How Can I Get a Custom Phone Number?

You might be a start-up, looking to make your business stand-out. Or maybe business is booming, and you are expanding nationally. You could even be an individual seeking an easy-to-remember number in the current world of shortened attention spans. No matter the reason, you decided you want a custom phone number but now you’re curious how to get one. Fear not! Let the experts walk you through the process.

Pick Your Custom Number

Most carriers only have access to a limited pool of vanity phone numbers because their business model is centered around monthly service fees. When looking for a custom phone number, it doesn’t hurt to start with your carrier and ask what they can offer you, but chances are the selection will be slim. Luckily, there are specialists like RingBoost that are focused solely on finding and securing the best, most unique custom phone numbers. Once you’re ready to start your search, you first need to pick what kind of custom number you want. Do you want a local or a toll-free number?

Custom Local Phone Numbers: 

Local phone numbers are technically region-specific with the area code indicating your company service area. Most phone plans these days allow local numbers to be called from anywhere nationwide without additional charges, so you don’t always have to pick your exact area code if you’re looking for a specific set of digits. But custom local phone numbers can be a boost to the brands of regional businesses. Using a local number ties companies to their communities, and the area code becomes like a bond between business and consumer.

Custom Toll-Free Phone Numbers:

Toll-free numbers can be nationwide or licensed by region, and use one of the 8** dialing prefixes. Toll-free is ideal for businesses that are expanding, smaller businesses that want to appear bigger, and businesses branding themselves with a phoneword longer than the traditional seven digits.

Vanity or Easy-Dial:

Once you have decided whether you want a local or toll-free number, you need to think about whether you want a vanity phone number that includes a phrase or an easy-dial pattern of digits. Both have their benefits and it really depends on your business and branding strategy. If you are indecisive or overwhelmed by our extensive database, you can contact one of our live sales representatives by chat, email or phone. We’ve helped thousands of companies find their perfect number and we know all the tips and tricks to find one for you.

Decide how to receive calls

And just like that, the hardest part is over. Landing on the right number is the most strenuous part of the whole process. The next step is to decide how you will begin receiving calls on your number. Toll-free numbers always require a ring-to number, meaning that people who dial your custom number will be seamlessly connected with the phone number of your choice. You can choose to add an auto-attendant to funnel traffic to the best spot or you can schedule different ring-to numbers based on your daily or weekly schedule. Local numbers have several options. You can port the number by transferring it to your chosen carrier. You can select a call forwarding plan that automatically sends inbound calls to a destination phone number. Or you can park the number in storage until you’re ready to use it. Whichever you choose, you own your local number outright. After you decide how you want to receive calls, we will send over easy-to-follow porting instructions. The new number should be up and running within 7-10 business days for local and 3-5 days for toll-free.

Promote your new phone number

Here comes the fun part: showing off that cool new number! Custom phone numbers are a great marketing tool that will generate solid ROI results. Inbound calls convert to revenue 10 times more than web leads, so you’ll want to plaster it everywhere you advertise. Here are some quick tips for incorporating your custom number into marketing efforts:

• Use it everywhere – online and offline.
• Put it on all marketing materials including business cards
• Make it a focal point on out-of-home advertising
• Turn the number into a catchy jingle to amp up memorability
• Coach your team to use the number when they leave voicemails

The process of getting a custom phone number may seem confusing for a first-timer, but RingBoost is here to help make it a breeze. We are the experts and the nation’s largest provider. If you have already decided or even have a slight inkling that you want a custom number, take a look at the numbers we have available in our database or contact us.