When you’re trying to run a business, there are some things that may not seem like they should be a high priority - and the issue of which phone number you have might seem like one of them.

However, not making the effort to get an 0800 number may prove to be a major mistake. And these are the reasons why.

TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS SEEM LARGER THAN IT IS

How big is your business? How many people does it employ? None of that matters, if you have an 0800 number. With one, you immediately look like a large and professional organisation, one that a potential customer will immediately see as being competent to get the job done.

TO MAKE YOUR OPERATION SEEM LESS REGIONAL

If someone in Manchester needs a problem solved, it can often seem obvious to them that they should call a business based in Manchester. That means you don’t want a phone number that screams out that you’re in Aberdeen. And, of course, this applies to potential customers and businesses in any part of the UK.

Having an 0800 number gives no clues as to just where your business is located and, therefore, gives potential customers no geographical reason to not get in touch.

MEMORABILITY

You want people to be able to remember your number? You want a number that conveniently fits a jingle? That’s not so easy with a great long string of seemingly random digits assigned to you by your phone company.

With an 0800 number, you can choose the number you get and therefore pick something that will lodge permanently in the minds of your customers.

TO SAVE ON RECEPTIONISTS

Receptionists are great but they do cost money. This isn’t a problem if you’re a multi-national corporation with cash to burn. However, if you’ve just started out, you need to save money where you can.

An 0800 number, with a virtual call receiving system will get round that problem and save you much needed cash. Also, you can set up a system for funnelling calls.

This enables customers to say which department they wish to contact and then quickly be put through to whoever it is they actually need to talk to.

FOR WHEN YOU NEED TO RELOCATE OR EXPAND

Unless you’re masochist, it’s a safe bet you want your business to succeed. If it does, you may have to relocate, and that means getting a new landline number.

It’s going to be a major headache telling all your clients that they’re now going to have to call a completely different number from now on. If you have an 0800 number, it doesn’t matter how many times you relocate. The number isn’t going to change.

CALL ANALYSIS

With an 0800 number, you’re given a breakdown of the calls you receive. Thanks to this, you can get a clear idea of how long it takes you to deal with queries, on which days you get most calls and at what times of day you’re being contacted. You can use such information to work out how best to deal with periods of high demand.

ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO CALL YOU

It goes without saying that anyone calling you via a landline when you have a free 0800 service has to pay nothing to do so. But many mobile phone companies have also removed their fees. For those that are still refusing to do so, there are a number of apps available which allow free freephone calls. This means, of course, that there are no charges in place which would discourage potential customers from contacting you. The more willing they are to get in touch, the more likely they are to become loyal and long-standing patrons.

REMOTE WORKING

0800 numbers are ideal for call-forwarding, which means that, if you’re at home, or travelling, calls to your business can be diverted to wherever you happen to be, meaning you don’t have to let your colleagues or customers know in advance that you won’t be at the office.

CHECK UPON THE SUCCESS OF YOUR MARKETING

Because you can have more than one 0800 number, you can have multiple such numbers feeding into one phone, each assigned to a different strand of your marketing campaign.

This way, you can assess which of those strands is generating the most in-bound calls and, therefore, which is proving to be the most successful in creating customer interest.

You can find out more about the difference between 0800 and 0300 numbers and about purchasing your own by visiting Number Supermarket today. By providing virtual telephone numbers to businesses of all shapes and sizes, they help keep business communications running efficiently. Call today on 0330 332 0400 to talk to a member of the Number Supermarket team.