In the age of instant messaging and AI chatbots, you’d be forgiven for thinking that human support lines have all gone the way of the dodo. However, your customers still expect you to have people ready to take their calls – we’re not at a point where we can delegate absolutely everything to artificial intelligence.
What’s more, even the number you choose for your business line makes a lot of difference to your customers and callers. 0800 numbers – freephone lines – are still very popular with the British public, and when used properly, they can generate fantastic interest in your services.
If you’re on the fence regarding setting up a memorable 0800 number for your business, here are seven great reasons why you should go ahead and grab the opportunity.
1. It’s a great way to show your customers you mean business
Even if you’re just starting out, setting up an 0800 number (especially a custom line) gives the impression that you’re a sizable entity. What’s more, it adds to the professional sheen of your business.
Both are assets in encouraging people to call you. 0800 numbers sound reliable and respectable when read aloud – and they’re typically associated with firms advertised on TV and online, too.
With a memorable number, you’re also more likely to impress your customers – if they can recall your number, they can recall your business.
2. People still appreciate calling for free
Even though there are some call tariffs out there that let you call certain 08 lines inclusive of package minutes, 0800 numbers are free across the board for anyone in the UK, full stop.
By setting up a custom 0800 number for your customers to call, you’re telling them that you’re still happy to foot the bill for their conversations with you. People are less likely to call if they know it’ll cost them a certain amount of money per minute!
Keeping calls free with an 0800 number ensures the door is wide open for people to reach out if they need you.
3. You can move virtual 0800 numbers with you
The days of having to be tethered to a specific number are long gone. Yes, geographic numbers do still exist, but businesses largely rely on virtual numbers now so they can route calls from and to anywhere in the country – or even the world, in some cases.
Virtual 0800 numbers are great for ensuring customers always have a free and direct line through to your team no matter where you are. You could be moving premises and setting up a new office – but with an 0800 redirect, you can still take calls on the go.
That means zero disruption and you can keep money rolling into your business – there’s no need to hit pause.
4. You can redirect calls to any UK number
Even if you currently run an operation out in the field on a mobile number or two, you can still set up a virtual 0800 number and have customers connect to you – there’s no need for you to set up a whole new line.
In some cases, customers might see mobile numbers – those beginning with 07 – as being somewhat unprofessional. It’s amazing what sort of impressions a few digits can conjure up!
Add an 0800 number over the top, and you have a professional call sign that people will not only respect, they’ll remember, too.
5. Custom 0800 numbers show care and legitimacy
Going to the effort of creating your own 0800 number doesn’t just make a difference to your bottom line, or tell callers that you’re more than happy to pay for minutes they spend on the phone with you.
It also shows that you take genuine care and pride in your company. With a custom 0800 number, you’ve clearly invested effort and capital into your business – which can go a long way. It’s a thoughtful move that some customers will see as bold yet proud – but not in a bad way.
Regardless, it’s another reason why an 0800 number is such a fantastic customer magnet.
6. Premium lines are slowly dying out
The days of the premium helpline number are numbered for many companies. Yes, there are some occasions where you might want to set up a premium rate number to earn a little more on the back of customer calls, but for the average startup or growing company, it’s no longer an ethical consideration.
The outrage over expensive lines dating back decades is still raw in many people’s minds! Thankfully, many companies have realised that it’s much more sustainable to set up 0800 freephone numbers to encourage repeat business and build revenue that way instead.
Customers are also getting savvier. If they see you have a premium line and see no other way to get help with your services, you’re riskily pushing them towards cancelling contracts and going elsewhere.
7. 0800 numbers come with a raft of different features
Grabbing a custom 0800 number for your business doesn’t just mean you have a flashy new call signature. In many cases, provided you work with the right team, you can also take advantage of virtual call queuing, receptionist services, overflow call handling, and detailed analytics.
You could even set up multiple 0800 numbers to route through to your same line and see which appeal to the most callers – placing one in a radio ad, another online, and another in the press.
Ultimately, if a phone communications company offers you an 0800 virtual number, there’s a good chance they will support several other advanced features alongside. Be willing to dive into extras offered and open up a conversation!
Planet Telecom offers a comprehensive business telephone service that lets you take complete control of your incoming and outgoing calls. Set up a custom 0800 number and start welcoming more customers into your business – and manage them all with our VoIP phone system that comes with a raft of call features.
Take a closer look at our 0800 service to learn more, or reach out to the Planet Telecom team for more information.
