What Are the Best Business Phone Numbers to Get For Your Company in 2020?

by Maggie F. Marketing & Communications

In the market for a new phone number for your company? Maybe your current number is not providing as much traction as you’d like it to. Most owners don’t realize that a business number can do much more than merely offer a channel of communication. Here we will look at the different types of business phone numbers so that you can find the right one for your company.

Business Phone Numbers: A Marketing Tool

Business phone numbers can do much more than open a path of communication between your company and its clients. The type of business number you get can determine how far your company can reach to attract new leads. They also influence how callers and prospects interact with your brand.

The most common types of business phone numbers are virtual, toll free, vanity, and local numbers. Which business number works best for you will depend on your business type and what goals you have in mind. For example, do you have multiple offices located in different states or countries? Do you want to expand locally (to neighboring cities and states) or globally? Let’s look at different business phone numbers and how they can boost a business.

Virtual Business Numbers

Cloud-based business numbers are growing more and more popular as businesses see the advantages of switching to a virtual communication system. Virtual numbers work differently than traditional numbers because they route calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines. This enables users to make and receive calls anywhere from any device. Now, the best part about these numbers is that you can get toll free, local, or international virtual numbers. And so, you call locally or internationally at reasonable rates that you subscribe to, instead of paying long-distance calling charges.

Additionally, a virtual phone service can give you access to advanced cloud-based communication features such as call forwarding, call recording, interactive voice response (IVR) system, outbound calling, and more. These features help increase office productivity and team collaboration by streamlining and automating processes, to an extent. Less time is spent on menial tasks and more time on making sales and providing customer service.

Toll Free Numbers

You’ve probably seen toll free numbers advertised everywhere: commercials, billboards, and more. These numbers have a distinct 3-digit code like 800, 822, 833, or 844. Toll free numbers are usually associated with large corporations and established institutions. They choose to have a toll free business number because calls made to a toll free number are charged to the receiver instead of the caller. This makes calling a company free for its customers. They know and appreciate that, and this convenient communication channel will improve customer relations.

Local/Geographic Numbers

If you want to target specific markets and locations, then you may find local numbers more useful. You can get numbers with certain city and state area codes. For example, if you want to connect with clients in New Jersey, United States, then you could get a 201 or 973 local number. Prospects are more likely to answer a local number that they recognize than an unknown number. Additionally, they are less hesitant to call a local number because they won’t be charged extra for that call.

Cloud-based phone number providers often have access to local numbers for states and countries across the world. For example, Global Call Forwarding (https://www.globalcallforwarding.com/) has local numbers in more than 160 countries worldwide.

Vanity Numbers

Vanity numbers are another route to take for attractive business phone numbers. These numbers use repetition or insert familiar words within the number. For example, 1-800 FLOWERS or 822-455-5555. The point of this is to create an easy-to-recognize and memorable number. One that stays on potential customers’ minds longer. You can purchase a vanity number from a virtual phone service provider as well.