cloud-based telephony, your business can be located anywhere in the world and still be reached instantly.

Canada’s virtual phone numbers are identical in function and appearance to “normal” Canadian phone numbers. The only difference is their added routing capabilities. Having the same country code and corresponding region/area code helps with the localization process of your business, while also circumventing typical long-distance calling obstacles, such as:

Long-distance fees
Service blockages
Customer preferences to deal with only domestic business entities

Gaining Freedom of Location with Toll Free Numbers

Another location-based concern is whether you want to be based on a certain region or remain geographically agnostic with toll free numbers. Considering that toll free numbers not only make calling free for your customers but they also work nationwide. As a result, you can use toll free numbers as a way to obscure where your business is headquartered. Instead, toll free numbers impart a nationwide quality. This encompasses different states, regions, provinces, and so forth based on the toll free prefix you select.

Enhancing Your Phone Number with Add-ons

Now that you’re aware of business numbers from Global Call Forwarding, you should know they can be enhanced with add-ons. These add-ons can completely change how your phone number functions, opening up new possibilities of usage and profitability.

One of these is rollover minutes. This add-on allows you to retain any unused minutes each month, so they are available for future use.

Another popular add-on is call recording which, as the name implies, records and stores calls made using your phone number. This can be effective as an aid for on-the-go entrepreneurs. Additionally, it’s also useful for managers that want to create training materials from prior calls.

Subscribing to a Service for a Virtual Business Number

Now that you have a good idea of the benefits of business phone numbers, it is time to subscribe with Global Call Forwarding. The process of purchasing is simple and easy. You will begin by navigating to their home page at www.globalcallforwarding.com.

Once there, a series of dropdown menus will appear at the top of the page. At that point, you can select your new phone number (including location and type) choosing from a list of currently available phone numbers.

Second, you will enter your destination number (where calls will be rerouted to and from). This will include the country code, area/region code, and remaining digits. After this, you will choose a payment plan and add-ons that fit your intended usage. The process is similar to most online transactions, requiring billing info, contact info, and agreeing to the Terms and Conditions.

Once completed, a customer service rep will contact you within 24 hours or less to assist you with setting up, enabling you to begin using your phone number immediately. Now that you know how to get a business number with Global Call Forwarding, you can purchase as many as needed. Feel to contact them today if you have any questions or issues.

Using Local Phone Numbers to Increase Global Lead Generation

Magaly Fuentes 16th August 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

For almost any business in the world today, the choice to not expand globally is practically like handing your business over to your competitors. With this said, like any other significant undertaking, important questions need to be asked and answered, and realistic goals have to be set. Buying local phone numbers to increase global lead generation is a great way to boost sales.

Is Global Expansion the Next Logical Step for My Business?

It takes some serious commitment and readiness to determine if global expansion makes sense for your company. You should ask yourself questions like, “What am I hoping to accomplish, both personally and for my company?” Also, “How will an expansion affect my current operations?” and “Are we ready to commit financial resources and time/energy resources to the development and implementation of a global expansion strategy?”

Benefits of Global Expansion

One of the primary benefits of expanding globally is diversification. Though we live in a society where cross-border economic issues affect everyone, different nations are at different stages of growth in their economic development. An international business expansion offers an opportunity to become less dependent on the domestic economic situation and diversify instead.

Another benefit of expanding globally is to increase revenue. Foreign markets offer additional sources of revenue as well as new sources for profit margin expansion. According to a recent report, 45 percent of mid-sized companies make over half of their revenue from nations outside of their home country.

Competitive advantage, access to a worldwide talent pool, access to new customers, and the ability to take advantage of foreign government incentives are other benefits of expanding globally.

Local phone numbers for global lead generation. — Source: DepositPhotos.com – O#63051687 #27446420

How do I Generate Global Leads?

There are many ways to generate global leads. Here are a few of them:

Search Engine Marketing (SEO and PPC)
Content Marketing
Email Marketing
Cold Calling
Inside Sales
Social Media Marketing
Partnerships

However, one of the easiest, most effective, and most cost-efficient ways to generate global leads is to purchase a local phone number in the country you are expanding to and use it to market the news of your expansion.

Local Phone Numbers for Global Lead Generation

Using local phone numbers to increase global lead generation is super easy and you can get started right away. You purchase a virtual phone number that is local to the new country you want to enter. Then, make the announcement of the expansion on your website and any other marketing materials. Make sure to include the local virtual phone number, and you are off to establishing yourself in that new market without ever having to set foot there.

Long gone are the days of having to spend a large amount of the budget on travel, hiring people overseas, setting up an office in a foreign market, and more. You can become a global business without ever leaving your home country.

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

Virtual phone numbers work through the use of the Internet. With virtual numbers, you can get local phone numbers set up for any locations you need a local presence. Then, you can have all calls made to these numbers automatically forwarded to your office, home, or mobile line. The convenience is immeasurable and the cost savings are often quite significant.

What Are the Benefits of Using Local Phone Numbers for Global Lead Generation?

In addition to the gift of mobility and cost savings mentioned above, virtual local phone numbers give you the ability to access your market and establish yourself locally without physically being there. For some consumers, it is easier to trust a company that has invested in their community, in their local market, so calling a company with a local phone number helps to build trust.

Having this phone number to communicate with the new global market gives you the ability to establish relationships with clients, potential clients, and other business contacts in the new market.

In Closing

Building relationships and trust is the key to a brand’s success and longevity and using local phone numbers to increase global lead generation is one of the best ways to accomplish this. This method allows you to expand quickly and communicate affordably with foreign, lucrative markets. For more information on purchasing local virtual numbers, contact Global Call Forwarding today.

How to Get a Toll Free Number for KaiOS

Becki Meerbeek 2nd August 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

KaiOS is an emerging phone software system. It allows people to use smartphone applications in locations where they would otherwise not be able to. With this emerging software comes the need for various calling features that toll free numbers provide. So, how do people with these types of phone systems get a toll free number for KaiOS? In this article, we determine what KaiOS is and its benefits across the world. We will also cover how people with this phone software can benefit from and use toll free numbers for KaiOS.

What is KaiOS?

KaiOS is a phone software system that is intended to help people across the world get the most from their cellular devices. In many countries, smartphones are still not accessible to every person. For example, in India, most people have cell phones that aren’t touch screen and use a standard keypad. Seeing that these individuals don’t have access to internet applications and search accessibility, Google wanted to provide a new software system with the option of uploading onto these phones. So, with a fund of $22 million, the KaiOS software was developed. Since its beginning, the software system has brought more applications to people who would otherwise not be able to access these types of platforms. And, it continues to grow as a leading software system in India and other countries. In these countries, it has even surpassed Apple IOS systems.

The Benefits of a Toll Free Number for KaiOS

This software can be uploaded to outdated and non-smartphones because it doesn’t take nearly as much memory as other software; only 256MB. This means almost anyone who has a phone can download the software to begin using web-focused applications like WhatsApp, even though they don’t own a smartphone device. Plus, it can connect through various connection options like 4G, LTE, and can even process payments using NFC. Additionally, it can pair devices so they may utilize WIFI. It even has the option of being SIM card compatible. Finally, phones downloaded with the KaiOS system are relatively affordable. So, almost anyone can benefit from using the internet on their phones without having to fork over high monthly fees. For example, one KaiOS option in India called the Reliance’s JioPhone costs only around $20.

The Growth of the KaiOS System

Just like other software systems, KaiOS has an application play store that’s built by HTML5. This allows for the building of various applications that can be utilized on this software system. This allows applications to be created and utilized without a high demand for additional resources. Plus, since KoiOS can work across a number of phones like Nokia, Alcatel, and Reliance, their applications can be universally downloaded. So, app builders only have to make one type of application for it to work on any of the types of phones that KaiOS supports.

The Applications Used on KaiOS Systems

(PSo, what types of applications can the KaiOS system support? While the same applications we use on our smartphones may not look or act like the same on KaiOS, the basics of these applications are still there. Some examples of applications you’d recognize on both smartphones and phones with KaiOS software may include:

Youtube
Facebook
Twitter
Google Maps
Google Assistant
WhatsApp
And even some games like Danger Dash

In addition to these applications that you’d recognize, there are some applications built specifically for the KaiOS system. Some of these include weather checking applications and even a QR scanner for help with barcode scanning.

Who Does KaiOS Benefit?

Essentially, this phone software system was developed to get people web-based applications in countries where smartphones still aren’t the norm. But, it can also work well for those who don’t like the functionality of a touch screen. Or, those who simply don’t want to hop on the mainstream smartphone wave. With a toll free number for KaiOS, you get all the regular applications you would use on a smartphone. An additional benefit is a functional device that still offers many conveniences.

Additionally, many people like this type of software for their grandparents or kids. This is because it’s easy to use and regulate for older and younger generations. If you’re worried that your children may spend too much time on their smartphone or that your parent/grandparent may be confused by all the options on a smartphone, a KaiOS phone may be your easiest and most effective solution.

Getting a Toll Free Number for KaiOS Phones

If you do business from a phone that runs off of KaiOS, you may want to take advantage of the features of a toll free number. Virtual phone numbers allow you to make calls from an 800 number. They also ensure that the people you call don’t have to pay a thing. Plus, these numbers are customizable, so you can choose one that is easy to remember and that helps to brand your company.

Choosing Global Call Forwarding for Your Toll Free Numbers

Getting a toll free number on your cellular phone with KaiOS is as easy as giving us a call and getting started today! Choose your telephone number and we’ll route it to your cell phone in minutes! Contact us today if you have additional questions about our toll free numbers for KaiOS phones!

How ITFS Numbers Can Bring International Leads

Becki Meerbeek 18th July 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

International toll free service (ITFS) numbers enable callers to make free phone calls to the ITFS subscriber. ITFS numbers are a very effective tool for marketing to international leads because our service makes any business more reachable in other countries.

One of the greatest benefits of ITFS numbers is that customers from abroad can call your business without a charge. Your business can be physically located anywhere because ITFS numbers forward calls internationally. With an ITFS number, your company will be charged for the service, while customers benefit by calling a “toll free” number.

Benefits of Getting ITFS Numbers

Global Call Forwarding offers ITFS numbers in more than 140 countries. This allows businesses all over the world to take advantage of expanding into specific markets and testing others to see the most profitable markets for their companies and services. With an ITFS Number, you can finally gather international leads using your ITFS Number in your current marketing strategy.

ITFS numbers are a critical tool for many international businesses. They enable your business to be more reachable in foreign markets, and this can contribute to increasing your customer base. The service also makes your business available at all hours, with multiple features designed to manage incoming calls. Imagine, having a Facebook or Instagram Ad – targeted in the country of your choice with a phone number to reach your business, which is essentially the main perk of ITFS numbers. It builds a bridge between the customers or marketing leads you want, in any country you want.

ITFS Numbers with Free Business Features

Global Call Forwarding provides ITFS numbers with a wide array of different business features. When you get ITFS numbers, you will have access to a suite of advanced features such as time-of-day forwarding, advanced IVR, call recording, long-term storage of recorded calls, blacklisting, whitelisting, and others.

Account settings are easily manageable from your ITFS provider’s online portal. Global Call Forwarding offers a very user-friendly dashboard that enables you to access all of your account details, and you can manage all aspects of your ITFS numbers using it. You may also configure your ITFS virtual numbers with an interactive voice response system (IVR) that will greet callers and direct them through a series of prompts. IVR can help your business manage incoming calls more effectively and project a more professional brand as a result of having your communications streamlined so efficiently.

Having these numbers can also boost the productivity of employees and virtual call center representatives. When a customer calls your ITFS phone numbers, he can immediately get access to critical information before speaking to an actual representative. This IVR facility directs all callers to the appropriate department, agent or service representative at the onset of the call, and saves valuable time. The IVR is not only easy to set up but makes use of audio prompts for requesting information based on voice input or touch-tone. This, in turn, also makes way for easy input of authentication information and caller identification.

Getting the Best International Leads using ITFS Numbers

When you get ITFS numbers, your business is taking the first bold step to enhance customer relationships. Global Call Forwarding offers ITFS numbers in over 140 countries so your company can offer free calls in almost any market. Customer relationships will be improved because their calls are handled more efficiently and routed to the appropriate department without unnecessary hold times. This, along with the calls being free, leads to enhanced customer satisfaction.

ITFS numbers can also enhance customer relationships. The call recording feature helps you maintain productivity standards and agent quality, while also being of great benefit to settle disputes faster from credit card companies or customers. You can not only record all incoming calls for reference and security purposes, but you can also listen to the calls on demand and download recordings for quality assurance and training purposes.

An Affordable Cloud-Based Business Communications Tool

International toll free service numbers from Global Call Forwarding are a cloud-based service, and they do not require any expensive equipment for operations and maintenance. Incoming calls can be answered on your mobile phone or landline, and the number of settings can be managed online. This makes it easy for you to run your sales team almost anywhere. Remote teams are a very popular and affordable solution for international call centers and are used commonly for businesses like Apple call centers or Xfinity call centers.

Your company can also test various markets with minimal risk using ITFS numbers. Global Call Forwarding does not charge activation fees and you will not be asked to sign a contract. Your ITFS numbers can be canceled at any time if you find the service does not fit your needs. Global Call Forwarding can provide you a free consultation to better determine the cloud communications needs of your business. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you get ITFS numbers for your business.

Is Your Virtual Number Provider Big on Credibility? How to Tell if You’re Getting the Best Services

Magaly Fuentes 3rd June 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Checking the credibility of a business or provider is an important step in building a long-lasting working relationship with any organization. Though most companies can look good on a TV commercial, sales brochure, or other marketing collateral, these types of materials most often only provide the consumer with a snippet of positive information. Truly getting to know an organization and the people who run the organization requires research, observation, and time. Building a relationship with an organization and learning about the people, products, and track record of the business will increase the likelihood that you will get what you paid for.

For example, many businesses are turning to virtual phone numbers for their communications. Is your virtual number provider big on credibility? How to tell if you’re getting the best services involves some time investment, but it’s well worth it. Here are a few ways:

Reach out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The Better Business Bureau exists in order to help maintain an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust one another and consumers are able to have confidence in the companies they choose to do business with. Checking with the Better Business Bureau to verify the credentials for a business prior to purchasing any products, using any services, or entering any kind of business agreement with the company helps in establishing a trustworthy and solid relationship.

Search for and Read Consumer Reviews

Reading what others think about a company is easier than ever, thanks to the Internet. Many people share their experiences whether they are good or bad, provide ratings and comments, and even provide when specific inquiries are posted. This can be very helpful when doing your due diligence to determine if a company is credible.

Ask for Feedback From Family and Friends

Reaching out to ask family members, friends, and neighbors about a particular organization prior to scheduling a service or purchasing a product or service can help to narrow down the businesses that you should do business with and which ones you shouldn’t. Your family and friends will typically know the quality you expect, so having these types of conversations with people you already trust can save you money and time.

Access Consumer Reports

Reading consumer reports to learn more about companies is one of the oldest and most widely trusted sources when it comes to learning about products prior to buying something. This is the same when you are purchasing a service and looking into a company. So, when determining credibility, going to consumer reports as a reference is an obvious choice. Looking for basic information on the Consumer Reports website, www.consumerreports.org, you have the option to subscribe to the service for specific ratings and other important information. Subscribers are also able to take advantage of online discussion forums to converse with others about products and services, ask questions, read reviews, and share reviews of their own.

How to Tell if You’re Getting the Best Services — Source: Stockphoto.com O# 100006653347 ID#100200144052

Other Ways to Learn About a Business Include:

Google Searches

When almost anyone has a question about anything these days, they turn to Google. Putting the company name into a Google search will help you discover a plethora of things, from reviews to feedback pages to articles mentioning the company and more. The trick is to decipher which sources are credible or not, so don’t automatically believe everything that comes up in your search. Read up on the company from multiple sources and draw your own conclusions from what you gather.

Check the Company’s Website

It is fairly easy for anyone to put up a webpage, so the fact that a company has a website is not the only determining factor in figuring out if they are credible and legitimate or not. Check to see that contact information listed on the website is accurate. If there is no way to contact a company, that is typically a red flag. You can look up registration information for the web address using a website called who.is.

Ensure Modes of Payment Offered Are Secure

Another important determining factor is whether the company offers secure modes of payment. PayPal and Google Pay are a couple of commonly used secure modes of payment. A truly legitimate company will offer these types of options because they know it offers the customer an extra layer of protection and confidence in the organization.

Before deciding on a virtual number provider or any other type of company you need to do business with, it is important to do some research and look to ensure that the company is big on credibility. This will help you to trust the company and support a solid relationship between you and the organization.

Secrets of Using a Toll Free Number to Boost Your Business Calls

Ilsa Morales 16th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Do you have a toll-free number for your business? If you do, then are you using it to its full potential? Toll-free numbers can benefit your business in numerous ways, and most importantly, they can boost your business calls.

Smartphones ended the era where we memorized phone numbers. If people are no longer memorizing the phone numbers of loved ones, do you think that they will remember the phone numbers of businesses? Definitely not. A company that relies on phone calls to find new customers could suffer from these problems if they are not using a toll-free number in their marketing campaigns.

The digital age had a very quick rise to the top, and many businesses shelled out a lot of cash to increase their search rankings or spent a lot of time trying to find followers on social media. Many companies realized that marketing online is not easy and have now turned back to traditional channels of marketing. Currently, there are more radio, print, and TV ads because they are secure means to measure ROI. Broadcast, print, and television can help to get your name out to potential customers, but if you’re looking for callers, then they need to get your phone number, too.

Making Your Business Number Memorable

So, how will a potential customer remember your phone number when they won’t even bother to memorize their mother’s phone number? The answer is with a vanity number!

A vanity number is the best way to get a customer to remember your phone number. Vanity numbers are toll-free numbers that use the letters that are placed on a phone’s keypad to spell out something related to your business. For example, if you are a baker, you might use 1-800-COOKIES. Vanity numbers stand out among the crowd and don’t look funny printed on an ad or spoken about on television. Many successful companies will attach a jingle to their vanity phone numbers when advertising on radio and television as a new way to help commit the phone number to people’s memories.

Using a Toll Free Number for Business — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100211230098

Vanity Numbers Have Seen a Rise in Popularity

Vanity numbers are gaining popularity again because they are so simple to remember and can be used anywhere. If you’re driving past a billboard, you can memorize a vanity number, or if you’re listening to a radio ad, you can memorize a vanity number. Vanity numbers and toll-free phone numbers have always been an excellent choice for businesses, but the recent gain in popularity means that the best names are going fast, so don’t wait to secure the best vanity number for your business.

Make it Easy for Customers to Contact Your Company Using a Toll-Free Number

Customers do not want to put in work to contact your business. And why should they? It is your job as an excellent company to make it easy for them to get in contact with your business. Your company should advertise its number in as many places as possible so that it is not hard for your customers to find it. It can be very frustrating for customers when they can’t find a way to contact a business. Once they find your number, make sure that you are available for their calls at any time of the day. Toll-free vanity numbers are also beneficial to customers because it does not cost them anything to call a company. A customer probably won’t choose your business if they have to pay to get in touch with you when they can call another business for free.

Vanity and toll-free numbers are also great for credibility. A customer will assume a company that uses a toll-free number is a large company or corporation, but in reality toll, free phone numbers are so affordable that any size business, whether it is a very small start-up or a large corporation, can afford to get one. If you are working from your kitchen table, you can still have the same credibility that a Fortune 500 company has, and that ability will give you an edge over your competition.

Toll Free Numbers for Social Media Marketing

Magaly Fuentes 15th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers, Marketing

If you are crafting a new marketing campaign, you may be trying to come up with new ways to affordably boost the success of your campaign and also involve social media tools. If this is indeed the case, you should consider using toll free numbers for social media marketing as a key tool in boosting the success of your campaign.

A customized toll free number fits well into a marketing campaign because it enables you to use the phone number of the company to define the brand. When you think of a vanity toll free number, such as 1-800-FLOWERS, you know specifically what the company offers when that number is dialed. If you dial 1-800-FLOWERS you are able to order flowers for any number of occasions.

Generally speaking, you can use a custom toll free number to do a number of things, including sharing the name of the business, communicating a benefit the business provides, and tracking marketing efforts for a specific campaign. Either way, whether you use toll free numbers for social media marketing or toll free numbers to advance your business in any other way, the toll free number should reinforce the brand’s image and clearly indicate how the company differs from its competitors.

Research has repeatedly pointed to the benefits of incorporating toll free numbers for social media marketing or any kind of marketing into a company’s marketing campaign plan. In addition to offering a way for the company to communicate something specific, incorporating toll free vanity numbers in a marketing campaign can provide additional meaningful benefits, including:

Increased Interest and Calls

A greater number of inbound calls and referrals. Because toll free vanity numbers are expressed with a word or words instead of a string of random numbers, vanity numbers are much easier to remember than a number that is composed of digits exclusively. This means that it is more likely that customers and potential customers will use these types of toll free numbers and also share them with their friends and family. In fact, research indicates that vanity toll free numbers have a rate of recall that is approximately 75 percent higher than the rate of recall for phone numbers that are exclusively numeric. Custom toll free numbers also generate a much higher response rate than regular phone numbers.

A Social Media Credibility Boost

Having toll free numbers for social media marketing or for all of the company’s marketing can improve a business’ credibility and enhance sales efforts. A toll free number shows customers that the business owner and marketing team have taken steps for them to contact the business with more ease and without having to incur any long distance charges for calls. Vanity toll free numbers and regular toll free numbers also make a business seem more established and larger than it actually is, which will help people to have more confidence in the company’s offering of goods and/or services.

Tracking Capabilities

When a company uses toll free numbers for social media marketing or any other marketing efforts, there is ease in tracking key performance indicators. These key performance indicators can help in analyzing the success of an ad campaign overall and allow for a company to adjust their message on an as-needed basis. Having the ability to do this is critical in aiming to generate the best results for a business. Tracking calls linked to a campaign is an affordable and effective way to identify what is working and what is not. The information that is gathered through the tracking of campaign efforts can help a business to improve in every way, whether it is social media marketing, sales campaigns, print ads, or other forms of marketing efforts.

Superior Customer Service

Depending on whether you use toll free numbers for social media marketing or for other types of advertising, toll free numbers can help a company to offer better customer service by helping the business owner determine why a customer or potential customer is reaching out to the business before anyone even answers the phone. When a company has an idea of why a person is calling, it allows customer service representatives to be better prepared to offer superior customer service.

Global Call Forwarding offers toll free numbers for social media marketing or any other type of marketing that a business would like to include in their marketing efforts. Global Call Forwarding has been offering quality products and superior customer service to each and every client worldwide for over two decades. With a knowledgeable and professional staff, GCF customer service representatives are able to best serve each client to ensure each and every business takes advantage of the most advanced services and features available to support business success.

Your Toll Free Number is BORING – Here’s How to Fix It

Ilsa Morales 14th May 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

It’s not a secret that it’s much easier for people to remember vanity numbers over the average phone number or toll-free number. Vanity numbers are making a comeback in popularity for large and small businesses alike. Any business can benefit from using a vanity number, so here is a deeper look at what they are and what they offer. If your toll-free number is boring and you are ready for an upgrade, read on!

If your toll-free number is boring – Use a vanity number!

Vanity numbers work exactly like toll-free numbers, only you can customize the number to reflect your business or products. For example, 1-800-Flowers lets you know exactly what you’re getting when you dial them.

Vanity numbers have all of the benefits of a toll-free number, plus they are easy for people to remember. The more people who know your number by heart, the more often you will receive calls, and the more sales you can make. Vanity numbers are still at no cost to the customer, and they can be used for marketing purposes. Vanity numbers can be placed on billboards, and the drivers whizzing by can read your ad and remember your number on their commute to work. You should also be advertising your number on your website and business cards. Customers and clients prefer the companies they do business with to have a phone number. This is because they know that they can reach your company at any time and be greeted and helped.

Why are words easier to memorize?

According to cognitive neuroscientists, when a customer wants to remember a telephone number they heard or saw, they will use their “working memory,” which is the “voice” inside of their head. The one you hear when repeating something to yourself silently, so you do not forget. However, repeating something over and over to yourself does not guarantee that you will remember it. While your brain works to try to memorize a number, anything can come along to distract you. Whether it is a crying baby, a barking dog, or a car horn honk, things are always around to distract you from what you want to be doing. This is why we will forget a sequence of numbers no matter how hard we try to remember them. The best way to remember a telephone number is to link the number to something meaningful or memorable. This puts the number into our long-term memories, instead of the short-term ones, which are quickly forgotten. For example, if you associate a phone number with a word, then that word will bring up a picture in your head, which is precisely how vanity numbers work.

Oddly enough, some sequences of numbers are easier to remember for humans than other number sequences. Many American citizens have an easier time remembering a number using the series 1776, as that is the year that America gained independence from Great Britain. A citizen that is not from the US will not have that ability, unless they studied American history or it is important to them for another reason, like a date of birth. If your toll-free number is boring, it won’t stick as much as a number with a more familiar number sequence.

Now that you understand how vanity numbers can work for your business, you can begin your research into choosing the right one for your business. So how do you go about finding the number that you want? It can be tricky, because some of the best number and word associations are already claimed, such as 1-800-CONTACTS. Nonetheless, you can still find a vanity number that will get the job done for you. The first step is to brainstorm a list of numbers and words that would work for your business, and then you can search for these numbers. Some of them may already be taken, but Global Call Forwarding will work with you to find you the best number. One way Global Call Forwarding looks out for its customers is that they offer other toll-free prefixes. So if you won’t budge on a word, then you can make an exception from 1-800 to other alternatives such as 1-855 or 1-866. The popularity of alternate toll-free prefixes is rising, and more people are becoming aware that 1-800 isn’t the only toll-free option. All you need to do is use a little bit of creativity, and you will be on the fast track to success.

Why Does My Business Need A Toll Free Number?

Global Call Forwarding 19th March 2019 blog, Business Phone Numbers

A toll free number is a number that allows business professionals in companies of all sizes to connect with customers. These numbers are virtual, meaning that it doesn’t require additional hardware to function or expensive packages for set up. Toll free calls are also free for the incoming caller.

Before purchasing toll free numbers, the first question business owners often ask is: Why does my business need a toll free number? The short answer is your business needs a toll free number because these numbers are critical for appealing to customers and increasing sales.

Having a toll free number indicates to customers that you are professional and value customer service, and you look forward to being of assistance because you’ve made your business easy to reach. Furthermore, toll free numbers can be made even more memorable than a traditional phone if paired with a vanity line.

Want more info on why your business needs a toll free number? Here are some additional facts that explain the importance of toll free numbers for businesses.

Why does my business need a toll free number if I don’t have a large company?

When you dial a toll free phone number to connect with a business, what do you envision? Typically, a large company filled with professionals. Even if this isn’t the case, your professionalism will outweigh the fact that you’re a startup business. Your customers won’t consider that you may be working from home, which is a good thing because they will be more willing to learn about your services and give you a chance to prove that your business services are worth the investment.

Why does my business need a toll free number if I can use my cell phone instead?

Before doing business with your company, most customers will question if your company is trustworthy and an ethical business, especially if they’ve had bad experiences with other companies in the past. A toll free number is just one little facet that adds to your credibility.

Additionally, there are multiple things customers will look for to determine your credibility, including your website, online ratings, and what’s being said about your business on social media. It’s highly likely that a potential customer will be more inclined to buy from you if you have favorable online results.

Yet, positive reviews may not be enough if your personal cell phone number or a long-distance number is provided as your business contact information. Sharing your personal phone number is considered unprofessional – not to mention that it can put your personal information at risk.

Furthermore, most customers will be discouraged from paying to make a phone call to a business, so a toll free number just makes sense in all of these scenarios.

If I’m relocating, why does my business need a toll free number?

Callers prefer a business rooted in stability. A toll free number gives you the freedom to relocate at any given time without alerting your customers. If you’re traveling, forward your toll free number to your cell phone or destination location. The call forwarding feature maintains a level of consistency, which keeps callers from focusing on your personal endeavors and on your business services instead.

If marketing is my main focus, why does my business need a toll free number?

Business owners using toll free numbers often recommend them because they help customers meet their business goals.

When you are marketing your business, it’s likely that you will be using multiple advertising forms including the internet, print publications, and local directories. Each avenue of marketing is likely to attract a different type of customer. Some marketing outlets could bring you more business than others, while some may not be worth the investment.

The only way to know the best marketing strategies for your company is by tracking each campaign. Tracking various marketing techniques can be done easily with a toll free number by assigning multiple toll free numbers to each marketing campaign. The phone number that receives the most calls will let you know the advertisements that are most effective.

Why does my business need a toll free number to be more competitive?

The costs of relocating are expensive and require a large investment of time. Toll free numbers eliminate the need to physically relocate to conduct business in certain regions. Some business owners may purchase only one toll free number, but purchasing multiple toll free numbers is recommended. Testing various numbers allows companies to find the messaging that best resonates with clients – especially when connecting toll free numbers with a vanity phone number.

Remember to research your vanity keywords before purchasing them. Your first choice may be catchy, but a similar idea may already be in use by a competitor. This can be confusing to customers and decrease your sales if new callers reach out to another company by mistake.

Review other numbers that are already in use. Then, find unique keyword phrases that will inspire consumers to call your business.

Note: Know that your toll free number will never be passed on to another business. Once you buy a toll free phone number, it will be yours exclusively, so there’s no need to worry about your business calls being redirected to another company in the future.