You and your team members can keep personal phone numbers secret while giving your firm credibility and increasing brand recognition with a business phone number. It also boosts consumer trust and sets you apart from your rivals while making it simpler for clients to find and remember how to contact you.
We’ll get more into the definition, types, and essential characteristics of business phone numbers in this post, as well as how to obtain one.
An explanation of a business phone number
A direct inward dialing (DID) number, often known as a business phone number, is a telephone number that is not connected to a particular phone system.
This means that, even while traveling, you can use the same business phone number on different devices and places by using the provider’s app.
Setting up a business phone number is simple; all you have to do is download the number provider app, choose the plan and phone number you want, and pay (generally on a monthly basis). The entire process is completed in under a day, and usually in less than an hour.
The Various Business Phone Number Types
The kind of business phone number you select for your company is important since not all business phone numbers are made equal.
Following are the primary categories of virtual business phone numbers:
- Local Telephones
- Freephone Numbers
- Vanity figures
- Phones
For establishing a local presence, use local phone numbers
A local phone number is associated with a particular place or area code and gives your company a more reputable local presence.
Keep in mind that you can select local phone numbers in area codes different than the one where your firm is physically located. In order to have a local presence across the entire country, many firms actually purchase multiple local phone lines.
Toll-Free Numbers for Reasonably Professional Service
Prefixes like 800, 888, 877, 866, etc. are used to identify toll-free lines, sometimes known as “800 numbers.”
In contrast to local phone numbers, which are bound to a specific area, calling these numbers is free for consumers. Through your phone service provider, you can set up toll-free numbers or have them redirected to existing lines.
These numbers, which typically cost $10.00 per number per month, are an affordable choice that gives your company a more national rather than just local presence.
For better name recognition, use vanity phone numbers
A vanity phone number is a customised toll-free number that you can customize and spell out words or phrases that are important to you. The most well-known vanity number is probably 1-800-FLOWERS.
Using vanity phone numbers is a great approach to improve both name and number memory. Therefore, even if a potential customer hears or sees your vanity number and doesn’t require what your company is now selling, they will know who to call when they do.
The main drawback of this is that many vanity numbers have already been taken, so be ready to get a little inventive. The cost of a vanity number per month can range from $10.00 to $50.00, which is significantly more expensive than a regular toll-free number.
Reasons for Having a Business Phone Number
Comparing a business phone number to a landline or even a smartphone number has various advantages.
In addition to making yourself appear more professional, we’ll provide some additional justifications for why you require a virtual business phone number below.
Multiple Device Support
A business phone number can be used on any device of your choice, including your regular desk phone, a laptop or desktop computer, a smartphone, or even a tablet.
You won’t have to spend your time waiting for calls on your landline any more because these numbers are highly portable and flexible.
Thanks to fundamental features like call forwarding, a missed call on one of your devices or phone numbers will also be forwarded to another. For instance, if a customer phones your business phone number and no one picks up, the call will be forwarded to your personal mobile phone number.
Additional Channels of Communication
Although voice calls are the most common use for virtual phone lines, many service providers also include SMS texting and online faxing as additional communication options.
With online faxing, you may send and receive calls, which frees up your business phone line so you can send and receive contracts and other crucial papers without the need for bulky equipment.
If you miss a call while in a meeting, you can quickly react to simple client questions via SMS and MMS business texting or let them know when you’ll be available to speak on the phone.
Modern Features for Improved Call Management
Call Screening (Caller ID), for instance, makes it easier to decide whether to accept the call and guarantees that, if you do, you are better prepared for the conversation.
Call records and real-time missed call and voicemail notifications help you avoid missing returning calls in a timely manner (or from forgetting to return calls at all.)
You can now read voicemails instead of listening to them thanks to the voicemail transcription services offered by several virtual phone number providers. The callback prioritization is enhanced while time is saved.
Later in this essay, we’ll discuss additional important business phone characteristics to consider.
Features of a Required Business Phone Number
Only if you find a virtual business phone app with the capabilities that will best meet your particular business demands will it be useful.
- One of the most crucial elements to take into account when choosing a phone service is a mobile application. You can carry on chats with clients and coworkers while you’re on the move.
- Call forwarding: Using this service, you can easily divert calls to any other phone number you like.
- Auto Attendant: Auto attendants are voice-activated menus that automatically direct calls from your customers to the appropriate department. These are an excellent approach to handle calls and guarantee that your consumers won’t have to wait for too long.
- Finding a provider that enables voicemail-to-email or voicemail-to-text would be advantageous for your company because it would automatically give you notes from any voicemail. Voicemail Transcription
- Call recording: Unlike voicemail transcription, which provides a physical copy of your messages, call recording ensures that you don’t miss anything from any incoming or departing calls. Observe any call recording regulations that may be in place.
- Call Parking: With this function, you can put a caller on hold in the cloud and let any employee take up the call again. Customers won’t have to wait around for too long while the call is handled by the best individual.
- Analytics: This will provide you with all the information necessary to ensure that your personnel are as productive as possible throughout their calls.
Choosing a Business Phone Number: Best Practices
The final step in acquiring a virtual number is selecting the right number itself.
Consider your first plans for the number first.
It is preferred to tie customer support to a toll-free 800 number since customers prefer not to be charged for assistance with issues they feel your organization “caused.” Calls with known area codes are more likely to be picked up, so local numbers should be utilized for sales calls. Vanity numbers are useful for general commercial phone numbers with IVR menus to guide calls because they are easy to remember. They are a good addition to advertising campaigns.
The quantity you select will also be influenced by the size, location, and future expansion plans of your company.
Local numbers are frequently used by small teams or brick-and-mortar enterprises because the majority of their clients are situated nearby. National firms often choose 1-800 numbers since they are more beneficial to customers and increase the credibility of the brand. Enterprise-level companies with a high daily call volume and those who aggressively market their products and services benefit most from having a vanity number.
