Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune wrote an article Tuesday detailing his recent experience after watching “The Adjustment Bureau”, the latest film put out by Universal:

“The politician played by Matt Damon doesn’t initially remember the phone number that the dancer played by Emily Blunt gives him in “The Adjustment Bureau.” That’s strange, because I sure did. It’s 212-664-7665. In fact, I repeated it in my head for the rest of the movie: 212-664-7665. 212-664-7665. 212-664-7665. Once home I called it.”

So was there anyone on the other end of the line? Nope, according to Marc, “No Answer”.

Seems like a wasted opportunity to me.

Why not offer those who do call the phone number something special? Direct them to a website where they can get the inside scoop on the movie, watch deleted scenes or print out a coupon for a discount on the DVD. Do something!

Universal had the chance to get people talking about their movie for a different reason and they missed it.

And aside from the marketing aspect, here at Grasshopper we’re just mad they are wasting a 212 phone number! This guy’s over here selling his for $1 million and the movie studio is just letting theirs sit there. Come on!

For those of us who still have a home phone (or remember the days before cell phones), you know that when you call a local number, you simply dial seven digits. You have an area code but how often do you dial it? Probably never. That’s going to change.

With cities across the United States running out of local numbers, many areas are requiring you to dial the area code every time you make a call.

Oklahoma just implemented 10-digit dialing March 5th. They will be launching a new area code April 1st in a town that already has one (this is called an area code overlay). A person with a 918 area code could theoretically live next door to someone with the new 539 area code. To avoid misdialing and confusion, all 10 digits will be required.

The same thing is happening in Alabama. With 256 area codes running out, a new area code will be created for that same location.

10-digit dialing is nothing new for residents of Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland or West Virginia but for the rest of us, we may want to get used to it.

Has 10-digit dialing come to your area? How has it affected you?

There’s been a lot of talk about number porting the past two weeks with Google’s announcement that they will begin doing so for Google Voice users. This is exciting news for individuals using Google Voice and it’s great for us because it brings headlines to a feature that we often forget to talk about!

Most people know that Grasshopper has toll free and local numbers available to buy but they might not know we also have the ability to transfer numbers, also called number porting.

Why port your number?

For businesses that already have a phone number, it can be much easier to transfer it than to get a new one. You don’t have to change your contact info, create new marketing materials, print new business cards, modify your website, etc. Porting your number can save you time and money (two extremely valuable things).

Can I port toll free numbers?

You sure can. Port toll free numbers and the majority of local numbers (check here to see if you can port your local number). Plus, you have all rights to the number. Your phone number will always be yours, even if you decide to change providers.

How much does it cost?

Grasshopper charges a $30 one-time fee to port in your number. However, for those signed up on the Grow or Max plans, number porting is included.

Be sure to check out our FAQ page or Support section for more info on number porting.

Learn more about the differences between Grasshopper & Google Voice.

Over at Grasshopper Group there’s a great post on how to stick to your 2011 resolution of starting a business. We included several tips including “Think big”, “Think small”, “Keep your resolution every day” and finally, “Hold yourself accountable”.

One of the tips under “hold yourself accountable” is to actually do something for your business. Doing something or even buying something tangible can help motivate you and make the process more real.

Below we’ve outlined a few low cost actions that can help you get your business going this year:

1. Register a Business Name

You’ve probably thought about what you would call your business a million times. Now it’s time to take action and actually register it. You want to make sure it’s available and also protect it. Here are a couple of resources to help you:

• Registering Your Business Name
• Steps to Registering a Business
• Register Your Business

2. Create a Logo

A website can be an expensive way to start, so let’s begin with a logo. You may not be a designer but there are a number of freelancers out there who can help and aren’t terribly expensive. Check out 99designs.com, Logoworks, Logo Design Guru or ask around, you may know someone.

3. Purchase a Domain Name

A good domain name is imperative. It will go in your emails, on your business cards and more importantly, its how potential customers will find you. A good domain name should be short, describe your business, be easy to remember and a .com. SEOMoz has a great post, “12 Rules for Choosing the Right Domain Name” you can check out.

As for domain providers, there are a number out there including the most popular GoDaddy, Network Solutions & Yahoo.

4. Get a Phone Number

Starting out you will most likely use your cell phone the majority of the time. But let’s be honest, your current voicemail message probably doesn’t really sound all that professional for a business. Plus, do you really want to put your cell phone number on all of your business materials? No.

A dedicated business phone number is a great way to go and it’s cheap. You can lock down a toll free or local number for $9.95 a month, which includes call forwarding, voicemail boxes, custom greetings and more. You can still get your calls on your cell phone but no one else has to know that.

5. Print Business Cards

You don’t have to print a ton of them but why not get a few? It’ll feel good to see your name and company on a real business card and can act as a motivator. You can get them fairly cheap from a company like VistaPrint or PrintingforLess.

Make it happen

This year, don’t just say you are going to do it, go do it. Starting a business is a big endeavor so focus on doing one thing at a time. Make 2011 the year you stick to your resolution!

The first thought that comes to your head when you hear the term “virtual phone system” is probably not “local numbers.” You’ve heard us talk all about the benefits 800 numbers offer, but what about local numbers? They can do more for your business than many people realize.

• Local numbers make your customers feel more connected to you.

  Clients often prefer to deal with businesses in their own locale. An 800 number may make your business seem too impersonal or large. Customers can have the convenience of making a call to a local number as opposed to an 800 number or an unrecognizable area code.

• More than one number

  Depending on your business size and needs, you may need more than one local number. For example if you run a business out of Massachusetts that is partially in Boston and partially in Western Massachusetts, you may want both a 617 and a 508 number for your customers. If you’re doing business in multiple cities across the country, having more than one local number is a good idea too to give your business a multi-city appeal.

• Outside international calls

  International callers often cannot dial toll free US 1-800 numbers, but can dial local numbers. This is beneficial for your company if they conduct a lot of international business.

• Same great features!

  If you have a local number you would like to keep, Grasshopper can easily port it. And with a local number comes all of the same great features like unlimited extensions and custom greetings.

Our own company is an example of having both a toll free and local number. We have a direct 617 Boston area code for local and international customers and an 800 number for customers who prefer toll free. Search for available local numbers!

One of the great things about our phone system is that it can be used in different (and creative) ways. While yes, it’s intended to be used as a full-featured, make your company sound big phone system, our customers have made it their own. Some people use it strictly as a voicemail service, some use it as a call forwarding service and one customer uses it to provide clients with personalized extensions.

A new use we came across recently was a customer using their Grasshopper number as a dedicated support line. What a great idea! We certainly have customers who use extensions for support/sales/departments/etc, but I’d never really thought about using an account just for Support.

As it turns out, there are actually quite a few benefits to this:

Professionalism

One of our main priorities here is to “Help entrepreneurs stay connected and sound professional”. Why? Because to customers, perception is reality.

A dedicated support line certainly shows customers that you are professional, successful enough to have a support team & you are there to help them when they need it. Whether this line forwards to a 100-person support team or your home office doesn’t really matter.

Simplicity

Have you ever called a company for support and been forced to listen to 10 different menus? Of course you have, we all have! It can be extremely frustrating, and when you are already frustrated it certainly doesn’t endear you to the company you are trying to reach.

With a dedicated line, there’s no sifting through the phone tree. Your customer reaches the right department and can then be directed based on need. Remember the old adage, Keep it Simple Stupid.

Minute Usage

If you’re using a virtual phone system, your plan is most likely based on minute usage. One of the common traits we’ve seen in companies who go over their minutes, is they typically have a sales or support line, which can take up a ton of minutes as your business grows. Having a separate line/account may be just the answer.

To break it down, for a company on the Ramp plan ($24/500 minutes), it may make more sense to upgrade to the Grow plan ($49/2,000 minutes), but for those on the Grow plan, it probably doesn’t make sense to upgrade to the Max plan ($199/10,000 minutes). A better solution may be adding another Ramp plan to use for the support line. You don’t have to worry about minute overage and it won’t cost too much more.

Using a Grasshopper number as a dedicated support line (a Sales line would apply here too) appears to be a pretty good idea and one I’m glad was brought to our attention.

Aside from the awesome information you get here on the Grasshopper blog, did you know that Grasshopper can help you with your marketing efforts? It’s true! In fact, we’ve outlined how below:

Vanity Numbers Can Increase Calls

Vanity numbers are custom toll free numbers that spell a word or mnemonic that helps customers easily remember your phone number (think 1 800 Flowers or 1 888 Best Buy). How much does it help? Vanity numbers can provide a business with a 25% to 69% increase in caller response rates!

While many of the best vanity numbers are taken, there are still great ones out there and with the eventual release of 855 numbers, even more will be available.

Phone Numbers Help Track ROI

When you are running several different marketing campaigns it can be tough to track ROI. While you can easily send someone to a specific URL, you can’t always send someone to a different phone number.

With a toll free or local number, you can actually create specific numbers for specific campaigns using extensions. Then using your call reports, you’ll know exactly how many people called that number and combined with a CRM, who bought your product. Create specific numbers for print, web or TV and know which are actually working!

Sound Local

While having a toll free number is important for businesses, having a local number can also be beneficial to your marketing efforts, especially for geo-targeting purposes.

Online efforts, paid search in particular, are a great way to reach your target audience in a particular area. With virtual local numbers, you can give that audience a way to reach your business that appears like it’s right down the street. Get local numbers across the US and have them all ring to your main business number.

Create Customized Extensions

A few months back we published a great post about how a customer of ours created custom extensions for each of their clients. When a client calls they are greeted with their own message, they are directed to their contact and the contact knows exactly who’s calling before they pick up the phone.

Not bad marketing to be able to tell your customers that you will be creating a designated line for them huh?

A virtual phone number not only helps your business sound professional but also can make it more efficient.

Well, the Grasshopper Buzz Team is at it again. We are heading to another city (or country in this case) to meet local entrepreneurs and share some free drinks! Only this time it’s a bit more exciting than usual…

For the first time in Grasshopper History (–> Insert Star Wars Theme Music) we’re going to be able to offer Local Canadian Numbers (currently in beta but available to everyone in the next couple of months)!! We decided in honor of the occasion we needed to do something fun.

So what did we do?

We partnered with a great organization and decided to throw a fun event. We joined forces with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF). Not only are the folks over there just as passionate about helping entrepreneurs as we are, but they do some great things to inspire & mentor young Toronto entrepreneurs.

On June 1st at 6pm Grasshopper and CYBF will take over the roof deck of The London Tap House. It’s an unbelievable venue, and the local entrepreneurs who run the place have been really awesome in working with us. Our event is 100% free and all entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners are welcome! You can reserve your spot and see all the details here: http://ghcanada.eventbrite.com/.

A few highlights of the night:

• 30 Minute Panel:

  Made up of young, engaging and passionate local entrepreneurs

• Topic:

  “How to build a community and WOM (word of mouth) around your brand!”

• Our Panelists:

  Saul Colt – Thoora.com’s Head of Magic @saulcolt

  Erin Bury – Community Manger at Sprouter @erin_bury

  Anthony Del Col – Founder of Kill Shakespeare @killshakespeare

• Free Drinks!

  The first 100 people will get their first drink free!!

If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, concerns, or brilliant ideas feel free to reach out to myself (Jonathan Kay – @grasshopperbuzz – jkay(at)grasshopper(dot)com) or Rachel Azagury (@CYBFcanada or razagury(at)cybf(dot)ca).

Please feel free to pass this invitation on to any friends, colleagues, or random aquantances you know in Toronto that might want to come. Register for your free ticket here: http://ghcanada.eventbrite.com/

If you are a regular reader of the Grasshopper blog, you know that a main feature of our virtual phone system is the toll free number. What many people may not know is that we also offer local numbers for cities across the United States.

While a toll free number is a great way to give your customers an easy way to communicate with you, a local number can have a positive effect as well.

There are two main advantages to having a local number:

Create a Local Presence

The great thing about having a local number is that you can create a presence in a particular city. As a bigger company, it can be beneficial to have local numbers in cities where large percentages of your customer base live.

Local numbers also allow you to increase your local presence through local business listings, phone books, online search results and more. This could prove to be especially important as search engines like Google continue to show more and more localized results to searchers.

Sense of Community w/ Customers

The second main advantage to having a local phone number for your business, is the ability to create a sense of community with your customers. By achieving a presence in the city, you are establishing a connection with the people who live there, the people who are your customers and potential customers. As a large company, it is important to be able to connect with people rather than being a faceless corporation.

Local numbers can be a valuable asset for a business when used by themselves or even when combined with a toll free number. The great thing is, no matter how many different numbers you have (toll free or local), with a virtual phone number, all calls can be forwarded to the same place.

Have you considered a local number for your business?

When you start a business there are obviously a number of things you need to think about. One of these things is your phone system. While it may seem fine to start with your cell phone, eventually you will want to expand, have a dedicated number, hire employees and so on. Using your personal cell phone probably isn’t going to work for long.

What is it you will really need though? A big expensive PBX system? An extra phone line? A virtual phone system is a low cost solution that may be exactly what you need.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing your phone system & plan:

Phone Numbers

Your phone number is the first thing to consider and hopefully will stay with you as your business grows. Your phone number will be how your customers communicate with you.

• Do you need a phone number or do you already have one?

  If you already have a toll free number (or local), Grasshopper offers number transfers (or number porting). At sign up, simply choose the ‘Transfer an existing number’ option. It’s easy and you won’t have to worry about updating business cards or marketing materials.

• Do you want a toll free number for your business?

  Toll free numbers can have an extremely positive impact on small businesses. It not only helps you look more professional to customers and potential customers but also has proven to elicit more calls from customers than a traditional number.

• What kind of toll free number?

  There are three main types of toll free numbers out there – True 800 numbers, general 800 numbers and vanity numbers. True 800 numbers contain the “800″ prefix, general 800 numbers include 888, 866 and 877, and vanity numbers spell out your product or business name. Here are some tips on choosing a toll free number.

Office Space

Have a home office? Work from the road? Have a co-working space? The great thing about a virtual phone system is that no matter where you work, you can have your business number forwarded to any number on any phone.

If you are often out of the office, it makes a lot of sense to have a virtual number. Anytime a potential customer calls, you won’t have to worry about missing the call because you can simply forward it to your cell phone. Receive a voicemail? The voice mail will be emailed to you, ensuring that you can listen to it or read it (with the Read Your Voicemail feature) at any time.

Additional Extensions

When you start a business, you intend to grow, make money, hire employees, etc. When thinking about your phone system, determine if you are going to need to add extensions. (Note – all Grasshopper plans offer unlimited extensions).

• How many employees do you have?

  If you have employees, you are probably going to want to give them their own extension with their own voice mail box. More importantly, if your employees are not located in the same place, it is even more important that they be able to have their own extension that can be forwarded to their phone.

• Do you have a sales or support team?

  If so, consider creating extensions dedicated to those departments. This way, when a call comes in, you know exactly what it is in regards to. Are you the sales and support team? By creating specific extensions, you will know what the call is about as it comes in, allowing you to mentally prepare before you even answer.

Minutes

This is probably the biggest factor when choosing your actual virtual phone system plan. For most 1-2 person operations, a plan with a large number of minutes probably isn’t going to be necessary. However, maybe you have a partner in another city, do a lot of cold calling, or the majority of your meetings are done over the phone.

You also need to factor in how many employees you have. How often are they on the phone? Do they speak with clients? Is there a sales or support team that is constantly taking calls? If so, a plan with more minutes will be necessary.

A virtual phone system is a great option for small businesses and Grasshopper offers three plans to fit your needs.

As a small business it is often hard to track exactly where your customers are coming from; Television, radio, web, partners, etc, etc. While analytics have certainly made it easier to track web traffic, offline efforts aren’t as clear cut.

A great way to track offline marketing efforts and determine ROI is to use multiple phone numbers. Using separate phone numbers for separate campaigns can help you track where your visitor came from and give you insight into which campaign is working the best.

Using Multiple Phone Numbers to Track ROI:

• Place a phone number on your website that is found no where else. This will allow you to track conversions from people visiting the site and then picking up the phone and buying. You can even create use separate numbers for your pay-per-click ads.
• Use a specific phone number in your television or print ad. This can be as easy as creating a new extension for your toll free number or using a completely separate phone number. Perhaps you want a local number for your television ad but an 800 number for your print ad since it will be less geo-targeted.

The more accurately a business is able to track marketing efforts, the more efficient they will be and the more money they will save.

Remember, with Grasshopper, additional phone numbers are only $5 each and additional extensions are FREE! Start tracking your marketing efforts now!

I am very pleased to announce to everyone that we plan on doing some great things with our number inventory after the New Year.  Some of these changes are already in progress and are taking place in our Number Porting Process.

What are these exciting changes?

• Local Number Inventory Expansion including Canadian DIDs
• Automation of Grasshopper Porting Process

We are in the process of finalizing a contract with a carrier that can issue us Canadian local numbers. Our goal is to have Canadian numbers available for the first of 2010. We will be getting in touch with our Canadian customers via email in an attempt to find out how many numbers and what areas they need the most so that we can order them accordingly.

We continue to expand our local coverage area based on the number of requests we get from our customers, so please don’t hesitate to check for additional local numbers in your desired area using our Search Tool under the “Find a Local Number” section.

Did you know that you may also send us a number request with the city, state and area code for the desired location by creating a Support Ticket?

Please visit the Create a Ticket section or Grasshopper Support.  Representatives can take your order 24/7/365 toll free at 800-820-8210 and create a ticket for you if you let them know your criteria.

What will change with the Grasshopper Porting Process?

We all know that porting a number (local or toll free) from one carrier to another can be a long, nerve breaking process so we wanted to avoid any difficulties that you may face while using our tools to initiate the process.

In addition to automating our internal processes by improving our communication tools and how we transfer data among carriers, we will also be making our Number Transfer process much easier for our users.

We will be implementing a user friendly Number Transfer Tool that will walk you through with the step by step instructions.

I have been working on the requirements of this tool so I can easily say that it will be almost like a wizard with some very helpful tips/ information and will contain our online transfer forms.  I can’t wait for you to start using it to port your numbers to Grasshopper.

We are very excited about the upcoming improvements and hope you are too!