Do Toll-Free Numbers (800,866,877,888) Matter Anymore?
September 5th, 2009As we process more and more business cards, one thing I’ve noticed is that some of them have toll-free numbers listed for phone or fax. Toll-free numbers use the following prefixes: 800,877,866,888 and are typically “free” to call.
Taking a random sample of cards, most of the larger companies (especially banks) have toll-free numbers listed while startups and small businesses list local phone numbers.
I asked my followers on Twitter for their thoughts on toll-free number usage and my favorite reply came from Kathryn Finney of TheBudgetFashionista who noted, “(there’s no need for toll-free numbers) because most people use celle phones as their primary phone”.
While I am not sure if everyone is using cell phones as a primary phone, I wonder how many people aren’t on a flat local- and long-distance calling plan.
Several years ago I bought a toll-free number through Vonage for my business and found that it was barely used and most of my current and prospective clients used my regular phone. Eventually I cancelled the number.
I’d love your feedback – do you have a toll-free number for your business? If so, what was the rationale for getting it and keeping it? If you are starting a new business now, do you plan on paying for a toll-free number?
October 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I’ve had a toll-free number for about 17 months now. I get one or two calls a month – far fewer than the cost actually justifies. The alternative is unacceptable though; Amazon may be well enough known to post no phone number, but my little plus size shopping place isn’t.
New companies: Put the cost into your budget but don’t get an actual number unless other methods – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN – let you down.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:25 am
People still use Vanity Numbers all the time. Businesses recognize this as thousands of businesses and organizations make use of Vanity Toll-free numbers. In fact 64% of all phone numbers used in Television advertising are Vanity Numbers. Even as technology changes people and businesses will continue to use Vanity Numbers in their everyday lives.