Sometimes, you just want to make a phone call. While social media, email, and websites have certainly decreased the number of people calling businesses for help, many customers sill find it easier to call and speak to a live representative to get the information they need. So, yes, that smart phone in your pocket still makes phone calls, and yes, people are still using the phone. And yes, a vanity number might still be a good thing for your business.
Why are Vanity Numbers Important For Businesses?
1. They’re memorable.
I have no idea what my father’s cell phone number is, but do you know what I can rattle off at any second? The phone number for marketing software provider HubSpot (1 888 HUB SPOT, in case you’re interested). It can’t really get easier than that, the entire phone number is the company name. Of course, if you don’t have a seven-letter name, you might have to be a little more creative when choosing your vanity telephone number. Forunately, you can lookup a vanity number here. No matter what you choose, a vanity number is easier to remember than a bunch of digits, because it’s easier to remember one or two things than 7.
2. They double as marketing tools.
Many businesses print their company name and phone number on vehicles they own. I just recently called a plumber because I remembered the vanity number of the side of his truck… but I didn’t call the waste collection company with a regular number printed. Why not? The name and number just didn’t stick in my head…and I was so busy looking at those numbers that I completely missed the company name. When you can incorporate a key element about your business into a telephone number – like your name or what you do – your phone number becomes a marketing tool, reinforcing your brand.
3. They Look Professional.
If you are a new business or are trying to build your credibility, a toll-free vanity number can be any easy way to convey to customers and prospects that you’re serious about your business. Although many people have nationwide calling included with their mobile or landline phone plan, a toll-free number still communicates that you care for your customers and plan to be in business for more than a few months. Plus, toll free numbers are affordable and can be integrated with most VoIP providers, which means you have technological flexibility over a local number. But remember, some people will look for a local number, so be sure to include that in your contact information, too.
What’s your vanity number? Let us know in the comments.