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.

In today’s economy, it’s important to make your business seem like number one. That means as a small 1-5 person business, you need to look and sound as professional as the big guys. An 800 number can not only help you sound bigger but can also make life easier for everyone. Here are seven reasons your small business should have an 800 number:

1. An 800 number centralizes your business. Even if your employees are located in five different states, you still only need one number.

2. It’s easier for customers to remember your number, especially when you use vanity numbers (think 1-800-Flowers).

3. Customers are more likely to call an 800 number simply because it’s free!

4. You own your 800 number. Change businesses, locations, etc…the number is still yours.

5. They are easily transferable. Your business has grown tenfold and you need a bigger phone system but you don’t want to have to change your number. Good news, you don’t have to! Take it with you.

6. Every number comes with a flexible plan based on your need for minutes and features. Just want to reserve a number? For $9.95 a month you can get the number you want and hold onto it.

7. 800 numbers provide you with a variety of helpful features like call forwarding, voicemail, and unlimited extensions. As your business grows, so does your phone system.

An 800 number is a valuable asset and can give your small business the professional look and feel it needs. Have more questions? Check out our FAQ or call customer support 24/7at 1-800-820-8210.

One of the things we talk a lot about is using Grasshopper to help your business sound more professional. Yes, it’s true, a virtual number with custom greetings, on-hold music and voice mail can help your business sound bigger and certainly more professional, but it can also be fun.

Having your own 800 number with unlimited extensions, voicemail greetings, custom music…imagine the possibilities!

Here are three fun ways you can use your virtual phone number:

• Joke of the Day

  What if you were put on hold, only to be told a joke? Being on hold wouldn’t be so bad would it? Knock knock jokes, kids jokes, puns, jokes about your industry or profession, etc. Just be sure to keep it tasteful.

• Dating Extension

  Single? What if you could know it was a personal call before you even picked up? Just like you can create dedicated extensions for specific clients, you can create dedicated extensions for love interests. No more awkwardness, no more wondering who is calling or what you are going to say. When the caller ID shows your dedicated extension, you can be ready.

  Can’t pick up the phone? Create a voice mail message just for that person (I don’t recommend this before date three as it might seem creepy).

• Meeting Planner

  Who needs a secretary when you have Question and Answer extensions? Set up a dedicated extension for meetings and stay efficient. Who is calling? What is the meeting about? What time and date?

  An MP3 of the call will be emailed to you (or with voice mail transcription, a script of the call) and all you have to do is call back and confirm the meeting. You can save time and never have to worry about being out of the office or missing a call.

There are many different ways to use your virtual phone number and there are probably people out there doing things we don’t even know about. How are you using your virtual number?

As the tournament kicks off today, productivity all over the U.S decreases dramatically. For those of us in the office, we can check the scores online and for some brave souls, watch the games at CBS.com with the “Boss Button“.

But what about those who are in meetings or on sales calls and can’t check the score? What if your favorite team is on?

With Grasshopper, this tragedy can be averted.

While you may not be able to break out your phone to check the score, you can take an important call right?

• Using your Grasshopper 800 or local number, set up a March Madness extension.

• Tell your friends who are not working to call this extension to provide updates (lets just stick with half-time, 12 minutes and final).

• When the call is forwarded to your cell phone, you will see the extension and immediately know it’s a score update.

• Politely excuse yourself, stating you have to take this call, and immediately get the latest news.

Colleagues and associates will be none the wiser and you won’t have to worry about missing any news about your team.

*We don’t actually recommend doing this but hey, do what you have to do.

You are in the zone, ideas are flowing, work is getting done and the phone rings. You don’t want to miss an important call but you also don’t want to interrupt your work flow. With the Grasshopper virtual phone system you can see who is calling and send the caller to voice mail without worrying you are going to miss important information.

Why? Because with Grasshopper you will immediately be emailed the MP3 and the voice mail transcription (if you subscribe to the “Read Your Voicemail” feature). Voice mail is a great asset for your business and we have included some of the best ways to get the most out of it below.

Voice mail when you need it:

• Out of the office?

  The great thing about having Grasshopper is that you can choose when you want calls to be forwarded or when you want them to be sent to voice mail. When you are out of the office, you can have calls forwarded to your cell or home phone. Don’t want to get calls after 8 pm? Set up an after-hours greeting and send calls directly to voice mail.

  The other great thing is that even if you are out of the office, your voice mail will be emailed to you (in MP3 form), giving you the ability to listen to it on your Smartphone. You will know right away if it is an urgent call.

• Don’t want to talk?

  We have all been there. The phone rings and you really don’t want to talk to anyone. With Call Screening & Announce, you can simply listen to the number and decide if you want to talk or send them to voice mail.

• Don’t want to listen?

  To summarize, there is a Facebook group called “I Only Check My Voicemail To Get Rid Of The Little Icon On The Screen”. Yes, we can all be lazy and sometimes we just don’t feel like listening to our voice mail. The great thing about Grasshopper is that you don’t have to!

  With the “Read Your Voicemail” feature, your voice mail will be transcribed and emailed to you. You can get the contents of your voice mail without having to listen to it.

• Want to go above and beyond?

  In a recent post here on the Grasshopper blog, we show-cased how the unlimited extensions feature can help you go above and beyond for clients. By creating personalized greetings & voicemail messages for individual clients using separate extensions, you can create strong relationships and make your business stand out.

Grasshopper voice mail makes life easier for small businesses, is there when you need it and can help keep you and your business organized. Find out more about all the great features of the Grasshopper virtual phone system.