In Tough Times, Customers Prefer Companies with Toll Free Numbers

Tougher economic times across the globe are forcing businesses and customers to be more cautious with their spending and to reevaluate with whom they do business. The failure of many companies and the scandals surrounding a number of industries have taught consumers powerful lessons about choosing with whom to work. Having toll free numbers and vanity numbers for your main business lines and marketing campaigns means presenting a more credible and professional image to give your potential customers confidence in your business.

Toll free numbers speak volumes about your business and separate the small-time "mom and pop" store or shady salesman working out of his garage from those who are trustworthy. How do you want your customers to view you? Not only does a toll free number present a better image for your company, but it has also been proven to enhance advertising effectiveness and increase closing ratios. In a customer's subconscious mind, toll free numbers equate to a reputable enterprise and immediately remove any questions or concerns that often hold up the business process, by making prospects ready to acquire your product or service.

At the same time, toll free numbers are becoming even more crucial for businesses as customers are more concerned with their phone bills. Often, they will even insist on only returning companies' calls on their toll free numbers and cutting other calls short. What are you going to do if a customer says, "Let me call you back on your toll free number," but you don't have one? That deal is going straight to your competition. Having a toll free number is becoming more important as businesses with shrinking local markets are having to reach out to new states and even new countries. Potential customers can easily be put off by calling a company with a different area code both because of cost and the perception that the company does not have a real national or local presence. Clearly the cost of a toll free number in most cases is nothing compared to the money your business is losing right now from missed opportunities.