Who said that only businesses can take advantage of vanity numbers? Individuals who want to create a “personal brand” can benefit from this service as well. Vanity numbers can be used as a marketing tool for personal coaches, professionals, and freelancers. Even celebrity fan clubs are getting in on the action. Vanity numbers enable them to connect with their fans easily, conveniently, and with minimal costs. Definitely, everything is about interaction these days.
At the end of the day, potential clients are more likely to call a number they remember than to look for more information in the yellow pages. Calling a vanity number is also enticing because callers do not need to pay for the calls they make. If you use vanity numbers for personal branding, they will set you apart from the rest. Right now, you might be missing a lot of opportunities out there even without knowing it. But by subscribing to a toll-free vanity number today, you will begin to see the difference in your personal brand and bank account!
Given all the benefits stated above, it is not surprising that an increasing number of small businesses (mostly sole proprietorships) are getting their own vanity numbers. This tool also evens out the playing ground for the self-employed, small businesses, and more established corporations. There are very few barriers to getting a toll free vanity number. Anyone who wants to create a strong personal brand should check out this option to know its advantages.
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The release of the much anticipated 855 prefix for toll free numbers is almost here, but why choose an 855 number? For many companies and entrepreneurs, 855 numbers are the best option simply due to the ease of acquiring them. Premium vanity numbers for all of the previous toll free number prefixes are almost all taken. While leading toll free service providers can assist you with tracking down the owners of these coveted numbers and assist in negotiations, you will often find that 855 numbers are more cost-effective or your only option in many industries. This situation is especially true for new start-ups and small businesses who have realized that they need to improve their branding or correct it to match the new directions the opportunities in their industries are leading them in.
Small businesses can benefit greatly from 800 numbers. They are an effective marketing tool that can provide instant credibility and exposure. In using a toll free 800 number, the business pays for every call made by the customer or prospect. This free call encourages everyone, including those who are minimally interested in the product or service, to pick up the phone to know more.
Did you think Google Voice was simply a tool for professionals who had entirely too many ways for people to get a hold of them? Well, it is that, but it’s also an opportunity for you to get the word out about your business. With a little ingenuity, you can create your own “Google Voice 800 number” that will go a long way toward helping your prospects find you.
If you haven’t heard of Google Voice, it’s a service from Google currently being tested that gives you a single point of contact and has a number of neat features as well. One of these, and perhaps the most important one for a small business, is call routing. This will allow you to answer only those calls that come in on your forwarded toll free number and route other calls to different locations. For example, if you’re in your home office, and someone calls your cell number, which rings through to your Google Voice number, you can route the call to any of the numbers in your Google Voice profile, such as your main home number, where someone else can answer the call. If you’ve got a bigger operation, you can even have calls from your 800 number forwarded to other parts of your business or to the phones of individual employees. The possibilities are endless.
Of course, there are some down sides as well. You’ll just have to decide whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in your particular situation. One thing’s for sure, a Google Voice toll free combination could be a life saver for a small business.
To get things up and running, you’ll first need a toll-free number that you can forward to Google Voice. After that, you’ll need an invitation to join the service, at least until Google launches the full version later this year. I’m working on getting an invitation for myself, so I hope to have a first-hand review of Google Voice in the near future. I’ll also be highlighting other features that small business owners will find particularly useful.
