1 800 Mo Money Or 1 800 Go Broke, What’s In A Vanity Number? by: blog-editor2, December 13, 2010 Is your business phone number helping your company make more money, or is it dooming you to go broke? We have seen many incredible changes in the world of business recently. The rules have changed in a big way and the margins for error are smaller than they have ever been. Fortunately, those entrepreneurs and managers who have harnessed the power of toll free vanity numbers have positioned themselves with the best available tools for dealing with the demands of the new economy. Not only are vanity numbers key for maximizing marketing ROI by increasing advertising effectiveness, but now they play a critical role at every stage of operations. Toll free numbers have long been proven dramatically to increase response rates and closing ratios, yet these benefits are only the tip of the iceberg for what a great vanity number can offer. Capitalizing on the latest toll free routing options, you can use vanity numbers to slash overhead and enable rapid growth. Lower monthly expenses means bigger profit margins that allow vanity number users to remain more competitive and take advantage of new opportunities that arise in their industries. However, perhaps the most important and most overlooked benefit of acquiring a vanity number is the ability of a great vanity number to make a product or service successful all by itself. In addition to the huge corporations that have utilized vanity numbers to dominate entire industries, from flower delivery to contact lenses, new start ups have used them to rocket their ventures to stardom. It is no longer a question of whether you should obtain a toll free or vanity number for your enterprise. The question is what great vanity number can you get your hands on that will propel your business idea to fame and fortune! Read More
Vanity Numbers – Seven Letter Business Names For Success by: blog-editor2, December 10, 2010 Toll free vanity numbers have long been sought out by companies wishing to distinguish themselves as big players in the market and the go-to source for their given product or service. However, the recent changes in the business world and advances in technology have made vanity numbers crucial for survival and success. Savvy entrepreneurs and managers now know that launching a new venture, spinning off a new division, or even just starting a new marketing campaign without using toll free numbers for testing, tracking, and positioning is nothing more than gambling on the roulette table. In fact, not using vanity numbers is worse than gambling because you know you need them to succeed and are just ignoring the factors that will ensure your success. The statistics have shown large double digit improvements in response rates, closing ratios, and customer retention for those using free phone numbers for their marketing and branding. So not using them is just insanity. Even if your goal isn’t to become the next Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, you must turn a profit in order to continue to help others through your services or products. If you make too much money, you are sure to find plenty of worthwhile causes you can support and donate to. In recent years, many businesses and entrepreneurs have discovered that vanity numbers alone can mean the difference in a venture being top or flop. Regardless of all the other planning, marketing strategies, and tools you can put into action, today your success clearly could come down to the power of your vanity number. Wouldn’t it be a shame to expend all of your time and resources on a new business idea only to be surpassed and locked out of the market by a smaller and less experienced competitor who simply had the right vanity number? The obvious examples are industry-dominating players like 1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-CONTACTS. Many newer and smaller ventures of all kinds are now using vanity numbers to rocket their products and services to rock star status including new books, marketing services, and business consultants. What is your business phone number going to do for you? Image Credit: © Bobby Flowers | Dreamstime.com Read More
Why You Need Multiple Business Phone Lines and Domain Names by: blog-editor2, December 3, 2010 It is common knowledge that many benefits result from having multiple web domain names. And it is just as important to have multiple business phone lines. We are not just talking about multiple in-office lines so you can handle multiple phone calls simultaneously. What is more critical is having business phone lines that appeal to different prospects and target markets and that can be used to maximize marketing ROI. Without doubt, vanity numbers for your business phone lines are now one of the most powerful and important branding and marketing tools available to businesses today. They can be used to separate your business from the pack, add credibility, test marketing strategies, and monitor metrics. However, one vanity number just isn’t enough. If you can acquire the generic vanity number for your industry for your business phone lines, that is great. However, it is not always possible. Regardless of whether you have this number or not, your company will benefit from niche marketing as well, no matter whether you are a new start up trying to cut out a slice of the pie for yourself or even a largest industry dominating conglomerations. Don’t believe it? Just look at the likes of insurance giant Geico, undoubtedly one of the most well known companies in America, yet it still continues to use the power of niche marketing. By obtaining multiple vanity numbers for your business phone lines, you can better reach your ideal customers and expand your grip on the market. For example, you may want to hone in and make a name for yourself in one segment of the industry so you can block out the competition. Or perhaps there is currently a demand for speed in your industry, so obtaining a vanity number with the word "fast" in it can portray you as the most attractive option to do business with. Look at your current and future marketing strategies and analyze where you can make a big difference by having additional business phone lines. Read More
Top Selling Domain Names by: blog-editor2, November 29, 2010 2010 has certainly seen its share of significant domain name transfers, further demonstrating just how valuable a good Internet domain name really is. Transfers include Dating.com for $1.75 million, Poker.org for $1 million, Guns.com for $800,000, BlackFridaySales.com for $90,000 and one adult-orientated domain name going for a cool $13,000,000! Clearly a good domain name is the best investment many businesses can make. It could one day be worth more than the rest of your company’s revenue streams put together. True, most companies do not have that kind of cash to invest at start up, but those that do can lock in success from day one. Acquiring a winning web domain name from the start also makes attracting investors and obtaining funding much easier. It not only looks cool, but through evidence of existing and estimated web traffic, it can show that your new venture is a sure thing with revenues just waiting to roll in. However, you can still be incredibly successful and even dominate your industry with a lower cost domain. Branding is key, and having an Internet domain name that unifies your branding can mean plenty of savings and help your marketing budget go a lot further. One way to guarantee your success and position your enterprise to grab up market share quickly is to acquire a powerful toll free vanity number and use the number as your web domain name. For example 1800FLOWERS.com. Do not despair if all of your domain name choices are already taken or they are being advertised for high dollar amounts. A leading domain name search and negotiation firm can assist by using its expertise and honed strategies in order to get you the best deals on premium domain names. Read More
Domain Name Lookup – Critical Mistakes To Avoid by: admin, November 24, 2010 If you are looking for a new domain name there are a few critical mistakes that you need to avoid. You Internet domain name is not just the heart of your Internet advertising but in most industries your website is now responsible for the bulk of your revenues in one way or another. Perhaps the biggest mistake that businesses make when it comes to reserving a web domain name is not ensuring that it is in-line with the rest of their branding. It is best to check the availability of matching domain names, vanity numbers and business names before registering any of them. It should go without saying, but it is crucial to check your spelling when reserving a new domain name. The last thing you want is to obtain a domain name that is wrong. However, with that said you should definitely also consider acquiring as many other versions of your web domain name as possible including common spelling mistakes and the .net and .com versions as well as possibly others for specific countries if you are doing business internationally. Experts also argue that the length of time that you reserve your domain name for plays into how favorably the search engines view your website. So for the small extra investment consider reserving your domain name for 5 or 10 years instead of one. Don’t give up just because your domain name lookup shows your ideal domain name is taken. You can often still acquire the name with a little negotiation. Sometimes these names have been reserved and never used while others are no longer being used or were specifically obtained for reselling. However, it is wise to have a professional negotiate on your behalf. There are many factors involved and it takes the right strategy to get the best deal. Read More
1800 Get Rich – Vanity Numbers by: blog-editor2, November 22, 2010 Yes, toll free vanity numbers have been proven to dramatically increase response rates and closing ratios for maximizing marketing ROI. However, the value of vanity numbers goes far beyond that. Toll free numbers have been shown to reduce charge backs in a big way which means the revenues you reel in, you really get to keep. Memorable vanity numbers enable effective word of mouth referrals. This provides the most profitable form of marketing you could ever ask for and has the viral potential to reach masses of prospects you would not otherwise reach. The residual branding benefits of using vanity numbers are absolutely priceless. A winning toll free vanity number will stick in the minds of consumers and stay with them until they need your product and service providing an ongoing perpetual form of advertising. Like 1800-GET-RICH great vanity numbers can create successful, industry dominating business empires all by themselves. Just look at 1800-FLOWERS. Even 1800-CONTACTS literally sprung from nowhere over night to becoming perhaps the number one supplier of contacts in the country. If you can get your hands on a premium vanity number for a given industry and come up with a good jingle you could rocket your enterprise to star status in no time at all. On top of this, good vanity numbers are now not just for picking up revenues or building recognizable branding. They are now absolutely necessary for those who want their companies to survive. When consumers need products and services these days, they often just pick up the phone and try to dial the 800 number with the applicable company name or industry after it. You want flowers – your dial 1800-FLOWERS. You need a new mattress – you call 1800-MATTRESS. If you need cable or Internet service in your home then you call 1800-COMCAST. So it is both important to try and get vanity numbers that match your industry and business name. Should the premium choices of vanity numbers for your industry be taken, you may still be able to take advantage of shared usage plans that allow you to control that number for the geographic areas you are doing business in. Or working with the right toll free service provider you may be able to have a great deal for the acquisition of the number negotiated on your behalf. Read More
1800 Get Rich – Vanity Numbers by: blog-editor2, Yes, toll free vanity numbers have been proven to dramatically increase response rates and closing ratios for maximizing marketing ROI. However, the value of vanity numbers goes far beyond that. Toll free numbers have been shown to reduce charge backs in a big way which means the revenues you reel in, you really get to keep. Memorable vanity numbers enable effective word of mouth referrals. This provides the most profitable form of marketing you could ever ask for and has the viral potential to reach masses of prospects you would not otherwise reach. The residual branding benefits of using vanity numbers are absolutely priceless. A winning toll free vanity number will stick in the minds of consumers and stay with them until they need your product and service providing an ongoing perpetual form of advertising. Like 1800-GET-RICH great vanity numbers can create successful, industry dominating business empires all by themselves. Just look at 1800-FLOWERS. Even 1800-CONTACTS literally sprung from nowhere over night to becoming perhaps the number one supplier of contacts in the country. If you can get your hands on a premium vanity number for a given industry and come up with a good jingle you could rocket your enterprise to star status in no time at all. On top of this, good vanity numbers are now not just for picking up revenues or building recognizable branding. They are now absolutely necessary for those who want their companies to survive. When consumers need products and services these days, they often just pick up the phone and try to dial the 800 number with the applicable company name or industry after it. You want flowers – your dial 1800-FLOWERS. You need a new mattress – you call 1800-MATTRESS. If you need cable or Internet service in your home then you call 1800-COMCAST. So it is both important to try and get vanity numbers that match your industry and business name. Should the premium choices of vanity numbers for your industry be taken, you may still be able to take advantage of shared usage plans that allow you to control that number for the geographic areas you are doing business in. Or working with the right toll free service provider you may be able to have a great deal for the acquisition of the number negotiated on your behalf. Read More
Seven Places You Need To Use Your Vanity Number by: blog-editor2, November 16, 2010 1. Website Using your vanity number on your website is critical. Some people try to get by with just an email contact form, but failing to deliver credibility with full contact information can drastically reduce the advertising effectiveness of all your online marketing campaigns. In fact, it has been proven that providing your toll free number on your website not only increases conversions but helps prevent charge-backs. 2. Social Media You should not only be including your vanity number on your company’s social media profiles but on your personal ones as well. This listing will make it easy for those who want to refer you business to pass on your business phone number. 3. Business Cards Although the power of business cards may have become underestimated in the last couple of years due to all the other marketing channels available, you should have them, and you must have your vanity number on them. In fact, you should have a system that provides and requires all of your employees to have your toll free number on their business cards. This consistency not only improves effectiveness but makes sure you don’t lose clients when employees leave. 4. Email Signature Many Internet marketing gurus are now insisting that you include links to your social media in your email signature, but doing so isn’t a substitute for including your vanity numbers. You don’t want prospects to get lost surfing Facebook; you want them either to email you or to pick up the phone and make a deal now! 5. Display Advertising This tip should not even need to be mentioned; however, some companies still, surprisingly, attempt to use local numbers. You only have seconds for your number to be remembered, and using toll free numbers on your display advertising also provides easy capture of callers who do not leave a message and enables you to track performance better. 6. Blog While you probably already have your vanity number on your website, you will probably find that your blog may receive more visits and that your traffic is spending more time on your blog each visit, so you must not overlook your blog as a crucial place for your vanity number to be prominently displayed. 7. Direct Mail Direct mail has recently seen a resurgence in success, but without using your 800 numbers for testing and tracking, you are giving the edge to your competition. Read More
Can Your Prospects Find Your Phone Number Easily? by: blog-editor2, November 11, 2010 If your customers can’t find you, they won’t be able to acquire your products or services even if they so desire. This problem applies equally to potential prospects and existing or past customers. Without an easy-to-remember phone number, it is also much more difficult to generate word-of-mouth advertising and referrals. Sure you can list your business in the Yellow Pages and various online directories, but what we are talking about is an easy-to-remember number that can be memorized in a few seconds and is easily recognized as being yours. Smart business owners know how important it is to lock in winning vanity phone numbers that unify their branding and tie together their web domain names and company names from the start. Just having a great toll free phone number is no use if no one knows about it, so make sure to include your vanity number on all of your marketing pieces as well as all communications with the public. Take a minute and think about your own shopping and referral habits. No doubt you have seen thousands of infomercials on TV, hundreds of billboards and display ads, and have received countless direct mail pieces. Often even may have been interested in what was being offered, but if you didn’t have the time to write down the phone number, you likely ended up going with another company for your needs, one that was easier to call. When it comes to referrals, you may often enjoy helping others by giving them contact numbers for companies and services that can help them. However, if you don’t remember the number off the top of your head and you can’t find it in your wallet or phone within a couple of seconds, the opportunity usually ends there. Referrals and word-of-mouth advertising are the most profitable forms of marketing; plan ahead for them. Isn’t it worth making sure you have a phone number that promotes for you? Credit Line: © Iqoncept | Dreamstime.com Read More
Personal Vanity Numbers for Everyone by: blog-editor2, November 9, 2010 Today, it seems like almost anything can be customized! The reason is simple: people are starting to demand uniqueness. So anything from a car plate number to a T-shirt has a customized number or message. The same thing is now possible with phone numbers. Known as personal vanity numbers, these phone numbers provide a wide range of benefits. While some prefer to call them “personal” vanity numbers, it is quite interesting that most people who take advantage of this service usually do so for business purposes. Vanity numbers enable businesses to gain a competitive edge in the market because they are easy to remember and can be quickly related to the company’s products/services. Small businesses, medium scale enterprises, and large corporations alike have experienced the benefits of using vanity numbers. These companies have contributed to their bottom lines by improving customer response and ensuring satisfaction. Keep in mind a few things when choosing vanity numbers: Relevance – instead of being a burden, phone numbers can be a doorway to an opportunity if you customize them! Ask about vanity numbers from Custom Toll Free today. Simplicity – the personal vanity number must be simple enough to pronounce and be easy to remember. At the same time, keep to your creative side! Make your brand stand out. Catchiness – there’s no point in subscribing to vanity numbers if no one can remember them. Choose something catchy to keep your brand in the forefront of customers’ minds. Credit Line: © Gert Vrey | Dreamstime.com Read More
