Are toll free vanity numbers really that important or just a "nice to have"? Many forego them; assuming that they are just a vanity item and that they can do just fine without them.

While at some point in the distant past, toll free vanity numbers may have been just that, or at least out of the reach of the new business owner, now business trends, globalization, new toll free prefixes, the web and technology, as well as a tighter economy has changed all that.

Toll free vanity numbers are cheaper, easy to get, help with branding, building credibility, and even dramatically enhancing advertising effectiveness through improved response and conversion rates, as well as equipping companies to become more agile and profitable.

The bottom line is that while there are many benefits and advantages of having vanity numbers today it all comes down to one deciding factor...

That is—ROI and profit margin.

It really doesn't matter what industry you are in, how great your product or USP is, or how much venture capital you are able to raise; unless organizations are demanding the maximum ROI and highest possible margins on everything, and getting the most from every dollar they will soon be surpassed by the competition.
This is more critical than ever today. The market in any industry is a lot smaller than it was seven years ago and cannot support as many competing businesses. So you are either on your way up, or at least well-positioned and have bullet proofed your lead with the best margins, or you are fading into irrelevance.

Vanity numbers and toll free services can make everything you do better and produce better results; from maximizing marketing ROI to decreasing labor expenses, increasing speed, and boosting productivity.

Without toll free vanity numbers your organization is throwing away masses of working capital and any edge it has. Only you can answer whether that is important or not…

You hand business cards out all the time. You may even find that they get more attention than your resume, particularly in career networking situations. Great business cards, both in purpose and design, can land you that job, business opportunity or clientele you’ve been seeking. Whether you’re trying to spread your brand or image, or provide a simple calling card for your services, a business card speaks volumes.

What does a toll free number mean for your business card? It means it stands out. Handing out a business card with an 800 toll free number to your constituents shows them that you are serious about your craft and that you have a hard and reliable way for potential customers or contacts to reach you. Ideabook.com lists a toll free number as an important means of communication to include on your card.

In addition, having an easy-to-remember vanity toll free number is even more attractive as most contacts won’t even have to memorize your number should they lose your business card. That’s thinking ahead. So what does that business card mean to them?  Consider the following: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn continue to gain traction for business purposes. You’ll find more and more cards printed with social media contact methods rather than numbers.

With a toll-free number on your business card, you don’t have to play the guessing game about who is Linked, G+’ed , Tweeted or Liked. Everyone has a phone number and they can call you for free without having to sign up for anything. Of course there are great advantages to using social media to spread your messages, but with a toll free number, you guarantee a connection.

Is this the end of cash for good?

Many forms of technology are pushing trends this way. The government wants more control over the flow of money, banks are restricting ATM withdrawals and online payment platforms, and mobile payment services are becoming easier and more fashionable to use.

Digital currency is easier than dealing with old school banks and much cheaper for businesses. Take a moment and think about the money lost on theft, counterfeiting, and other fraud and the labor costs associated with security.

Of course many fail to admit or publicize the horrific threats digitization of money brings too. With ID theft out of control, mobile phones one of the most commonly stolen items, and hackers on a rampage, digital currency could be far more costly in the long run.

Yes, your wallet could be stolen or you could become a victim of a home invasion at any time, but that's why you usually don't carry all of your savings with you or have a good home security system. However, it is technically a lot simpler to wipe out someone's wealth in the digital environment. So instead of losing $100 from your wallet, you open a bogus email or you misplace your cell phone.

The bottom line is that while many will continue to hoard cash at home, online and mobile payment startups will continue to pop up and grow rapidly, while cash is harder to access and spend.

Perhaps Internet security, insurance, and ID theft prevention will become not just much more important than stocks to watch but the fastest growing.

You can embrace this trend and find ways to cash in on it; whether through stocks, investing in startups via crowd-funding, or just making it easier for your customers to pay via mobile or online, or ignore it and lose out.

What will you do? Will your business rise to top or flop on new tech for taking payments? Where can you stash cash and gold to be 110% safe today, and will it be worth anything in a few years if you can keep it hidden?

What makes a loved brand that everyone wants to do business with? What can you do to increase the love consumers show your brand?

Trust has to be one of, if not the biggest factor. What is there to build a relationship on without trust? Without trust product hits are just a fad, there is no sustainability and there are certain to be plenty of charge backs.

In contrast, a reputable, trusted brand enjoys a lifetime of income from each customer, gets shared without having to ask for it and can demand a premium on products and services.

A recent study shows Amazon as America's most reputable brand. The survey calculating the Reputation Quotient of the country's most visible companies bases measurements on six criteria.

1.      Emotional appeal

2.      Social responsibility

3.      Products and services

4.      Vision and leadership

5.      Workplace environment

6.      Financial performance

So what can you do to improve your company’s reputation quotient?

For a start it is clear that visibility is crucial. Without visibility you aren't even on the radar. Toll free vanity numbers are a great way to instantly raise visibility and credibility for any business whether a 100 year old corporate giant spinning off a new division or product line or a new startup that launched yesterday. Toll free levels the playing field.

Reserving and launching a new vanity number in itself can also be a great catalyst for positioning a business at the top for the other above criteria as well. Consider using press releases, guest blogs, and a social campaign to raise awareness of your new toll free hotline and social good initiatives, attractive workplace culture, and build emotional appeal all at the same time.

This combo might just pack the best ROI and result in the most new revenues of anything your company can do this year.