There is no doubt that toll-free numbers give a lot of benefits for a business. For one, it makes them seem a lot more legitimate as a business. Secondly, the business is made a lot more accessible as anyone can call them for free. While toll-free numbers come with a lot of advantages, there are also disadvantages. A business owner should take the time and evaluate his business, and then weigh the pros and cons to see if it is feasible. Below are the pros and cons to look at.
As mentioned above, the biggest advantage of toll free numbers is the fact that more people can call a business simply because they can since there's no charge involved. Calls from non-patrons are considered leads. Calls from these leads combined with a customer service department with proper training can lead to more sales.
Another good thing about toll free numbers is that you are not only made more accessible to potential customers, your business is made accessible to potential customers all over the country. The fact that you can be called for free allows sales potentials from incoming calls. Expand this potential from your local region to all throughout the nation, and you have limitless possibilities for your business.
All of this also translates to customer retention. If customers have problems with your product or service, they will find it easy to call to make a complaint. This allows you to make up for mistakes you've made on your product or service as well as gain data on what area needs improvement. The better customer service you have, the more popular you'll be; which translates to more sales.
The cons of having toll free numbers are actually minor nuisances but can put off any business from getting them all the same. One disadvantage lies in the influx of calls. When you don't have a toll free number yet, the incoming calls consist of those important enough that a customer is willing to fork up money to talk to you. With toll free numbers, everything is free. Therefore, a huge chunk of incoming call volume may be from people who just refuse to read the instruction manual you provided or worse, prank calls.
Another disadvantage of toll free numbers is that it can be considered as an investment. This means it can get pricey before you even see any boosts in sales. For you to have toll free numbers, you'll need to set them up. This includes buying the number, training associates that will receive calls, and so on. There will be a lot of preparations that you have to take care of before implementing the toll free number. That is if you want to use it as a way for you to make more sales.
So is the toll free number worth it? The answer isn't a hundred percent "Yes." But these days, it just can be worth it. Getting a toll-free number is no longer as expensive as before. While you no longer make a "huge" investment, the possible returns are still the same.
Dave Carter is an independent consultant for small businesses. He's a techie whose expertise lies in the field of consumer electronics and telecommunications. He writes for EasyInbound, Australia's leading provider of the lowest 1300 numbers cost can change a business for the better.
Pros
As mentioned above, the biggest advantage of toll free numbers is the fact that more people can call a business simply because they can since there's no charge involved. Calls from non-patrons are considered leads. Calls from these leads combined with a customer service department with proper training can lead to more sales.
Another good thing about toll free numbers is that you are not only made more accessible to potential customers, your business is made accessible to potential customers all over the country. The fact that you can be called for free allows sales potentials from incoming calls. Expand this potential from your local region to all throughout the nation, and you have limitless possibilities for your business.
All of this also translates to customer retention. If customers have problems with your product or service, they will find it easy to call to make a complaint. This allows you to make up for mistakes you've made on your product or service as well as gain data on what area needs improvement. The better customer service you have, the more popular you'll be; which translates to more sales.
Cons
The cons of having toll free numbers are actually minor nuisances but can put off any business from getting them all the same. One disadvantage lies in the influx of calls. When you don't have a toll free number yet, the incoming calls consist of those important enough that a customer is willing to fork up money to talk to you. With toll free numbers, everything is free. Therefore, a huge chunk of incoming call volume may be from people who just refuse to read the instruction manual you provided or worse, prank calls.
Another disadvantage of toll free numbers is that it can be considered as an investment. This means it can get pricey before you even see any boosts in sales. For you to have toll free numbers, you'll need to set them up. This includes buying the number, training associates that will receive calls, and so on. There will be a lot of preparations that you have to take care of before implementing the toll free number. That is if you want to use it as a way for you to make more sales.
So is the toll free number worth it? The answer isn't a hundred percent "Yes." But these days, it just can be worth it. Getting a toll-free number is no longer as expensive as before. While you no longer make a "huge" investment, the possible returns are still the same.
Author's Bio:
Dave Carter is an independent consultant for small businesses. He's a techie whose expertise lies in the field of consumer electronics and telecommunications. He writes for EasyInbound, Australia's leading provider of the lowest 1300 numbers cost can change a business for the better.
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