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Why to Use 0800 Numbers for Business

Author: Amanda Morrison | Date: 30/04/2008

Category: Communication | Subscribe: | Share It:

Article Tags: 0800 Numbers

0800 numbers (or UK Freephone numbers) are free for potential customers to call from UK land lines, and enjoy widespread public recognition as 'freephone numbers'.
The 1st generation of Toll-Free was started in 1967 by AT&T as an alternative to collect calling and to reduce the need for operators. The AT&T service in 1967 was known as INWATS, or Inward Wide-Area Telephone Service. Sheraton Hotels was the first hotel chain in 1970 with a toll-free 0800 numbers.
Teleculture 2000 says that 63% of consumers prefer doing business with companies offering a 0800 freephone number. The Henley Research Centre says that 68% of people feel that companies who offer 0800 numbers care more about their customers.
More and more businesses (of all sizes) are seeing the huge competitive advantage of what 0800 numbers can bring to their business. These numbers offer a proven way of increasing business and developing customer loyalty. By enabling potential customers to phone your business free of charge from anywhere in the UK, these numbers are especially valuable when attracting new business.
Furthermore, it has been established that a free phone 0800 numbers will help you retain your existing customers and help gain new ones, as more calls will help you create stronger customer loyalty and increase sales opportunities. It is a well-known fact that it is five times harder getting a new customer than keeping an existing one. This fact alone makes a 0800 numbers an invaluable business asset. The service is free whether your customer calls from their standard BT landline during peak hours, in the evenings or on the weekend. 0800 free phone numbers are also able to receive international calls.
Benefits of using 0800 Numbers
•A 0800 free phone numbers can give a company a national identity
• People believe firms with 0800 numbers are more reliable and efficient. Given the choice of calling a supplier who has 0800 numbers and calling one who doesn’t, most people will go for the 0800 every time.
• Customers will call you more frequently, engendering greater loyalty. Because 0800 numbers are free to call from standard UK landlines, customers can call without worrying about the cost, this is vital to retaining caller interest, if callers are likely to incur a long distance call, or if they are likely to remain on hold or in a queue.
• An estimated 50% of advertisers now use a 0800 free phone numbers in their adverts
• 0800 number is portable and will never change. 0800 Numbers offer great flexibility. You can keep one number forever, regardless of where your business operates. If you move offices, no need to change vehicle livery, signage & stationery - when you move, your 0800 numbers moves with you.
Also research suggests that 0800 free phone numbers can generate up to 3 times as many calls as a business with a standard regional number.

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