How to Find the Best 800 Number Service for Your Small Business

As a business owner, you want to build a brand that customers recognize far and wide. Unfortunately,your budget and time to achieve this are often limited. That's where finding the best 800 number service for your small business comes in.

Toll-free numbers add size and stature to your small business that other affordable marketing tools can't match. They also come with a price tag that's accessible to any company, thanks to the variety of numbers available and the intelligent implementation of a shared use system.

But what makes for a good service provider and how can you find the best 800 number service for your business? That's what we'll look at today.

Find the Best 800 Number Service for Your Needs

Not all toll-free numbers are created equal. Your needs as a small business could vary significantly, from the type of number you need to the way you'll use it in your promotional campaigns.

Here are some of the questions to ask as you search for the best 800 number service for your business:

• How many numbers do we need?
• Do we need a true 800 number?
• Should the number translate to a brand-related word of phrase?
• In which market areas will we use our number(s)?
• How many minutes are we likely to need?
• What kind of marketing support is on offer?

Let's take a look at these questions individually to find out what you should look for in each instance.

How Many Numbers?

For most small businesses the answer is likely to be just one, but there are times when having multiple numbers will help you to manage your inbound calls. For example, if you're running multiple campaigns and want to offer a toll-free number to track calls from each of them.

Clearly, the cost goes up as you add more numbers, so you'll need to weigh up the value of your campaign tracking against how much it costs to add the kind of number you want.

The best 800 number service providers will work with your specific marketing requirements to find the right toll-free plan and package. In some cases, you'll be able to secure a discount when you license multiple numbers. It never hurts to ask!

True 800 Numbers

Unsurprisingly, many of the best 800 numbers have already been snapped up by national brands. If you're a local flower shop owner, you're probably not expecting to pick up 1-800-FLOWERS on the cheap!

Even so, there are still great 800 numbers out there, so you should always try a search before moving on.

The good news is that there are several other prefixes that are synonymous with toll-free calls, such as the attractive repeater value of the 888 prefix and the most recent addition of 833 numbers.

Most customers understand that the various 8-- codes still give them a toll-free call, so they carry a similar weight and brand value to true 800 numbers. You'll also find more choice in the newer prefixes, which means you're more likely to find multiple numbers that work well for your business.

Even so, for some business owners, the older 1-800 code remains the original and best. Weigh up the availability of relevant numbers in your industry and market area to decide if a true 800 number is right for you.

Words and Digits

We love sharing outstanding vanity numbers that use a familiar word or phrase, but not every business wants to go that route. Some owners prefer numbers in a repetitive sequence, while others find that million numbers work best for their promotional materials.

The most important thing is to decide on your own preference so that your number search is easier. The most appropriate 800 number service for you might come down to the type of custom number you need.

There are many to choose from and you don't want to waste time on a provider who can't provide the type that you've chosen, whether it's a true 800 number or a certain digit sequence.

Define Your Market Areas

As we mentioned earlier, one of the biggest advantages of the best 800 number services is that they can offer an outstanding toll-free number that you can use exclusively in your specific market. That helps to keep costs down while still giving you a key competitive advantage over local competitors.

The important aspect here is to consider both the market areas you need now and those that you might want to expand into further down the line.

Be sure to confirm the number you want is available in all of the places you might conceivably need it. If not, you might choose to license an alternative 800 number with wider availability.

Minutes Available

This comes down to a simple review of the various plans that are offered, but it helps to know roughly how many minutes you expect to spend on calls to your new toll-free number.

Consider the campaigns in which you'll use your number and what you typically expect to see in terms of call volume. Be optimistic in your evaluation, however, and allow some room for extra minutes.

Vanity numbers tend to increase response rates, so be sure to factor those extra calls into your calculations!

Marketing Support

Last but not least, what kind of post-sale support do you expect from your service? Sure, they should ensure that your new number is set up correctly and handle the technical aspects of doing so, but you can ask for more.

The best 800 number services understand the value of a memorable number and want to help clients realize the additional call volume and increased sales that come with it.

This benefits both parties. Their client comes away happy with an effective new marketing tool, while the service provider gets great online reviews and more referrals from that client. It's a true win-win, yet not all companies will provide extra marketing support to get the most out of your new number.

Test the waters by having a few questions ready, such as "where do you recommend adding my new number?" and "how have you seen other clients in my industry use 800 numbers effectively?" You'll quickly get a feel for who has your best interests at heart and those who are simply in it to make the sale and move on!

As with many marketing tools, the companies offering toll-free phone numbers might not seem much different on the surface. Dig a little deeper, however, and you'll quickly see that making the right choice could make or break the success of your new number.

Use the tips above to ask the right questions and know what you want before starting a conversation to find the best 800 number service for your business!