A toll-free number is one that may be called from a landline phone without the caller incurring any costs. Compared to utilizing a personal or regular business phone number, it increases consumer recognition and gives your company a far more professional appearance.
With their business phone service plans, several companies offer a range of local, international, vanity, and toll-free numbers.
Let’s look at toll-free numbers’ functionality, advantages, the top service providers, and how to obtain one for your company.
A Toll-Free Number: What Is It?
A toll-free number is a phone number for a business that starts with distinctive three-digit numbers known as number prefixes. The most popular prefixes for toll-free numbers are 800, 888, 877, 855 and 866.
The most frequent uses of toll-free lines are for customer service inquiries, to make purchases easier, or to get additional details about a business.
A Toll-Free Number’s Operation
Both landlines and mobile phones can make toll-free calls. Even if calling from Canada or anyplace else in the world is technically a long-distance call, the toll-free number owner is the one who pays for all incoming and outgoing calls, while the call is completely free to the party phoning the number. (Take note that calling from a cell phone without unlimited minutes will only result in the caller being charged for the toll-free call.)
Callers may also reach toll-free numbers via SMS texting as long as the numbers have been made able to send and receive messages.
Advanced calling features including call recording, IVR/auto-attendant, call routing, call forwarding, and call queuing are widely available from toll-free service providers.
Why Toll-Free Numbers Are Beneficial
The advantages of using toll-free numbers for your company are listed below.
Added Credibility
More than 58% of consumers say they prefer to call toll-free numbers over regular local ones.
Using an 800 number rather than a local number gives smaller companies and startups greater respectability. This gives them the ability to appear as established as more established rivals, giving the impression to customers that these small enterprises have access to the same resources as giant corporations.
Easy to Recall
We wager that the mere notion of toll-free numbers immediately conjures up memorized or jingling numbers for other businesses.
They stick in your mind, and they’ll do the same for your clients. Since toll-free phone numbers are simple to remember, customers will call your number the next time they require the services you provide because they are familiar with it.
Branding
For branding, toll-free numbers are excellent as well. 1-800-COLORS is the most prominent instance of a company marketing its vanity number.
Everyone is aware of what they sell based on their business name, and everyone is aware of the phone number to call if they want to purchase flowers. By streamlining and improving the client journey, you’re accomplishing two goals at once.
To Your Callers, Free
Finally, because calling a toll-free number won’t cost them anything, customers are more likely to do so.
Use that to transform the request into a useful one for your business by asking for further details or placing an order. Customers and leads who aren’t even sure if they need your product or service are more likely to inquire about your company’s mission.
They have nothing to lose after all.
Toll-Free Numbers: How Are They Assigned?
The FCC places stringent restrictions on the sale of vanity and toll-free numbers. Because they are first-come, first-served, businesses are not allowed to hoard vanity numbers if they don’t intend to use them.
Observe the following guidelines to make sure the toll-free number is approved:
- Utilize the new 833 toll-free prefix in addition to other toll-free numbers such as 888, 877, 855 and 866.
- Avoid limiting yourself to vanity figures.
- Avoid restricting yourself to a real 800 number.
- Try other spellings of a vanity number that has already been taken.
- Use the pre-made ideas some suppliers supply and the keywords your website ranks for
- If the term you want is too long, substitute “overdials”
These advice is succinct and straightforward, but it seems that this is the way to go when trying to get a toll-free 800 number. Finding one that is ideal for your business and signing up are both simple processes. You can instantly sign up with a fantastic toll-free number provider with the right investigation and the capacity to remain open to alternatives to real 800 numbers.
Gaining Access to a Toll-Free Number
Responsible Organizations, often known as “RespOrgs,” are companies that offer toll-free phone numbers to their clients. RespOrgs is the official channel through which customers who want to purchase toll-free numbers do so. Similar to a website address, any number that hasn’t been claimed or whose former owner’s rights have expired is up for grabs.
A customer owns their favorite number once they choose and pay for it. Existing toll-free numbers can be transfered legally from one supplier to another, or vice versa. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) does not disclose any information regarding the owners or status of a toll-free number; instead, RespOrgs (number providers), who have access to a database, do so.
Who Has the Right to Use Toll-Free Numbers?
While anyone can simply obtain and take advantage of a toll-free business number, they will be especially useful for startups and small enterprises trying to establish themselves and build their credibility.
Toll-free numbers provide clients and leads with quick, memorable methods to get in touch with your business and are a powerful marketing tool as well.
Remember that 1-800-COLORS incorporated toll-free numbers into their business strategy because they were so confident in their effectiveness. They saw immediate success, and even if you don’t exactly match their success, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the beneficial effects toll-free numbers have on your company.
FAQ
How many toll-free numbers is allowed for my company?
You are free to have as many toll-free lines as you want, but bear in mind that with your existing carrier, adding more toll-free numbers typically costs between $5 and $10 per user each month.
Numerous companies have unique toll-free numbers for:
– locations of branches
– Departments
– Certain marketing initiatives
– Particular items
What is the cost of a toll-free number?
Individual toll-free number providers often charge between $10.00 and $20.00 per user per month, and full-service company providers typically charge between $25.00 and $50.00 per user per month.
What does phone number brokerage entail?
The FCC forbids the practice of purchasing up well-liked toll-free numbers and then reselling them for a huge profit, which is known as number brokering.
Can my toll-free number be changed?
Your current toll-free number can be ported to another business phone system or number provider.
Your toll-free number can be ported to a different provider for no charge, but the procedure may take 5 to 21 business days after you complete a Responsible Organization Change Authorization Form.
You’ll need to terminate your current service with your provider or the number itself and select a new one if you want to entirely change your number. Be aware that even after cancellation, it might continue to function for some time.
