Why you need a professional business telephone number

Many businesses don’t recognise the power that a business phone number can have.

A professional business number presents a whole host of opportunities for companies, which far outweigh the small cost of actually implementing said number.

As working practices change and more businesses offer remote, flexible and even office-less working, mobile phones are now used as one of a business’ primary sources of communication.

Customers are 3x more likely to call a business number than a mobile.

However, many mistakenly continue to use their mobile number for their business. This is something that we would strongly recommend against as it can lead to a variety of disadvantages for both business owners and employees; from an increased risk of hacking and nuisance calls, to poor customer service. Not to mention the fact that customers are three times more likely to call a business number versus a mobile number.

So, what can a business telephone number bring to your business?

The benefits of a professional business number

Marketing opportunities

Particularly for businesses with more than one employee, using a mobile phone number means no consistency for customers wanting to contact the business. A business phone number means that you have one dedicated number that can be placed on all business listings, website, email footers and other marketing materials. Often a company will also implement an auto-attendant from their dedicated number, so that calls can be re-directed to the appropriate person without the necessity of paying for multiple numbers.

Professional appearance

Whilst working practices are indeed changing (with some businesses no longer even operating from a set office), a professional appearance still remains crucial in the eyes of prospective customers. A business phone number, as opposed to a mobile number, will not only convey a much more professional persona for your company, but it also gives the impression that the business is bigger than it may in fact be.

1 in 4 people are overworking by 10 hours a week.

Work-life balance

Research has found that one in four people are overworking by ten hours each week. Finding that crucial work-life balance is challenging at the best of times, and businesses using a mobile number rather than an established business number will find this balance significantly more difficult. Setting a professional business number will do one of two things for your work-life balance. Firstly, it will keep your personal mobile number private. Secondly, it will provide that all-important separation between your work and home life, meaning that you can choose to screen a work call during evenings and weekends, instead sending your caller to a professional voicemail or telephone answering service.

No requirement for expensive hardware or landlines

Contrary to what you may think, getting a business phone number does not have to cost an extortionate amount. A virtual phone number can redirect to whatever number or numbers you select. This means no unnecessary expense when it comes to installing landlines or purchasing handsets. In addition to this, it also means that you are not tied down to one location, allowing your business to embrace new ways of working whilst still maintaining vital communication links to your current and prospective clients.

Options for a professional phone number

With your decision made to get your business a professional phone number, the question now moves to what type of number is best? The choices are quite literally endless. First and foremost, you should consider your audience; are you targeting people on a local or national scale? This will determine whether your number will have a local or national area code. Or you may want to implement an 0800 freephone number, encouraging customers to contact you with no additional charge.

How to get a business phone number

Here at Moneypenny, our Clever Numbers service allows customers to choose the ideal business phone number. This number can then be routed to whatever number you choose via the online portal, allowing you to switch the destination number as and when needed. With thousands of numbers available from as little as £10 per month, the choice to get a business number has never been easier.

Want to learn more? Visit our business phone numbers page for more information, or call us today on 0300 009 7926 to get started.