How to Get a Freephone Number
Setup
Depending on which phone provider you use (e.g. BT), the setup will differ. However, the normal method will be to call the freephone company, choose a package that suits your business, and then the installation will be booked over the phone.
The process is considerably less complicated than many people assume, a freephone number can often be in place within several days.
A freephone number is a re-directing service. This means that when a customer calls the number, it is redirected to a standard local number. This usually allows you the option of redirecting the calls to an existing number, or using a new line to take freephone calls only. If you decide upon a new line, you will receive a local number which the freephone calls are redirected to. If the local number (not the freephone number) is called, the call will go through as normal, and will either not be charged to you, or will be deducted off of the bill.
Numbers
There are many thousands of different numbers available as 0800 or 0808 freephone.
Numbers that are considered more memorable (such as those with double numbers or a repeated set of numbers e.g. 08000 991199, 08000 789789) are more expensive to purchase as customers remember them better and they are therefore in greater demand. The costs of the numbers themselves can vary from free to many hundreds of pounds depending on how memorable they are. 0808 numbers are cheaper than 0800 numbers because there is less knowledge of and demand for these numbers, meaning that many memorable numbers are still available. The advantage of having a memorable number is that customers may not need to look up your business before calling you. However it is important to weigh up the costs of a memorable number against the benef its. There is little point in spending hundreds of pounds every year on a number that only 50 people will call; but at the same time, a memorable number could help bring in lots of extra callers to a well publicised company, making it worth the extra amount.
Freephone numbers are split into blocks, every company that offers freephone services can buy blocks individually, meaning that numbers available with one company are not going to be available with any other. So if you cannot find the right number with one provider, there may be a better one available from another.
Costs
The monthly costs and call costs vary depending on the freephone service provider, and change regularly. For an average setup, you will be looking at between £10 and £100 a month depending on features and any free minutes that may be included. Average call costs are up to 10p a minute, but these vary considerably depending on the service provider and the package chosen. An 0808 number will usually cost less each month than an 0800 number as they are less well known. The call cost per minute is also lower, averaging up to 7p a minute. Before agreeing any package, you should always look at the alternative providers to find the best number and the best service for the price. However, even with the most expensive freephone provider, the costs are very reasonable compared to the potential benefits.
Providers
There are many providers of freephone services; here are a selection of them (these sites are not endorsed by BizHelp24).
Remember!
A Freephone number:
- Means you pay for the customers call
- Is NOT free from a customer’ s mobile phone!
- Invites people to call, and gives you a huge advantage over competitors that do not have freephone numbers
- Projects an image of a company that cares about its customers
- Removes the limitations of a local number
- Is well known: There is almost total awareness that 0800 means free
- Creates an image of a large trustworthy organisation, no matter how big your business really is
- Can be set up in a few days
- Will help you gain new customers, as well as improving your relationship with existing customers
Article Index
- Using Freephone Numbers
- The Disadvantages of Using a Freephone Number
- Freephone Number
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