Tips to finding a suitable 1800 number for your business
If you’re looking to find a suitable 1800 number for your business, it’s best to initially weigh all the costs and benefits of the number types before making a decision. Considering critical areas such as the number’s intended purposes and your budget can help narrow down potential options and single out which number your business can find success with.
Determine your purpose
Before starting your search for an 1800 number, it’s crucial to determine the primary purpose for acquiring one.
Are you aiming to enhance customer service by requesting phone calls? Improving marketing efforts,? Alternatively, are you simply searching for free numbers to provide a toll-free contact point for your customers?
Understanding your business number and main objective will guide your decision-making process. Ultimately helping you choose and purchase a number that aligns with your business goals.
Consider memorability vs. cost
When choosing an 1800 number account, it’s essential to balance memorability with the cost to pay. Phonewords, which convert a numeric sequence into a word form or phrase, can be highly memorable and effective in marketing. However, they may come at a higher cost.
Thus, here are some strategies to think about when looking to balance memorability against cost:
Creative Brainstorming: Think creatively about potential Phonewords that align with your brand. Consider using words that reflect your business’s products, services, or values.
Market Research: Conduct market research to identify what type of inbound numbers resonate most with your target audience.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate the potential return on investment for more expensive Phonewords against simpler numeric sequences.
Understanding availabilities
Availability of 1800 numbers varies depending on the type of number you’re looking for. Some may be harder to acquire due to their rarity or higher cost, while others may be easily accessible with a trusted number provider.
Generally, the available 1800 numbers in the market can be divided into two categories:
Normal 1800 Numbers: These numbers usually come from a readily available pool and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Pricing can vary based on demand and the provider.
Smart numbers (Phonewords): These are regulated and sold by ACMA, which can then be acquired through a provider. They can be more expensive to connect due to their customised nature and marketing potential. Prices can range in cost depending on the available smartnumbers and the desirability of the inbound number.
Businesses interested in Smartnumbers must check their availability through ACMA and secure hosting for the type of services connected from a provider like Telcoworks.
Check included features
When selecting a connection to an 1800 number, it’s important to consider the additional features that come with it. These features can greatly enhance your business operations and customer interactions, so always look for the ones you think your business needs.
Here are some common features to look for:
Call Forwarding: Allows calls to be directed to different phone lines or locations, ensuring your business won’t miss a call.
Voicemail: Provides a way for customers to leave messages if no one is available to take the call.
Call Analytics: Offers insights into call patterns, durations, and origins, helping businesses to analyse and improve their customer service.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Enables automated responses to guide callers to the appropriate department or information source.