6 Things to Consider When Choosing a
Phone Number for Your Business
Your business phone number is a commonly overlooked aspect of your branding. However, choosing the right number can make a big difference to your business. So, let us look at 6 things to consider when selecting a phone number for your business.
1. Do You Want It to Be Local or National?
Local numbers can help you to gain the trust of your customers, as it shows that you have something in common with them by being in the same community. However, if you are based in a small town, you might like to choose a number from the nearest city.
On the other hand, if you are a national or global business, you might prefer a national number. This will give the impression that you are a large business that spans the country, even if this is not necessarily the case.
The difference between ISN and VoIP is that with a VoIP phone system, you can choose any number you want, even if you aren’t in the same country. For example, if you do most of your business in the UK but are based in Ireland, you could simply set up a number using the London area code.
2. Are There Departments That Might Benefit from A Separate Number?
If you have various departments in your company that receive a high volume of calls, you may consider getting multiple phone numbers that direct customers towards the right department.
For example, a dedicated customer service number will take the pressure off employees who solely deal with other aspects of the business, freeing up their time and thus increasing productivity.
3. Consider Freephone Numbers
With freephone numbers, you will foot the bill for the calls rather than the customer, making it free for them to contact you. This can cement your business as an authority in your field and increase call traffic, as callers will know they won’t be charged for getting in touch.
4. Vanity Numbers
Vanity numbers are when a phone number being dialed spells out a word or phrase that makes it more recognizable. For example, if your business is a hairdresser, you could end the number with 4247 or 4247288, which are the corresponding numbers to ‘HAIR’ or ‘HAIRCUT’ on a keypad.
5. The Simpler the Better
The simpler your phone number is, the more likely customers are going to remember it. Try to use as few digits as possible in a repeating sequence. Everyone remembers the phone number for 118 118 – why? Because it is so simple! Another great example is Hastings, who use the memorable date of 1066 which everyone will recognize as the year of the Battle of Hastings.
6. Working Out What You Want to Achieve Will Help You Make These Decisions
Are you looking to make it easier for customers to call you, or are you hoping to streamline your business practices? Do you want to appear local to your customers, or like an international enterprise? How will customers find out your number, and so how memorable does it need to be?
By working out what you need your business phone number to achieve, you will be able to ensure that all the decisions you make when considering these factors will help you to achieve your goal.
