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Can Your Business Succeed Without A Toll Free Number?

By Brandi Cummings  -  September 1, 2006

The toll free number is an indispensible part of doing business today.  Toll-free numbers allow consumers to contact your business without having to pay for the call themselves.  They can be a powerful sales and marketing tool and consumers have come to expect companies to have a toll free number for their customers to reach them.  As well, many times a toll free number will give you more benefits than a local number service.

90% of Americans report using a toll free number so we know people like them.  In fact, research shows that when faced with a choice of several similar businesses, consumers are much more likely to call a business with a toll-free number than a business with a local or long distance number.  Studies also show that using a toll free number in your advertising increases your response by 30%.  That means you get 30% more leads just by using a toll free number.  The reason for this is two-fold.  First off, right or wrong, people see a company with a toll free number as being larger and more stable.  Secondly, they don’t want to have to pay for the call themselves.

Some of the benefits of using a toll free number over a local number service include number portability, call blocking, and caller id.  In 1993 the FCC ruled that toll-free numbers are portable. This means that a toll free number belongs to the toll-free subscriber and not to the carrier. A company can now advertise with their toll free number with confidence knowing that if they change their toll free service provider, they won’t have to change their number as well.  So make sure when you are looking for a provider that they honor this practice.  A toll free number also allows you to block calls from areas where you don’t do business.  You can advertise your toll free number and not be concerned about paying for calls from consumers outside of the area that you do business in.  Another benefit of toll free numbers over local numbers is caller ID.  On a local line callers can block their id from being captured.  Toll free lines use automatic number identification (ANI) to capture the caller id.  Because you are paying for the call, you have the right to see who is calling.

Toll free numbers are an integral part of doing business today.  They combine a powerful sales and marketing tool with added benefits over a local line.  Small and large business alike use toll free numbers to appeal to a larger percentage of consumers, establish confidence with their customers, and take advantage of features not offered on local lines.  Can your business succeed without a toll free number?  I guess that depends on your definition of success.

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