How to use a toll free number in marketing

One of the things you have to consider when starting a business is how your customers will contact you. Email, phone, fax, and through your website are a few ways, with the most common being phone.

With that in mind, you may be considering using a toll-free number.

How do toll-free numbers work?
A toll-free number is just that - a number a customer or potential customer can call to place an order, make a payment, or ask questions without having to pay for the call. Typically, these are 1-800 or 1-866 numbers. It works the same way as any other phone call, the difference being that the provider of the toll-free number (you and your business) foots the bill for the inbound calls. The rates are typically done on a per-minute basis and are inexpensive (pennies per minute).

How can I get a toll-free number?
You can get a toll-free number from your telephone provider, as most providers have them. You also have the option of a vanity number, which is a number that spells a word; for example, 1-800-CALL-NOW. These are more expensive, but easier to remember and can also promote your business if you can incorporate your name into them. However, many "good" vanity numbers are already taken.

Using a toll-free number in marketing
If you are thinking of using a toll-free number for your marketing purposes, consider the following benefits it can have on your business:

• Eliminates resistance. If you encourages your customers or potential customers to call you, but it is a long distance call for them, they are less likely to make that call, no matter how short it is. Using a toll-free number for your marketing purposes gives your customers one less thing to not call you about.


• Gives a professional image. Virtually all successful businesses have a toll-free number. Most customers will expect that a solid, well-run business that is concerned about its customers will have a way to contact them for free. In fact, one study showed that 86% of people found the presence (or lack of) a toll-free number as an indication of the quality a company's products or services. A toll-free number is one way to provide a professional, solid image.


• Increases customer satisfaction. A toll-free number is a great way to increase your customer satisfaction; think how frustrating it is to need to get a hold of a company, only to find that they hold 8-5 office hours in a different time zone and have a phone number with a different zip code. A toll-free number allows your customers to contact you at any time from any place.

In order to make your toll-free number work for you, consider the following:

• Make it visible. Put your number on your website, your company car, your brochures, business cards, advertisements, and anything else you put your company information on.
• Always repeat your number. If you are saying your number over a commercial, whether on the radio or television, repeat it at least once to give your listeners a chance to hear it.
• Be available. Make sure your toll-free number has a voice mail system if you do not plan on being on-call for 24 hours. Then, make sure you return the calls if you receive messages.

A toll-free number is a great tool for marketing your business.