By: Jason Kay
Submitted: 2009-11-30 18:26:37 | Word Count: 554
It used to be that in order to have an 800 number you had to be one of the big boys in the world of business and those with a small business were simply out of luck. Not so these days and now more than ever there are an increasing number of cheap 800 number providers for small businesses to choose from.
You can find cheap and reliable service for your small business and have an 800 number all for around ten bucks per month. Of course there are packages that will cost more depending on the company and the services you want, but you can start out small and work your way up if you want to. You can choose to take whatever 800 number the company you go with designates you or for a few dollars more you can have a vanity number like1 800 CAT FOOD.
[ advertisement ]
It is no longer necessary to have multiple phone lines set up in your office or workspace in order to have an 800 number as there is what is known as a virtual 800 number. A virtual 800 number is basically like a call center or switchboard operator that routes your incoming calls to wherever you want them to go. So if a customer where to call your 800 number they would hear a recorded message such as, ‘For sales press one, for service, press 2,’ and so on. Once the customer presses the extension the call is routed to the phone that you designated that extension to go to. This phone can be an office line, a cell phone, a home phone, or any other phone that you choose. The best part is that you can have these extensions change from phone to phone depending on where you or your staff will be at a particular time. That means that you and your staff are no longer bound to your desks and are free to be out getting more business and still be available to take calls if need be.
You may be wondering why it is that your small business needs an 800 number. The answer is simple; increased customer service. Put yourself in your customer’s and potential customer’s shoes. If you are looking online for a product and you are at a point where you need to call someone and ask some questions what company will you go with, the one that has a toll free number, or the one that makes you call a number that is not local to you and thus puts the burden of the bill on you? You will of course call the 800 number and your customers and potential customers are no different.
Another advantage to an 800 number for your small business is that it makes your business appear to be much larger than it actually is. When your customers and potential customers call the 800 number and get a list of options and extensions they will feel as though they are dealing with a multi national corporation even if you only have one or two employees. They will have no idea how big or small you are and this will be to your advantage.
The bottom line is that an 800 number for a small business will equate to more phone calls. More phone calls equal more sales and that equals more money to your bottom line.
