A company telephone number is the first point of contact that most customers will have when attempting to reach out to your company. While there has been an increase in the use of other communication channels, it’s reassuring to have a direct phone number to get into contact with when looking to speak to a business. By having a dedicated number for all your companies needs can add credibility, reliability, and loyalty to your business.
Most landlines and traditional phone systems have limitations. In order to get the most out of these systems, you will need to spend a bit more money on advanced features such as fax, SMS, and call forwarding. Looking into installing an on-site PBX can help, but might cost even more in the long run.
There are plenty of companies that offer affordable business numbers, which are supported by one of the best virtual phone systems in the industry. Instead of conventional landlines, your company can get a virtual phone number that is not tethered to physical lines but instead can be linked to the internet.
Regular landlines
These types of landlines can be expensive because the on-site hardware must be paid up-front. Along with this, there is also a need for complex implementations, which in turn, mean additional fees. Sometimes there is also an early termination fee for required contracts, and during your contract, some service and hardware upgrades come at a price. If you need premium technical support calls, you will most likely have to pay additional fees. If maintenance is required, your business will need specialized manpower to fix any issues that arise.
By switching to a type of virtual phone service, you will eliminate all that is listed above. With these types of phone services, they do not require on-site hardware and have quick and easy implementations for your business. Some providers require no long term contracts that tie down your business, and some upgrades and updates can be rolled out for free. Most companies offer free 24/7 technical support and are able to configure and manage the system from anywhere. With the modern business world always changing, these phone systems also can easily add or re-assign digital lines and extensions.
How to Get A Business Phone Number
If you’ve just started a small business or plan to expand yours, one of the first things you need to consider is how your customers will get into contact with you. The easiest way to do this and to stand out from the crowd is by arranging a personalized business phone number. There are so many options out there when it comes to cloud phone services that it can be overwhelming to get started, but we will help you to decide which option is best for you and your business.
Choose The Right Business Phone System
Before you can start a business and begin to receive incoming calls from customers, you need to select a phone service designed for your business needs. Companies often have more significant needs beyond what a typical phone service provider can offer. The service behind your phone number makes all the difference to the bottom line of your business because it’s a very competitive business environment out there.
Features to look for include auto attendants, call forwarding, call recording, and conference calls. These features give businesses the tools they need to grow over time. By choosing a cloud phone system powered by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a much better option for most businesses because It’s faster, easier to set up for businesses, and includes most features needed.
There are four different business phone numbers you can choose from and below we break it down by type, in order to give you insight into what each one might end up costing you.
Local Phone Number
It’s a fact that pretty much anyone can secure a local phone number whether or not it’s for a business. You can get your number from a local phone company, or via Google Voice, and the setup is fast, tied to a location via area code of your choice, and you can be up and running the very same day. It is cheap and will cost around $10 a month
Toll-Free Phone Number
A toll-free number is an 800 number that is location-agnostic. You will recognize this type of number because most businesses use this option. The benefit of this type of number is that it can appear more professional to your consumer. You sign up via your phone provider, setup is fast, and you can even have it forwarded to an existing line costing around $10/month
Vanity Phone Numbers
A vanity number takes a toll-free number to the next level by providing a memorable string of words or numbers. For instance, the 1-800-CAN-HELP phone number is a critical element of the company’s brand.
Unfortunately, many requested vanity phone numbers have been claimed, however, they may still be available if you simply ask around your area. You may want to use a reliable vanity phone number distributor online to acquire the rights to the number first. Because of the customization, this type of number can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per month
Virtual Phone Numbers
The last option available for businesses is a virtual number. This option is not right for everyone though. Rather than receiving reliable phone service, they primarily function exclusively as a call forwarding or voicemail service. A virtual phone number is an option if you only want calls to forward to another number without the ability to place calls to another party. If you are a business that wants to establish a local presence in a market but not make calls from, a virtual phone number with their VoIP phone service is the way to go. This option is also cheap costing under $10 a month.
Selecting a Phone for Your Business Phone Number
Once you have chosen a phone number from one of the providers offered above, you will be able to utilize this number in your everyday life. Depending on which number you choose, you need an IP-based phone that works with your number.
If you have chosen a number compatible with VoIP, then SIP protocol can be used and also implemented reliably with your business phone system. Additionally, if you wish to place calls with an app on your computer, laptop, or cell phone, you can download the business phone app from your service provider.
Improve Your Business Phone Number with an Upgraded Phone System
Behind every business phone number is the phone service that moves the needle for business owners. With countless features offered to best utilize your phone number, you can’t go wrong with spending extra for success. If you need to increase your company’s appearance or sales, you can benefit from an array of new calling and collaboration features. By investing in phone services to increase your capabilities today, will help you and your business tomorrow.