TOLL FREE 800-866-877-888 #'s

[NEW CITY LAWN CARE LLC]

Has anyone looked into getting a catchy Toll Free # that basically forwards calls to either your Cell Phone or Home Office #?
Where would one look to see what #'s were available and where to purchse such #'s, anyone have any websites or ideas?

THANKS

[Two Seasons]

We have an 877 number that we got from PowerNet Global Comm. out of Cincinnati.

Cost is $3/mo for the number and you can select what number you have it attached to. Ours goes to our home telephone and I then forward it to my mobile when I'm out and about.

[Furness & Sons L&L]

We have an 877 number that we got from PowerNet Global Comm. out of Cincinnati.

Cost is $3/mo for the number and you can select what number you have it attached to. Ours goes to our home telephone and I then forward it to my mobile when I'm out and about.

do u have to pay for each call that comes in or is it attached to your landline bill plus the additional $3? I like that idea as well.

[Big Lebowski]

Just remember that you operate a local business. People will see this number and think you are too expensive, too far or too big for their needs.

Just think about how many folks will be calling from outside of your area. Pretty close to zero. Many folks will make a determination of whether to call you based on this number. I think it would cost you business.

I was trying to figure out a way to say it without offending but this is a vanity thing that would only benefit your ego.

Did you know that large companies spend millions of dollars in advertising to give the public image of being small town or "just like you"? While the small business owner usually gets it wrong by trying to appear the opposite of what they really are? People like to do business with successful companies that make them feel important, I have never felt important at any Wal-Mart and yet their ads say I am. And yet the local market knows me by my first name and they don't have to pay somebody to stand there to say Hi to me as I walk in.

[Guzman Properties]

I have an 888 number thru Vonage. I get an e-mail of the message to my computer, and I get a text to my cell phone when I receive a message.

I got the number for a convenience to my customers, not to pretend like I am a Walmart.

[Big Lebowski]

OK then I stand corrected. I can see how a 888 number, where you would have to leave a message, would be way more convenient than a direct dialed local number.

[Ducati996]

OK then I stand corrected. I can see how a 888 number, where you would have to leave a message, would be way more convenient than a direct dialed local number.

you missing the point it is toll free, will route the call to his cell, or what ever number is chooses - keeping him in touch his customers, and in turn his customer dont pay long distance, or for the call at all.

besides the days of having a true local number is over - you can have cell phone, or an area code that no one recognizes.

[NEW CITY LAWN CARE LLC]

Yes I can see all your points, but lets take 1-800-LAWNCARE for example, they are the largest company in my area, they have all bright yellow box trucks, don't you think the Vanity # had anything to do with their success? Maybe it is just an ego booster and really has no rewards?

[Big Lebowski]

Hey if it works for you then great. But I am not missing the point and I have made mine.

Take what you will from it or don't at all.

[steve5966]

Maybe I'm missing something, not being on the east coast. Do your customers have to make a long distance call to reach you?

After re-reading the thread and seeing it started in Oregon and guys like it in Wisconson and Arizona, I just have to ask. Why do you need this?

[Team-Green L&L]

From a marketing perspective, a toll-free number is only MORE effective for a local service industry if it is supported by a franchise network of advertisers. This is mainly because local services are traditional done with local businesses who have local phone numbers.

Have you considered talking to your phone company about a vanity number (ie; 351-TEAM) is our vanity number because our company is Team Green.

[NEW CITY LAWN CARE LLC]

I think the whole idea behind a Toll Free Vanity # is not the fact that people have to call long distance to reach you, but rather to have a # more easier to remember, for example, 1-800-LAWNCARE, 1-800-CONTRACTOR, 1-800-NEWCITY, and etc. Yes I did check with my local phone company but they wanted a lot of $ for me to select what they call a premium #? I asked about the last 4 digits 5296 which spell LAWN, LOL, they said that would cost me $450, maybe I should of asked in a different way and it would have been cheaper, like my dad is 52 and my son was born in 96 or something like that, LOL

[Big Lebowski]

I think we all need to keep in mind that now we are talking abut two different things.

Originally, the topic started out talking about toll free (800+) numbers. The word vanity was not mentioned until I used it to describe it as being a self indulgent thing to do.

However, now NCLC is describing something altogether different. If the main purpose is to use it as a marketing ploy then I totally agree! If you can get a number that makes sense, I say go for it, but also look into a local vanity number too and consider that as a first choice.

But honestly, to say it is for convenience or to ease the customers phone bill is just ridiculous. I mean come on, how many people call you long distance to mow their lawn (or whatever)? My local calling area goes way beyond the area that I service.

[NEW CITY LAWN CARE LLC]

Yeah, I never thought of a toll free # as a way for people to not pay long distance fees to call me, I mean for most people we have internet phone, so there is no long distance anyways. I had mentioned for the main purpose of a Vanity # and a catchy marketing tool perhaps.

[CrewCutEnterprises]

....

I recently purchased 1-800-LANDSCAPE.

Not sure on the return yet, Still tryng to make the switch, My thought was it was easy to remember, and that would increase business. Its a monthly fee.

[Furness & Sons L&L]

I would like to think that getting a message via text or emailed to me on my "blackberry" would be alot easier tham getting back to the office at 4 5 sometimes 6 0r 7 and see that mrs jones had a small sprinkler reapair that i could of done whne i was over in her neighborhood. Or maybe just getting the message earlier would help us be a the first responder rather than the third or fourth one. Not a vanity thing not into that. I still wake up every day at 6am and take a crew out usually my crew stays out the longest cuz thats all i know is work and hanging with my kiddos on the weekends. I do however see your point. In noway do i want to appear larger than we are or as one of those nation wide companies that just want your money.

[steve5966]

Call in to check your voicemails or have the calls forwarded to you cell.
Too many people piss away their money on uneeded things that they think make them look important.

[Ducati996]

Maybe I'm missing something, not being on the east coast. Do your customers have to make a long distance call to reach you?

After re-reading the thread and seeing it started in Oregon and guys like it in Wisconson and Arizona, I just have to ask. Why do you need this?


It considered long distance if the area code is different - it can be regional or state to state. For a lot of folks they pay for the call - and may not have a Voip or totally inclusive LD package with their provider.

You can have a different area code from one town over or one county over.
Depending on your local telco or ISP provider

Its a preception thing to some - toll free services gives the sense of a large organization thats growing

[Ducati996]

Call in to check your voicemails or have the calls forwarded to you cell.
Too many people piss away their money on uneeded things that they think make them look important.

If the services are included with the standard offerings, is it a waste of money? If your paying for the service that you need and these features are included without additional cost, would you consider it a value added service?

[punt66]

I would like to think that getting a message via text or emailed to me on my "blackberry" would be alot easier tham getting back to the office at 4 5 sometimes 6 0r 7 and see that mrs jones had a small sprinkler reapair that i could of done whne i was over in her neighborhood. Or maybe just getting the message earlier would help us be a the first responder rather than the third or fourth one. Not a vanity thing not into that. I still wake up every day at 6am and take a crew out usually my crew stays out the longest cuz thats all i know is work and hanging with my kiddos on the weekends. I do however see your point. In noway do i want to appear larger than we are or as one of those nation wide companies that just want your money.

I just call into my answering machine. I can get my message no matter where i am in the world. Todays phone services dont have long distance charges anymore at least not here. I dont see a benifit of the phone number. I give all my customers a business card magnet to put on their fridge. My trailer is lettered without a phone #:laugh:. I have my customer base and dont want to or need to grow. But if i wanted to grow i would put the # on it but not an 800 number.

[Ducati996]

Hey if it works for you then great. But I am not missing the point and I have made mine.

Take what you will from it or don't at all.

You might not fully understand how Voip services work or whats offered by many ISP or telco providers based on your responses.

Most of whats being mentioned is offered as part of the package - they throw in many features that may or may not be really needed - others which truly help the business owner to really be in contact much more easier, and can turn it around to capitalize on more business opportunities by faster responses to customer inquires.

As for the effectiveness of toll free numbers, try this one:
If the business has two numbers available to them one with a toll free number and one that is not, which number will be used more frequently?
statistics show the toll free wins everytime....

[Ducati996]

Todays phone services dont have long distance charges anymore at least not here.

Thats so not true - if you have residential customers many cant afford the expensive all inclusive pkgs from the telco providers (verizon/AT&T)
and the others dont bother with Voip because they dont have high speed internet. There are still millions of customers who have the age old voice packages from the telco that vary with usage.

[punt66]

Thats so not true - if you have residential customers many cant afford the expensive all inclusive pkgs from the telco providers (verizon/AT&T)
and the others dont bother with Voip because they dont have high speed internet. There are still millions of customers who have the age old voice packages from the telco that vary with usage.


Not in my market.

[punt66]

and besides if they did, its not a long distance call to me from within the town i work.

[Two Seasons]

do u have to pay for each call that comes in or is it attached to your landline bill plus the additional $3? I like that idea as well.

Sorry for the long delay in posting back. Yeah, it costs $0.03 per minute, no per call charge though.

By the way, we use it for when a customer is out of town and wants to check in with us. Making it easy for the customer to communicate with us!