Have you ever wanted to call a business but hesitated because you weren’t sure about the call charges? It is very common, and many customers feel the same way. This causes businesses to lose out on many potential customers.
The solution? An 800 number. Toll-free number removes that hesitation and gives customers a free, convenient way to get in touch.
Moreover, it also gives your brand more credibility, sets a professional image, and helps boost your marketing efforts. There have been multiple instances demonstrating that businesses with 800 numbers receive up to 30% more calls than those using local numbers.
In this blog, we’ll explain what an 800 number means, how it works, and guide you on how to get an 800 number for your business.
✨ Key Takeaway
- An 800 number allows customers to call a business for free. Instead, all call charges are covered by the business.
- To get an 1800 number, you’ll need to evaluate your needs, select a suitable provider, choose a prefix/number, and register it by completing the payment.
- A toll-free number helps to boost a business’s credibility, expand customer reach, set a professional brand image, and enhance marketing efforts.
What is an 800 number?
800 numbers are toll-free numbers that you can call for free. Meaning, all the calls that a toll-free number receives are typically paid by the number owner or business. They’re often used for customer support and general inquiries where customers are likely to reach out.
A toll-free phone number format typically includes a standard toll-free prefix code (800, 888, 833) followed by the rest of the subscriber’s number. These prefixes are widely used across the US and Canada, but for international businesses operating globally, International Toll-Free Numbers (ITFS) or Universal International Freephone Numbers (UIFN) provide a single toll-free number that can be dialed from multiple countries at no cost to the caller.
How does an 800 toll-free number work?
The working principle of an 800 toll-free number is pretty simple. Typically, business owners will get these toll-free numbers from a provider for a monthly subscription fee. (sometimes, with a small setup fee as well). Once active, the business will pay for all the incoming calls it receives on that number.
For the customers, this means they can freely contact the business without paying for the outgoing call, regardless of the location or call duration. This encourages people to reach out to a business more often, giving businesses opportunities to turn prospects into paying customers.
Note: Some providers may even include unlimited incoming calls as a part of their monthly subscription service, eliminating separate call charges with a flat fee.
How to get an 800 number for business?
You can easily get an 1800 number for business from the toll-free service provider. But first, you’ll need to evaluate your needs, compare the different providers, understand the number types, and select one that aligns with your communication needs.
Here’s a step-by-step process on how to get a 1800 number.
1. Evaluate your needs and call volume
Before you get a toll free number for business, it is crucial that you assess your needs and call volume. Determine the average calls that you receive in a day, consider the different types of toll-free numbers, the extra call management features, etc. With this insight, you can choose the right toll-free plan that aligns with your business needs and company resources.
2. Choose a toll-free number provider
After evaluating your needs, the next step is to choose a reliable toll free number service provider. Typically, there are two ways to get a 1-800 number. You can either buy toll free number by itself or get it bundled together with a UC platform/VoIP phone service. This will also determine the price that you’ll be paying for the toll-free number.
There are various companies that offer toll-free services, including RingCentral, Vonage, KrispCall, Ooma, etc. To pick the right toll free number for business, you need to compare their features, prices, reliability, and reviews, and ensure they align with your needs.
Note: You can also reach out to your existing phone service provider to check if they offer 1800 number plans and services.
3. Search available numbers & select a prefix
Next, you’ll need to select the type and prefix for your toll-free business phone number. You can choose from different toll-free prefixes such as 800, 888, 877. As the 800 area code is gradually becoming more scarce, you may need to choose the other available prefixes like 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833.
Moreover, if you’re looking for a vanity corporate number, you’ll need to check in with the provider for its availability. Vanity numbers are often distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so the combination that you’re looking for may not be available for purchase.
Tips: You can get creative by mixing letters and numbers to form a memorable sequence that still reflects your brand or service.
4. Register and complete setup
Once you’ve decided on the number provider, number type, and prefixes, all you need to do is complete the registration process. It involves providing your business details, personal details, official documentation, etc. Then, complete the payment to receive the active phone number. Afterward, assign it to the respective department and configure all the offered features.
The benefits that a business can get with an 800 number
Toll free numbers’ free-to-call nature not only encourages people to reach out to your business more often, but it also helps to boost your brand credibility and reputation. Here are some of the most notable advantages of getting an 800 toll free number.
1. Boosts business credibility
People often associate 1 800 numbers with large enterprises and well-renowned brands. For instance, FedEx uses 1-800-GO-FEDEX, and T-Mobile uses 1-800-T-MOBILE vanity numbers. These numbers are unique, memorable, and distinguishable from the rest. By using a vanity toll free number, you can also set a similar good impression of your brand and make it more credible.
2. Expands customer reach
One of the biggest advantages of the 1-800 toll free number is that they are free for your customers. When calls aren’t charged, customers are more likely to use it frequently for contacting a business (whether it is for general inquiries, support, or finalizing a purchase).
A standard toll free number works across different regions within a country, whereas an international one allows customers around the world to make phone calls at no cost. Ultimately, this helps businesses expand their reach both nationally and internationally.
3. Strengthens brand recognition
Historically, vanity numbers were more popular with large brands and corporations with strong market presence. E.g., UPS, FedEx, Honda, etc. Big companies used them to make their brand stand out and be easily recognizable.
But with how affordable and easy it is to get an 800 vanity number, small businesses can use them as well to establish a strong brand presence. This helps to boost their credibility and gain more customers.
4. Enhances marketing and campaign efforts
Assigning business toll free numbers in marketing campaigns is essential for boosting their overall effectiveness. 1800 numbers are free and easy to remember, which encourages more people to engage with the promotional offers and marketing messages.
Moreover, assigning a dedicated 800 phone number for every campaign can also help businesses track the performance of all their marketing campaigns.
Best practices and mistakes to avoid while using 800 number
Although toll free numbers offer numerous benefits, simply having one isn’t quite enough. You should also monitor and optimize it to work effectively, helping deliver a good customer experience and get better ROI.
Here are some best practices that you can follow;
- Test your 1800 phone number thoroughly by placing multiple phone calls. Verify the call quality, routing, and other features to ensure they work as intended.
- Implement a backup phone number for situations where the primary business number becomes unavailable to ensure 24/7 availability.
- Rather than overcomplicating IVR menus, keep your call routing path clear and optimized.
- Monitor call activity to detect fraud calls and track your provider’s performance metrics like uptime and latency.
Boost your business credibility with a KrispCall 800 number
So, if you’re trying to establish a professional brand image and encourage more people to reach out to your business, getting an 800 toll free number is essential.
With KrispCall’s virtual toll numbers, you set a national/international brand presence, use advanced tools to handle customer inquiries more effectively, and leave behind the hassle of traditional phone lines. But that’s not all, here are a few more key benefits that you can get from the toll free virtual phone number.
- Free calls for your customers encourage more inquiry calls, better customer support, and higher customer satisfaction.
- KrispCall offers virtual numbers for over 100+ countries, allowing businesses to set their presence anywhere across the world.
- Get advanced features like call recording, smart call routing, call forwarding, IVRs, custom caller ID and analytic tools with KrispCall’s VoIP platform and make your customer service operation more efficient.
- Even if you have an 800 toll free number already, you can easily port it to KrispCall. This ensures you never have to face downtimes.
- KrispCall supports a wide range of popular CRM integrations like HubSpot and Salesforce. You can seamlessly sync data, helping to turn conversation into actionable insights.
With KrispCall’s VoIP telephony system, you can easily get multiple 800 numbers and assign them to your businesses. Register now in just a few minutes to get started. Or, you can even book a demo to see it all in action.
