Here on the blog we talk a lot about how to use your 800 number and the benefits of an 800 number…we thought we’d lighten it up this week. Here are some random 800 number facts that were in the news recently:

• People make money off of 800 number misdials. According to MSN, people are now buying toll free numbers just for this purpose.

• In Fayetteville, AR you can pay your parking meter by phone. Simply call 1-888-450-PARK, give them your space number and credit card info. Beats trying to find a quarter.

• You can find out the status of your tax return by calling the IRS’s toll free number.

• Massachusetts is offering a free two-week supply of nicotine patches to veterans through 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

What other interesting stories are we missing here?

Here are 5 reasons why your small business needs a toll free number:

1. Improve customer satisfaction

Have you ever tried to get in contact with a business only to discover you can’t find their contact info (ahem, Google)?  It’s really frustrating and can leave a sour taste in your mouth about the company.

With a toll free number, you can improve your customer service and satisfaction simply by being available to take their call.  A toll free number makes it easier for your customers to reach you and get their questions answered. They’ll be able to call you any day, at any time and it won’t cost them a thing. The easier you make it for your customers to reach you, the more likely they are to remain a customer.

2. Easy to remember

Another benefit of having a toll free number for your business is that it’s much easier to remember than any other number, especially if it’s a vanity number.  It’s a lot easier for people to remember 1-800-Flowers than it is to remember 1-800-356-9377. People are more likely to call you, it can generate more sales and it can be a really powerful marketing tool for your business.

3. Credibility

Toll free numbers aren’t just for big corporations; they are great for companies of all sizes, especially those just starting a business. Having a toll free number gives your business credibility and enhances your company’s image.  You could be working out of your basement and no one would know.

4. Portability

With a toll free number, location doesn’t matter.  Relocating your business? Your customers won’t even know! You can still be reached by your toll free number regardless of where you are located, simply by forwarding your calls to your cell phone or any other phone for that matter! Did you also know that once you purchase a toll free number it’s yours? Even if you change providers, you can take your number with you.

5. Marketing Tool

We’ve already talked about using a vanity number (also great for marketing purposes) but did you know toll free phone numbers can help you better track your marketing efforts?

Think about it. You have a website, a print ad or maybe even a billboard in Times Square. When someone picks up the phone and calls you, how do you know where they came from?

toll free number allows you to create extensions, which can then be associated with a particular campaign. One number for print, one for the website, etc. Your toll free number can act as a marketing tool and as a result can increase your call volume, sales and ROI.

Need more information on how toll free numbers work? Check out our post, Toll Free Numbers: What You Need to Know.

Does your small business have a toll free number? What are the other benefits to having one?

This is when it makes sense to get a toll free number and begin taking phone calls like the big boys of the industry. The following guide to toll free numbers explains how to go about getting a catchy, custom number for a reasonable price.

How Exactly Does A Toll Free Number Work?

Toll free numbers are a staple of professionalism that allow your customers to call you free of charge. Despite their name, the phone calls are not technically “free,” as the business that owns the number must pay for both incoming and outgoing activity.

The idea behind a toll free number is that anyone calling the business has, in all likelihood, either already spent money with them, or is seeking information to possibly place a new order. Not charging for the phone call is a way of saying, “thanks for your business.”

Are There Any Differences Between 800, 888, 877, 866, and 855?

Toll free numbers come in five different formats – 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, 1-866, and the newest, 1-855. These formats are no different from each other, other than by appearance, and neither one costs any more than the others to acquire or operate. One company draws an appropriate comparison between phone number formats and website domain names. “…800 is essentially .com, 888 is .net and 866 and 877 are like .info, .biz or country codes,” they explain. “They all technically work the same.”

This is a great way of thinking about toll free numbers as you decide which one will fit the needs of your business. Some incredibly successful companies have created entire brand names around a 1-800 phone number, such as 1-800-FLOWERS, and 1-800-CONTACTS. Ultimately, you must decide how central your new toll free number will be to your business, in what capacities it will serve your customers, and how important it will be to your branding efforts.

What is a Vanity Number?

Custom phone numbers that contain the name of your business or catchy words to describe your services are known as vanity numbers. These are typically harder to find but infinitely more valuable to your business, because they are easy for your customers to remember without having to look you up.

Some people have the mistaken idea that the best vanity numbers cost more, but actually this is not true. Much like finding a good “.com” domain name for your business, registering a strong toll free number comes down to a bit of searching and some luck. With the recent release of 855 numbers, there are more vanity numbers currently available.

To choose your custom number, think about what words best describe your business and what your customers will remember (check out our tips for choosing a vanity number). To find a number, simply type in your keyword using our “Custom toll free search tool”.

What Do You Get, What Do You Need?

Once you have a toll free number, the hope is to reduce the amount of time necessary to service a customer so as not to rack up an exorbitantly high phone bill. Often times, business will set up automated phone systems to gauge the customer’s reason for calling and route them to the proper department. These systems are known as a Private Branch Exchange, (or PBX) systems.

Unfortunately, toll free numbers themselves do not come with PBX systems, office phones, or any other accessories necessary to make the most of your new number. In order to decide what you need to buy in addition to your new number, you must do a full assessment of your business and decide exactly which departments your number will route to, and how many phones need to be present in each. For small businesses, this can be expensive, which is why many companies use a virtual phone system.

What Is Toll Free Number Hoarding?

According to the FCC, hoarding (also known as “warehousing”), is an illegal activity in which a business or service provider will snatch up large blocks of toll free numbers with the intention of reselling them at a premium in the future. The FCC regulates this activity by checking to make sure there are actual subscribers for whom the toll free numbers are being reserved. In fact, the FCC even reports that it is illegal for any subscriber to sell their toll free number for a fee. This law is intended to regulate the marketplace and ensure that all of the best vanity numbers do not become incredibly expensive to reserve.

Other posts on toll free numbers

Picking the Perfect Vanity Number
Why Your Business Should Have an 800 Number
10 Facts About 800 Numbers

Have a question about toll free numbers that we didn’t cover in this post? Post it in the comments section below!

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!

Here are a few common facts about 800 numbers:

• A “true” 800 number is simply a toll free number with an “800″ prefix.
• You own your 800 number.
• 800 numbers are portable. If you change service providers, you can take your 800 number with you.
• 800 numbers that spell out a company name, product, etc are called “vanity numbers”.
• 800 numbers have been around for over 35 years.
• 800 numbers are regulated by the FCC.
• 800, 888, 866 & 877 are all toll free numbers. The only difference is the numbers themselves.
• 800 numbers can be used for home numbers as well as business numbers.
• 855, 844, 833, and 822 numbers have been reserved to be used as toll free numbers in the future.  (As of October 9th, 855 numbers are now available to the public.)
• AT&T paid over $1.32 million to acquire the vanity number 1-800-YELLOWPAGES (* wiki)

An 800 number is a great way to make your small business sound professional for a low cost. Get an 800 number along with all the great features of the Grasshopper virtual phone system.