How Toll Free Numbers May Be Used To Develop Your Business

By Author: Jen Silva
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Toll free numbers are not exactly new to most people and they are hardly on the cutting edge of business strategy, but they represent a tried and true marketing technology that can more than earn its keep. In fact, a good toll free number, properly used, can become a key part of establishing and growing almost any business.

Consumers obviously appreciate toll free numbers because they are indeed free, but businesses should bear in mind some of the real advantages that a toll free number can provide.

IMAGE

A toll free number may not level the playing field between a home office and a multinational corporation, but it contributes to a professional and established look for a business of any size. It provides a level of built-in credibility far beyond that provided by a local number, in a way that works across business sectors. Toll free numbers enhance the images of retailers, distributors, manufacturers, service businesses and professional firms alike. They work especially well for start-up companies by providing an instant boost to professional image at very reasonable cost.

PORTABILITY

Unlike ...
... numbers tied to a local area code, toll free numbers allow the flexibility of changing the number that they reach, call the "ring-to" number, independent of the physical location of the business. In other words, a toll free number allows a business to move its physical location without losing its telephone identity. For a growing business, this takes away some of the burden of moving to a new, expanded location, and it avoids the time and expense associated with changing promotional materials, letterhead, business cards and advertising that a physical move otherwise requires.

SIMPLICITY

There is nothing fancy involved in setting up or maintaining a toll free number, and there are typically a wealth of features available to supplement the business value of the service, including enhanced caller ID information and a variety of tracking and measurement tools, often integrated with systems for general customer relationship management.

NATIONAL PRESENCE

Unless a business is restricted by its nature to a narrow geographical area, having only a local telephone number is a real drawback. A toll free number carries with it the implication of a national presence even if a small business has not yet grown beyond the local market. The ease of obtaining and using a toll free number means that the competition is likely to have a toll free number in place, leaving a business without a toll free number at a competitive disadvantage.

COST AND SCALE

Most toll free numbers are billed according to incoming call volume. For the start-up or small business, this means that costs increase only in relation to an increase in business and that the system is already in place to handle increased volume. In that way, a business is not forced to budget for growth before it knows that growth is real and sustainable.

CUSTOMER EXPECTATION

Finally, a key reason to use a toll free number is simply that customers expect it. To customers, a toll free number can be a sign of an established and professional organization that has a demonstrated interest in benefiting its customers.
About Author:
The author is a creator and researcher of small business programs and products on subjects such as 800 phone numbers. Please visit http://800-numbers.pbxcompare.com for more info on toll free numbers.