Toll free numbers are perhaps one of the easiest ways to indirectly convince people to learn more about your organization or business. If people see that they are able to call without any cost to themselves, they are more likely to pick up the phone than those people who see that the number is going to be charged to their long-distance bill.
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If you turn on the television at all, within any given hour or even half-hour program, you are sure to see at least one commercial with a toll free number, urging viewers to “call now!” Almost every organization of mentionable size has some kind of 1-800 number that people can use to contact them with questions, comments, or for other purposes. These telephone numbers are one of the most successful methods of motivating people to pick up the phone and call. Non-profit organizations or small organizations or businesses wishing to grow and reach a larger audience can benefit greatly from adding one of these numbers to their contact information. A toll free number can be set up through almost any telephone company, and the positive effects almost always outweigh the minimal negatives (such as the addition to the phone bill). The increase in business will more than make up the difference in almost all cases.
Many individuals are setting up such numbers for themselves to use, either because they have family and friends far away with whom they wish to keep in touch, or because of a plethora of other reasons. Because of the increasing popularity, the price for a personal number has gone down; however, the amount of available numbers has also diminished. Someone who subscribes to a personal no-charge number today has very little chance of securing the traditional 1-800 prefix. Many other prefixes have been developed, such as the more recent 1-866 or 1-888 numbers. Due to the growth in popularity of these numbers, directories of these no-charge numbers have been developed. A number of these directories can be found online or through your telephone company.
A toll free number can be developed for you through your phone company or through one of many other organizations for either a flat rate or for as little as a few cents a minute. How much you expect the number to be used should determine which direction you go with this. An individual or business can even develop their own number, using numbers or letters relating to their business name, etc., provided the number has not already been taken by someone else.
Besides phone lines, other toll free services that have been made available to businesses and individuals in recent years have been fax numbers and voicemail accounts. In order to keep up with the technology boom of recent years, these services have been crucial and while they have not been as widely used as the traditional telephone number, they still hold a great amount of possibility for business expansion. Many Internet service providers also use these numbers to provide greater convenience for their customers. If people do not have to pay a long distance charge along with their basic Internet payment, they are more likely to subscribe to any given service.
There are many benefits to using these no-charge telephone, fax, and voicemail numbers for both businesses and individuals. If you are looking to expand your business and reach more people (or have them reach you), this may be the route to take.
By Ashley Andyshak