Today’s global business environment demands fast, cheap, and reliable communication services. Companies that use toll free numbers have an edge over the competition because toll free numbers give them the ability to connect with both local and international audiences without setting up various physical offices. All calls made to your chosen toll free number will be automatically forwarded to you.

Many, many reasons exist for having a toll free number for your business. Here are just a few statistics to show how 800 numbers have helped other organizations increase profit margins and maximize marketing ROI.

Toll free number statistics:

• Ads featuring 800 numbers generate approximately 30% more orders
• Using a toll free number on product literature can result in 50% less product returns
• Several fund raising organizations realized a 25% increase in response rates when using a toll free number in their ads

However, direct increases in response rates are not the only reasons why you need a toll free number. Toll free numbers offer instant credibility and present you as an established and reliable business. This perception that your company is long-lasting is extremely important considering the collapse of many organizations in recent years; you also want your company to set itself apart from the tons of start-up Internet companies launching on a tight budget. A toll free number will differentiate you as a serious company that will be around for the long-term.

In addition, shrinking market shares in many industries make it necessary to operate outside of your local area to bring in the revenues you need. Consumers would rather call a company with a toll free number that appears to have a national presence rather than a number from a different area code.

If you are really planning to create an empire and a business that will last, a toll free number is crucial to building your branding. Companies that build strong brands survive longer. An article in Business Week demonstrated that 30% of the most valuable brands in the world were established before 1900. While today's economy may be tighter, it is not a time to be cutting advertising and branding initiatives. In fact, the opposite is true. A PIMS study showed that during the last recession, companies that increased their spending on branding and marketing saw over a 5% higher return on their marketing dollars than those companies who decreased spending. Clearly, the current state of the economy actually presents some incredible opportunities to get ahead of your competition, jump in, and take over new markets and industries. It is up to you whether your company will take this opportunity to emerge as a leader or just wither away. Regardless of your industry, one thing is certain: those who come out on top will be those with toll free numbers.

At first glance, it is already apparent that toll free numbers can yield a lot of benefits for both big and small businesses. A toll free number conveys a sense of credibility, professionalism, and customer care. In this regard, one particular challenge comes to mind, “What is the best place to promote toll free numbers?” Beyond advertising your toll free number on television and in print, placing it on products is an excellent way to keep your company at the top of the customer’s mind.

Toll free numbers can absolutely compliment your business and in many cases be the single best investment you can make to maximize marketing ROI. However, a huge difference exists between winning toll free numbers that can actually rocket you ahead of your competitors, helping you to pick up market shares and operate more efficiently, and poorly chosen toll free numbers that do not live up to their full potential and can even mean wasting valuable marketing dollars.

So you've decided to take advantage of the great power of having an 800 number, but how do you choose the optimal number for your business? How do you make the most out of the use of your new toll free number? One of the most important factors to consider is keeping your toll free number simple. While having an 800 number lends credibility and offers a range of great options for improving your operations, one of the greatest benefits of toll free numbers is providing your customers with an easy to remember way to contact your company. You normally only have seconds to imprint your contact information into the minds of your prospects. No doubt at some point you have heard a radio commercial or seen a TV ad that interested you, but you just couldn't write the number down in time. It doesn't matter how great your product or service is, if your customers cannot contact you, you will not realize revenue from your marketing budget and could soon find your company going out of business.

The statistics have shown how a good 800 vanity number can deliver double digit increases in response rates and closing ratios, and clearly the credibility and branding advantages are priceless. But what makes a good 800 vanity number?

Having an 800 number is about far more than just vanity. Yes, a toll free number or vanity number will give your enterprise instant credibility and assist you in building a stronger brand. However, for many it is the freedom to have both more flexibility in business and in their personal lives that really puts the icing on the cake when it comes to having an 800 number.

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.

They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words," but if you think about it, the words from advertising are the ones you remember the most. Even that the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" has been remembered and passed down for decades (and not an actual picture) is proof enough that words are more powerful. Recently, a lot of buzz has circulated about verbal branding, including at expos put on by the American Marketing Association. A great verbal branding strategy should be at the core of any company's branding and marketing efforts.

Recently, a number of articles have circulated that suggest you may want to become your own RespOrg. Clearly, these articles are nothing more than blatant advertising pieces aimed at bringing you in as a client for a service where a company will set you up under it as a RespOrg; of course, this situation will result in a handsome paycheck for that company while you do all the extremely complicated work of toll free number management, dealing with carriers, and trying to fix technical issues beyond your knowledge base. Can you do it? Sure, with a lot of training and many hours on the phone, you can probably learn to handle your own toll free number management. However, is overcoming that learning curve really the best use of your abilities and resources?