small business 0800 numbers?

Savvy_Sue

WHA wrote:

I've had a few clients who started with just a mobile number and noticed a real increase in calls when they started advertising a local landline number - I don't think people like calling mobile numbers unless there is a landline number as well - to add authenticity.

As well as authenticity - it is because some of us are too tight to call mobiles except when we have to! If there are two companies offering the same service advertising side by side, I'll phone the one where the call is cheapest.

But manhattan is going to have to pay his money and take his choice!

manhattan

after reading all the replys,

i think for the type of business i will be running i would be better off just having the local number and a mobile number.

the type of people who i would be serving would prefer to see and deal with a local number/person than an unknown/unfaced 0800 number.

thanks for your responce everyone!!!


m.

ReductionQueen

manhattan wrote:

it would be for a satellite/aerial installation and servicing business so i would be working in a local area probably a 40 mile radius.i will be a sole trader for the time being.

Until I read this, I would have said go for the 0800 number. If you are aiming at a local market, then stay with your local number. In this case, it will reassure local potential customers that you are just that, local.

One thing though, it may be a good idea to have a 2nd landline rather than advertise your own home number. It can stay in your own name, or have it as ex directory (although I understand you will be advertising it.). A second pay as you go mobile number would be a good idea for advertising purposes too. Then, if you ever want to split the two and either get premises, sell up or even god forbid give up the business, you won't get unwanted calls on your personal number. Another expence I know, but worth the outlay.

camstop

If your customer base is local then this number will not do you any good at all, but if you deal on a national scale then it may help

Simpson

ReductionQueen wrote:

Until I read this, I would have said go for the 0800 number. If you are aiming at a local market, then stay with your local number. In this case, it will reassure local potential customers that you are just that, local.

One thing though, it may be a good idea to have a 2nd landline rather than advertise your own home number. It can stay in your own name, or have it as ex directory (although I understand you will be advertising it.). A second pay as you go mobile number would be a good idea for advertising purposes too. Then, if you ever want to split the two and either get premises, sell up or even god forbid give up the business, you won't get unwanted calls on your personal number. Another expence I know, but worth the outlay.

This might help its a second phone number on your existing bt line http://www.twintalkhelp.com/tt_main.htm i saw it listed on another thread.

simonp

ReductionQueen wrote:

If you are aiming at a local market, then stay with your local number.

Spot on. We give out our local number when dealing with local punters and our 0800 number for everyone else.

It DOES work very well for us - but maybe not for an aerial engineer only working local.

eddleetham

We have an 0800 number which we use as and when we think appropriate. Yes, sometimes if we're advertising locally we just use our landline number, if it's further afield and there's lots of competition, then we use the 0800 one. It's horses for courses, really. I too use the Telecom plus 0800 service. The monthly rental is very low, so it doesn't cost much if it's not used, yet the per minute cost is quite reasonable. If you want to check it out, go to https://www.slashyourbills.info and click on "Freephone numbers".

nir_mk

for those trying out 0800 for the first time (i.e. expecting to be low users), telecom plus deal mentioned above seems 6.5p per minute (have I got this right?)

but this one (https://www.searchandsave.com, 0800 183 0173) is 2.99p+VAT per minute and also doesn't suffer any set-up or monthly charges. and supposedly billed to the nearest second (I haven't received my first bill yet). I set up an 0800 number for my mum, so I can call her when I'm "out of credit" (let's be honest, I just set one up because I wanted to see what was involved...)

also type '0800' into Google for more options - if you are willing to pay more, there are other deals out there (the general idea is: pay £XX per month and get XXX minutes of calls pre-included. it is possible to get the call rate down to around 2p/min this way)

LSmith4285

nir_mk wrote:

I set up an 0800 number for my mum, so I can call her when I'm "out of credit"

All UK pay as you go networks charge (usually the standard rate) for calls to 0800 numbers.

FREEisBetterThanCHEAP

If you are going to advertise, at least CONSIDER using a freephone number. Depending on the type of business you MAY attract far more enquiries, and when starting up, you NEED people to at least consider what you are offering. The more people that do that, the higher the number who will take up your product/services - that is simple to work out statistically.

Why not try a 'no minimum contract ' deal ? As has been mentioned , Telecom Plus, The Utility Warehouse Discount Club do one for 50p a week (plus VAT). That shouldn't break the bank on top of all your other start up costs. At that price, you could even use a couple of different numbers, and use them for the different places you advertise. That would enable you to determine precisely how much response you get from different adverts or different advertising campaigns

With No min contract, you can simply cancel them if you want, and the whole exercise wont have cost you more than a tenner in all probability. Compare that with the services of a marketing consultant............

Neil Johnson
Independent Distributor for
Utility Warehouse Discount Club
Part of the Telecom plus Plc Group of Companies