How to Benefit from Toll Free Numbers in the Digital Age

The advent of toll free numbers represented a breakthrough for small businesses. By dialing 1-800 numbers, customers no longer had to pay for long distance charges. Small businesses across the country saw revenues increase, as customers began interacting with small businesses located hundreds of miles away.

Over the past ten years, the explosion in digital technology has dramatically altered the way customers and small businesses use toll free numbers, but in no way has the digital age rendered toll free number obsolete. In fact, mobile phone technology, texting, and website design have all enhanced the use of toll free numbers in the digital age.

Interacting with Customers the “Smart” Way. Smartphone and tablet technology has expanded the area that small businesses can cover for attracting new customers. Small business owners can share product data, video files that describe services, and web content directly to customer smartphones. Customers do not have to wait until they are home, sitting in front of a desktop computer to look up information. Everything customers need is literally in their faces and at their fingertips at any point during the day. Then, customers have the option to contact you through one of your toll free numbers and you respond.

Toll Free Texting. Small businesses are also reaching customers via toll free text campaigns. Customers can reach your toll free number by sending text messages via their smartphones. Texting technology allows multitasking small business owners and busy customers to perform other tasks, while communicating via toll free numbers. This approach is highly effective in building sales, as customers can order products and services, without having to spend time talking to sales professionals. Small business owners can set aside a part of their busy days to answer customer questions submitted in toll free number text messages.

Don’t Forget About Your Small Business Website. Before the merging of digital and toll free number technologies, many customers interacted with small businesses through websites. Customers completed online contact forms to initiate interaction with small businesses. The online interaction made sense for customers who did not want to pay long distance phone charges. Toll free numbers have changed the online paradigm, as customers increasingly use the numbers to contact small businesses. You should present your toll free numbers on every page of your small business website, preferably at the top of each page in bold font.

You Can Benefit from the Digital Age. While technology has certainly changed our tools, our society, and the way we conduct business, toll free numbers have only grown with the trends. Find out how you can benefit from the digital age by seamlessly integrating the benefits of digital technology and toll free numbers.