We love vanity numbers! For the past 25 years, we have provided 1-800 vanity numbers on a local and regional basis to businesses across the United States. While numerous clients have realized the benefits of having a vanity phone number, there are still many who aren’t yet convinces. We’ve heard all sorts of excuses such as “No one calls anymore, it’s all text or email,” or “The traditional phone is dying.” Whatever the reason, many businesses have yet to discover the power behind a 1-800 vanity number.
If your boss, marketing department, or even you yourself are in need of some convincing, here are four fantastic benefits of having a vanity phone number:
1. Easy to Remember
Vanity phone numbers are easy to remember, which is why this is benefit number 1! Compared to numeric phone numbers, vanity phone numbers have a simple word or phrase that is easy to remember as compared to memorizing a ten-digit string of numbers.
If heard on a radio commercial or seen on a billboard, it is much easier to remember a vanity number such as 1-800-NEW-CARS as compared to 1-800-555-1234. Plus, a 1-800 toll-free number has the highest recall rate (96.8%) compared to other toll-free numbers such as 1-888 or 1-866 (more on that here).
2. Improves Branding
Due to the fact that vanity phone numbers are easy to recall, they can assist in improving your brand recognition. Attaching the vanity number to your marketing materials and using it in conjunction with your logo and other contact information creates an association between the vanity number and your company’s brand. Over time, the vanity number becomes synonymous with your business, increasing brand equity and improving brand awareness.
3. Provides Tracking for Traditional Advertising
By adding call tracking to a vanity number, you have the capabilities to track your traditional advertising, which historically has been difficult to do. You can set up a specific vanity phone number that is dedicated to specific campaigns. That way you can track to see who is calling in as a result of a specified marketing effort. Real time call tracking data allows you to see who is calling in from where, and you can even use different numbers to segment your campaigns by medium such as print, television, radio, or outdoor. This information not only helps to measure the ROI of your marketing efforts, but it provides you with powerful insights to better target future campaigns.
4. More Valuable Leads
For many businesses, getting customers is one of the hardest parts of running a business. As building relationships requires a lot of effort and is an integral part of a company’s success, it is important you are using the right tools to make connections. Having a customer on the phone is more valuable than just responding to a contact form. Inbound calling eliminates steps in the sales process and creates a direct line of communication between you and your potential customers. It requires a significant amount of effort for a prospect to pick up the phone and dial your company. You’ve made it easier for them to do with an easy to remember vanity number. Once you get them on the phone, you’re already halfway towards getting a new customer!