Wednesday, December 11, 2013

1-800-Numbers


1800 Numbers Make Your Company More Impressive
Successful, profit-bearing companies have an impressive appearance about them. Whether the companies are exclusively online, run from home or have a traditional address, 1800 numbers give companies a credible presence.

Image
When businesses have 1800 numbers, visions of high-tech companies with large buildings and many workers come to mind. This is not always the case, although the phone numbers lead people to picture this. Companies with this type of contact are actually more apt to being smaller. Making businesses look impressive is one aspect of phone numbers, as even tiny businesses of two people can have 1800 numbers. It is all about image, especially first impressions, which can make companies more impressive.

Higher Profits
All business owners want to be successful in the marketing strategies. As higher profits are what businesses dream of, looking impressive is another goal. Companies have an extraordinary edge when they have reliable phone numbers; people who call 1 800 numbers more than likely are going to order a higher volume of products. Companies contacted in this way are used to handling a higher volume of products, or at least that is what potential buyers may think. Successful, exposed businesses that reap in solid revenue look more impressive, and that will establish a good reputation and buyers that will return for more products.

The Wow Factor
People remember what they see and hear. When people are given 1 800 numbers with catchy words or phrases, see it on websites, or watch it on television, they will probably remember it. When they are in the market for a particular product or service, potential customers are going to recollect what they saw. Businesses have that “Wow” factor by grabbing future clients’ attention when they hear or see the contact information. Companies, no matter the size, will look impressive with vanity numbers, and customers will pick up that phone when they are in need of services.

Confidence
Developing buyers’ confidence is important.  Once a customer wants a specific product or service, companies are going to be researched. In order to give the customers confidence in their buying decisions, 1800 numbers make business look credible and established. With this image in place, buyer confidence will soar. After customers call, speak to a representative, and place an order, they will hang up feeling as if they made a good, solid decision. Buyer confidence leads to satisfaction in the end, and this leads to an impressive reputation for your company.

Features
When customers make phone calls, they do not like being placed on hold. They certainly do not enjoy being forced to listen to loud, gaudy music, getting disconnected from their extension, or given poor service. 1800 numbers have a variety of features to help businesses make transactions seamless. These numbers make businesses look impressive because of the actual experience on the phone. With voicemail options, call forwarding options, call transfer options, and streamlined ways to route many customers, companies will have top notch reputations a short amount of time.

With happy customers after the orders are placed, businesses will thrive. Vanity numbers give companies an edge over those that don’t, and people are going to give their business to those that look impressive and professional to them.

To learn more about 1800 Numbers visit: http://www.itelecenter.com 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Callers Don’t Need to Redial with Call Transfer

Technology has improved the way that business is done all over the world. The internet, along with phone features like call transfer, has made it possible to work from virtually any location in the world. This means that it is now possible to deal with calls whether we are in the office or spending time at home with our families. Moreover, it also helps us ensure that all the calls are professionally answered.

Offers Complete Mobility

When making use of call transfer, you can be assured that you will still be able to receive calls, no matter where you are. This means that you won’t have to waste precious time at the office waiting for a call when there is something more important that needs to be done elsewhere. Clients will no longer have to rely on an answering service because they will be able to reach you at any time. Call transfer is also ideal for people who are frequent travellers; because it means that they will be able to receive their calls virtually anywhere in the world.

Gives Clients a Personal Touch

Call transfer ensures that your clients never have to deal with an answering service or an impersonal form of voicemail when calling your company. Using this feature, they can rest assured that they will always be able to reach a live staff member that will be able to deal with any queries that they may have. This also gives your business a more professional appearance, because it ensures that calls never go unanswered – even when no one is at the office. An added benefit for using this feature is that it is easy to set up. All it takes is a call to your phone service provider to ensure that they offer the service (most of them do). Most providers will be happy to assist with the setup and provide easy instruction for use.

It Is for Everyone

Gone are the days where technological advances were reserved for those in the high-powered corporate world. The benefits of call transfer are applicable to anyone these days, whether they are CEO’s or busy moms. It allows people who are working in tight deadlines to have their non-important calls diverted to alternative sources. Moms who are constantly on the run from one activity to another can opt to have their calls are transferred to their cell phones, which will ensure that they never miss an important call again. Call transfer will be able to handle your calls no matter where you are.

Call transfer has revolutionised the way that phone calls are handled. There is no longer any need to worry about not being able to reach the phone when you’re expecting an important call. Using this feature, you can rest assured that your calls will be dealt with in a professional manner at all times. It will also give your business the competitive edge that it needs in order to survive in today’s highly competitive work environment.

For more please visit: http://www.itelecenter.com

Monday, April 29, 2013

How 1800 Numbers Can Help the Marketing Campaign of a Business

While everybody is familiar with the 800 toll free prefix, not everybody knows that there are actually several other toll free prefixes as well like, 888, 877, 866 and 855. Though technically all these numbers look the same, there are some significant difference when these numbers are used for advertising or promotional purposes.  All the numbers work in the same way, but 1800 numbers are significantly more successful for marketing and advertising purposes.

Generating Better Response

1800 numbers, also known as toll free numbers, are important for building the communication system of an organization. But the benefits of using this number are not limited to this. It has greater implications. More than an inexpensive communicative device, toll free numbers are used to make marketing and advertising campaigns a success.  Just by using this number, you can significantly increase the responses of a marketing or advertising campaign.

Lures More Customers

Many research projects and surveys have proved more than once that 1 800 numbers can generate at least 30 per cent more response than a simple numeric phone number. When people know that the number they are dialing is free, they will obviously feel relaxed to call and inquire about products and services. The more number of calls you receive, the higher the chances are of converting them to actual sales. So, toll free numbers help you to attract more calls and often more sales.

Making Phone Numbers Memorable

It is not just enough to attract customers to call you. People must be able to remember your phone number to call you. Vanity 1800 numbers play an important role in making your phone number memorable to people. Vanity numbers are alphanumeric numbers that contains words or phrases related to the product or service or business name, like 1 800 ICECREAM, if you are selling ice cream. This makes both the phone number and the business memorable to all.

Boosts Business Reputation

1800 numbers can boost a business reputation almost instantly. There was a time when using a toll free number was considered a novelty.  As soon as you include a toll free number in your business contact list, you automatically enter the elite group of companies that offer toll free service for their customers and it is an acknowledged fact that people prefer to have business relationship with companies whom they think are big, sophisticated and hence dependable.

Successful in Advertising Campaigns

Research has proved that campaigns that use vanity numbers are more successful than campaigns that do not. This is because vanity numbers are easy to remember and relate to. 1 800 numbers significantly increase the size of your audience because people remember your number and often call you on that to inquire about products/services. When you use this number for an advertising campaign, people remember the number and call you even after the campaign has ended. They are quite sure of not paying for the call and feel comfortable inquiring about products/services.

For more info please visit: http://www.itelecenter.com

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

8 Reasons to Use 1800 Numbers for Your Business

It’s quite an acknowledged fact that 1800 numbers can influence businesses in some incredible ways.  In this article today, let’s do a quick recap of some of the important reasons to use this number for businesses:

Credibility

When you use a toll free number for business contact, it proves almost instantly that you mean business. It shows that you are serious about business and are ready to take up responsibilities and complaints from customers. It makes businesses appear credible and professional almost within minutes.

Portability 

1800 numbers can be used with any telephone connection – cell phone, home phone or the desk phone of the office. Moreover, these numbers can also be ported from one service provider to another. After the FCC passed a regulation, it is possible to change service providers without changing toll free numbers.

Customer Satisfaction

Are you thinking of ways to enhance customer satisfaction? Simply include 1800 numbers in your business contact list. Customers understand that you care for them and that their calls are important for your business. This is one important message that you would like customers to know. They feel assured about customer service because they know how to reach you.

More Calls – More Sales

A toll free number also encourages people across the country to call you and inquire about your products/services. This is because people are pretty sure that they do not have to pay anything for calling you. They feel comfortable in calling you and inquiring about products/services because the rising telephone bill could no longer bother them. These are your chances to convert an interested caller to a customer. Use your 1 800 number to bring in more sales.

Marketing

1800 numbers are also an important tool for marketing products.  Research has proved that when you use a toll free number in marketing and promotional campaigns, it can generate 30% more responses. This is because people are sure of not paying the telephone bill, even when they are calling from far. It is also advised to use toll free numbers on the corporate website and on all marketing materials like brochures, flyers, business cards, billboards, social networking sites and on every form and mode of public interaction.

Makes Phone Numbers Memorable

When it comes to remembering a 10 digit phone number, all number are the same – a generic phone number or a toll free number. How can you make phone numbers memorable to people?  The easiest answer is to associate it with your business. So people remember both – the business and the way to reach it, for example 1 800 ICECREAM, if you sell ice cream. These numbers are known as vanity numbers and are highly successful in advertising and promotional campaigns.

Multiple Plans for Every Entrepreneur

1800 numbers are quite affordable and even a small business or a start-up business can use it to get maximum benefits. Usually the service providers of 800 numbers offer multiple plans to meet the needs of every entrepreneur. Again, most of these plans include free minutes.

Creating Separate Extensions

1800 numbers with virtual phone systems allow you to create extensions. So you can create separate extensions for employees and departments. It also portrays an image of a big business with multiple departments and extensions, even if all the calls are routed to the same person.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

1800 Numbers – Are They Relevant for Every Business?

When you are starting a new business and are searching the web or reading books to gather tips in order to make it successful, one of the common suggestions that you will come across everywhere is to use 1800 numbers. Every business needs a contact number for its customers and using a number specific for business instead of a generic number can definitely prove to be more beneficial for businesses. But what is so compelling about 1800 numbers that businesses of every size are opting for it? Below I have compiled some of the most commonly perceived benefits of using this number. Comparing these benefits with your business goals can help to decide whether you need one or not.

Credibility

Traditionally, toll free numbers have been associated with big and large corporations. So when you include one such number in your business contact information as well, it instantly makes your business look big and professional. This also enhances your credibility because people understand you as big and they believe only big corporations are reliable.

More Sales
The most obvious implication of using 1800 numbers is that your callers do not pay for calling you, even when they are calling from far away. This attracts new customers to call you and inquire about products/services because they do not have to bother about the rising telephone bill. There also have been quite a few research reports that show a toll free number can increase sales by at least 30%.

More Calls

If you have an online store or want to encourage customers to order over the phone, your need for 1800 numbers is greater. When customers order over the phone they might take a little longer inquiring about prices, options, etc. If you want your customers to relax and feel comfortable while they are giving you business, you should use a toll free number. Moreover, customers will also feel more confident to give you their business over the phone the next time.

Better Return


Though 1800 numbers might need a minimum initial investment, they are sure to give a good return. It will compel customers to actually dial your business number and inquire about your product/service. These calls are opportunities to make more business. You need to apply all your sales techniques to convert an inquisitive caller to a dedicated customer.

Advanced Features

1 800 numbers allow the creation of extensions that makes your small business look big. You can re-direct all the calls to you and yet it will give customers an impression that they are calling a big enterprise that has separate extensions for every department. This call redirect feature is call forwarding and can be of great benefit to your business.

The next step is to analyze whether these numbers are in line with your business goals. These numbers are quite inexpensive and will not charge you a hefty amount every month but the point is: does your business need this number? Try to match each of the above stated advantages with your business objective. Does the business need to look big and credible? Do you need to get more calls from customers in order to have more business? Does your business need to use advanced features of a modern phone system? The nature of the business actually decides if 1800 numbers are relevant or not.

To learn more about 1800 Numbers please visit: http://www.itelecenter.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Let Your Small Business Prosper with 1 800 Number

There was a time when a 1 800 number was reserved only for big companies. It was very rare for a small or mid-sized company to use this number for their business needs. But things have undergone a huge change in the recent years. There are many small companies that opt for toll free numbers in order to maintain a professional look, track calls and allow customers to call them without caring about long distance charges. This article will discuss the various advantages of using 1 800 number and also how to find the best toll free service for you.

New Toll Free Prefixes are Also Popular

Though a toll free number is still popularly known as 1 800 number , there has appeared a set of new toll free prefixes like 888, 877, 866 and 855. Technically all these prefixes work in the same way and they have the same advantage. But in cases of marketing, advertising or promotion, “800” is often found to be more effective because it is the most popular toll free prefix. Other prefixes are also gaining popularity as toll free because it’s been quite some time that they are in use.

Business Benefit of Using This Number

The most important business benefit of using this number is that the caller does not have to pay for the call. Even if your callers are calling from far away, they do not need to pay anything for the call. Your customers and partners actually feel comfortable to call you and discuss your products/services or any new offer or new scheme because they are not worried about the mounting telephone bill.  1 800 number can also help you save money. When you are out of town because of any business or for some other reason, you can simply call your colleagues for free.  If you are using a 1 800 number with a virtual phone you can also benefit from voicemail and auto attendant that will help you save time, enhance your productivity and efficiency.

Makes You Credible

Since initially toll free 1800 numbers  were associated only with big companies, there is an idea that this number is not suitable for small businesses. But in reality, it is just the opposite. 1 800 number is more relevant for a small business than a big one. This is because it makes a small business look big, professional and credible. This is necessary to attract new customers because people want to do business only with companies that are big, because they feel only such companies to be credible and professional.

Choose a Number That is Memorable

1 800 number can also be used in the advertising and promotional efforts of your company. When you use a toll free number instead of a normal phone number, you receive more calls from your customers. But it is even better to use vanity numbers. Numeric phone numbers, whether toll free or not, is nothing more than a string of ten digits.  A vanity number, on the other hand is always closely associated with your business and it contains either the name of your business or your service or product. So when your customers come across your vanity number, it is quite possible that they will remember it and this is exactly your mission.

Please visit: http://www.itelecenter.com

Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Regulations of 1800 Numbers and the Role of the FCC

In 1967, AT&T rolled out the first 1800 numbers. In the U.S, these numbers are known as toll free numbers whereas the rest of the world may refer to them as “Freephone numbers”.  Since the introduction of the toll free numbers, their demand has been constantly soaring. In 1996, 1800 numbers were exhausted and so new toll free prefixes were introduced. First, the 888 prefix was introduced and then gradually 877, 866 were introduced. 855 were introduced most recently - in 2010.

Assigning Toll Free Numbers

All 1800 numbers are stored in a centralized database, which is known as the Service Management System (SMS/800). In order to reserve a toll free number, you need to contact a Responsible Organization. Toll free numbers are usually assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Responsible Organizations or RespOrgs may or may not be telephone companies. They can either be telephone companies, other companies or individuals. They must have the certification and privilege to access SMS/800 database. RespOrgs check the availability of a number and reserve it for its customers. There are many RespOrg across the U.S. and you can find one by visiting www.sms800.com or by calling their Help Desk at 1 888 SMS 3300.

Role of the FCC in Assigning Toll Free Numbers

The FCC governs the rules regarding 1800 numbers for your business. It is neither involved in the day-to-day assignment of toll free numbers nor does it have access to the centralized database. It acts as a governing body that regulates the rules for these numbers.

The FCC prohibits warehousing or hoarding of toll free numbers, which means that a service provider cannot own a large block of toll free numbers without assigning them to actual subscribers. Hoarding of these numbers even by RespOrgs are subject to a penalty. Hoarding also constitutes “number brokering”. So it is also illegal for a subscriber to sell his toll free number for a fee. If you have any problem with your service provider, you can issue a complaint with the FCC.

Portability of Toll Free Numbers

Until 1991, RespOrgs were the only providers of 1 800 numbers, until FCC ordered for the full portability of toll free numbers in that same year. Portability of these numbers ensured that users could change their service provider without changing their number. The portability of 1800 numbers opened up the market. Now once you buy a toll free number, it does not expire. RespOrgs also started their own businesses. They started their own websites to attract new customers to their business.

Advent of Vanity Numbers

Since then there has been a change in the characteristics of 1800 numbers as well.  Soon after toll free numbers became portable, there emerged a special type of toll free numbers, known as vanity numbers. Vanity numbers, in reality are mnemonics that easily sticks to the mind of people. A research report by 800response.com shows that vanity numbers can provide an almost 84% recall rate as compared to a numeric toll free number shown in visual media.  Vanity numbers are especially successful in marketing and promotional efforts. They help to build brand awareness and also work as a way of communication. 

To learn more 1800 Numbers visit: http://www.itelecenter.com