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.
In the current economy customers are slower to spend. So now, more than even, marketing messages need to include key phrases that make the customer pick up the phone and call now. That’s why it’s important to tell people in your ads what’s new and different about your product or services — and why they should pick up the phone and dial your toll-free number right away:
The two most obvious phrases are:
But there are some other attractive phrases that command attention and inspire action. They include:
Need a distinctive toll-free number that matches your new campaign or product? Get started right away with our Toll Free Number Search. We can also help you get a great customer toll-free number that’s coming available.
Octane Magazine recently published an article by Custom Toll Free CEO Christopher Rugh with strategies for selecting company names that attract business. Not surprisingly, many of the tips Christopher has for naming a company also apply when you’re selecting a vanity toll-free number. As you look for a number, aim for one that meets one of these criteria:
A toll free number is a key marketing and sales tool, and selecting that number is a major business decision worthy of a strategic approach. We invite you to get started exploring the databank of available toll-free numbers using Custom Toll Free’s powerful automated lookup tool.
If you need a more customized approach, or want to inquire about getting a number that is not currently in the available pool, please contact us. At Custom Toll Free, we have experience helping companies find exactly the right vanity toll-free number — and the toll-free services that match their business needs.
Be sure you closely review your minutes and service options when you go with a toll free company. At Custom Toll Free we keep our customers closely abreast of all of their monthly minutes. And by offering a wide variety of minute plans, we can help customers better service their clients, too. 100 minutes per month completely free of charge to all our customers.
Friendly e-mails
Communication is everything in this business. Along with extensive minute plans, Custom Toll Free can supply you with a helpful courtesy email to alert you when getting close to your minute cap. In this hectic world, this is a good idea for those who don’t have time to monitor their minutes and need a little bit of extra help.
For example, you could get an e-mail alert when your calls reach 75 percent of your limit. Then, you can get an additional courtesy e-mail when you reach your per-month limit.
Signature minute plans
A toll free number is not hard to figure out. Really, it works very much like a regular cell phone plan. What toll free number holders have to realize though is that a number won’t work if there are no minutes left on a plan.
But at Custom Toll Free we don’t want anyone to miss a call. That’s why we are able offer a special “automatic minute increases” to our customers. When you go with a custom toll free number, you have an easy way to navigate the minutes used. Always remember to look at the plan options for your phone package. Anytime you want to upgrade, a company should be able to help you navigate what is best and how to do it.
At last, you’ve got it: Your new vanity toll-free number. It’s catchy and memorable — and powerful. But only if you get it out there where prospective customers can see it. While you certainly have plans to use it in the next big direct marketing campaign you roll out, keep in mind that there are many other ways you can a vanity toll-free number to boost business and improve ROI.
