Deciding which kind of number is right for you is a big job – so what are the options?
Whether it’s a new car, headphones, a kitchen fitter or electricity provider, when you’re looking to buy a new product or pay for a service, you do your homework. Your customers do the same.
With that in mind, it’s vital to consider the public perception of your business – if your main contact is a mobile number, you risk being seen as too small, unprofessional or (dare we say it) a bit dodgy. If it comes down to you and a competitor offering the same services, consumers will likely choose the company with more professional-looking contact information.
Buying a business telephone number has never been so easy; at the click of a button you can have a regional, national or freephone business number routed to your mobile or landline. Within minutes you’ll have a new phone number that inspires trust and gives customers the impression of a larger, more professional organisation. What’s more, virtual phone numbers come at a fraction of the cost of a traditional business phone system, and without the lengthy contracts.
It’s not a question of whether your business should have a dedicated professional phone number, all you need to decide is which kind is right for you. So, what are the options?
Regional | 01244, 01628, 0207 etc.
Who is it for?
- Small businesses operating only in their local area i.e. plumber, electrician, mobile hairdresser
- Companies of any size whose target audience is in another location e.g. a marketing agency in High Wycombe with a London-centric client base
- Businesses expanding into new regions
What are the benefits?
- Looks more professional and more trustworthy than a mobile phone number
- Gives a business in any location the ‘local look’ for their target audience
- Gives you the flexibility to work on the move without missing important calls by routing your business phone number to your mobile
- Saves you money on line installation and maintenance
- Employers can purchase business phone numbers for remote workers and sales staff without the cost of a handset (and easily re-route them if an employee leaves or is unavailable that day)
- You can pay for business calls routed to an employee’s personal mobile phone without the associated HMRC responsibilities
- Saves home/remote workers from giving out their personal contact information
- Offers the professional edge for freelancers competing against more established businesses
National | 0333
Who is it for?
- Growing businesses who want to demonstrate their development or status
- Businesses with a national or international presence who want more authority i.e. a recruitment agency working across Europe, based in a relatively unknown UK town
What are the benefits?
- Allows companies working internationally to give a great impression
- Makes your business look big, able to contend with the ‘major players’
- Doesn’t tie your business image to any one UK location – great for online businesses or nationally operating service providers
- Gives you the flexibility to work on the move without missing important calls by routing your business phone number to your mobile
- Saves you money on line installation and maintenance
- Employers can purchase business phone numbers for remote workers and sales staff without the cost of a handset (and easily re-route them if an employee leaves or is unavailable that day)
- You can pay for business calls routed to an employee’s personal mobile phone without the associated HMRC responsibilities
- Saves home/remote workers from giving out their personal contact information
- Offers the professional edge for freelancers competing against more established businesses
Freephone | 0800
Who is it for?
- International businesses seeking a free alternative for their UK callers
- Bigger companies who want to improve customer experience by offering a free way to get in touch
What are the benefits?
- 0800 phone numbers have a history of being for trustworthy companies – NHS, Government departments, charities etc.
- Since 1st July 2015, calls to 0800 numbers from mobile phones have been free (for the caller)
- Doesn’t tie your business image to any one UK location – great for online businesses or nationally operating service providers
- Saves you money on line installation and maintenance
- Employers can purchase business phone numbers for remote workers and sales staff without the cost of a handset (and easily re-route them if an employee leaves or is unavailable that day)
- You can pay for business calls routed to an employee’s personal mobile phone without the associated HMRC responsibilities
- Saves home/remote workers from giving out their personal contact information
- Offers the professional edge for freelancers competing against more established businesses
Introducing Clever Numbers
Moneypenny is the UK’s leading Telephone Answering and Live Chat provider, offering communications solutions for businesses of all sizes. With our Clever Numbers, you will have a regional, national or freephone business phone number set up in minutes, routed anywhere you choose.
It’s a simple process, and you can even choose your own number. For as little as £10 a month, you will impress new customers and vastly improve brand credibility. Keep a UK dialling tone (and call rates) when you go abroad, and enjoy the flexibility of taking business calls on the move. Any questions? Call us on 0333 202 1005. We love to talk.
