By using an 800 number, your customers will gain the security of knowing that there is a real person on the other end of the line, not just some cheap recorded message.
After you have advertised your 800 number, you should have a plan on what your customer needs will be. To best decide this, put yourself in your customer’s place. What type of services would you want from an 800 number? Remember too, that having 1 800 numbers can also increase your mailing list by sending your calling customers printed materials that they request.
An 800 number allows you to network on a wider level than if you simply supply a long distance number to call. More people are likely to use toll free 1 800 numbers than to be charged for a call. If your budget allows, you can provide a group of experts or additional sources for information to your clients.
In the past, only large companies could afford to get 1 800 numbers, due to high start up costs, but today, toll free or “inbound” services are available to businesses of all sizes.
Long distance companies and resellers are the largest providers of inbound calling services. You can generally obtain inbound service from any firm that offers long distance service in your area. Local telephone companies also offer inbound service for calls that originate from within their calling area. This can be combined with service from a long distance carrier to handle all types of calls.
Unless you expect a very high volume of calls, 1 800 numbers utilize your existing phone lines. This means you don’t have to buy additional equipment. Your toll free number will reach you just like any other call.
Rates range from about 30 cents per minute to less than 10 cents per minute with some high-volume programs. As a result, the plan you choose can have a major effect on how much you end up paying for the service. Most plans offer a similar set of basic calling features, although monthly charges and set-up charges may be different.
The cost of toll free service includes a monthly fee and a per-minute charge. Monthly fees typically do not exceed $20 per month, although special features may add slightly to this figure.
The per-minute charge can be a flat rate or it can be banded, which means it varies according to the distance a particular call travels. In either case, per minute charges decrease as you attain higher calling volumes. Businesses receiving just a few calls a day can expect to pay about 20 cents per minute. Firms receiving thousands of minutes in calls per month should expect to pay 14 cents per minute or less.
Companies receiving more than 20,000 minutes per month on their toll free line may find a dedicated line to be more cost-efficient. Although installation fees can be high, per minute rates are much lower.
Having an 800 number for your business may be one of the most cost effective business solutions to gaining customer loyalty.
By R. S. Wagner