The Guide to setting up a Toll free number

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A toll free number for business instantly signals credibility and professionalism, making it easier and free for any customer across the country to connect with your brand. Have you secured it yet?

The struggle to build a start-up from scratch to thriving in it successfully is not an easy thing to do. But at the time the business owner’s main goal will be to gain customer trust as much as possible. Even though using a toll free number for business will feel like a luxurious thing to dream of at that stage, the same will act as a source for gaining your end goal; which is giving a good customer experience.

But now-a-days toll free numbers have been used widely as they are both accessible and affordable at the same time. There are businesses with big names to small and medium enterprises which make use of it. Rather than making it easy to use and free for customers, a toll free number for business helps to strengthen brand credibility, customer trust and experience.

Table of Contents

What is a Business toll free number?

A toll free number is used as a number for a business phone system, using certain digits as prefix like 1800, 000800 etc.. The most popular prefix 1800 is used widely and considered as a standard toll free number service. Likewise the prefix 000800 is sometimes used for a premium service.

Toll-Free vs. Local Numbers: Key Differences

While we can use both an ordinary mobile phone contact number or a toll free number that helps customers connect with the business, there are some fundamental differences in their purpose: 

  • Charges levied: For a toll-free number, the business pays for the call. For a local number, the caller pays if it’s a long-distance call.
  • Geographical area: A local number restricts your business to a specific city or region. A toll-free number, being a non-geographic number, suggests a national presence and broad accessibility.
  • Brand Perception: Toll-free numbers projects professionalism and scale, immediately boosting business credibility and customer trust. 

Benefits of a Toll-Free Number

One shouldn’t consider a toll free number as an operational expense but it is a strategic asset for the business to thrive.

  1. Building National Credibility and Trust: As a customer such a toll free number for business will instantly build confidence, trust and credibility in his or her mind. Even if your business is a start up, you will get to present professionalism and an image of a national brand. This gives your business an authority and strength to thrive further.
  2. Advanced marketing and analytical capabilities: you can purchase multiple toll free numbers and assign each to a specific marketing campaign. With this you can analyze which activities perform well.
  3. Portability and location facility: if you shift your office to some other place also you don’t have to worry about telecom providers or a number change. Because a toll free number is actually tied to your business and not to any specific toll free number service provider. This helps to establish trustworthiness and reduces operational difficulties.
  4. Business system integration: Cloud telephony solutions help your toll free number for business to easily integrate with your existing CRM and ensure ease of operation. This helps to ensure that whenever a customer calls an agent we will get the full interaction details and can ensure good customer service.

Setting up a Toll free number

The process of setting up a toll free number is not much of a difficult procedure. With the help of a cloud telephony toll free number service provider in India, like Bonvoice, you can easily set up one within hours. 

  1. Define your needs: Before purchasing a toll free number service randomly you need to consider what all features are needed for your business at the moment. 
  • Volume and scope-  How many incoming minutes do you need per month? Is your business expecting high call volumes from local, national, or international callers?
  • Essential features- what all features does your business need to thrive? Do you need call forwarding, IVR, call recording etc..
  • Budget- how much amount are you willing to spend for this toll free number service? Are you looking to cover the bare minimum features or are you going to purchase the most efficient service?
  1. Choose the number type – you need to consider whether to choose the standard number or purchase a vanity number.
  2. Select a reputable service provider – with the checklist in mind, you need to select the right toll free number service provider who fits all your business requirements. But at the same time you need to ensure they provide:
  • Reliability
  • Pricing
  • Scalability
  • Customer support
  1. Complete the set up and configuration
  2. Promote and integrate your new number – your customers need to know the number, so you need to promote it accordingly.

What to look out for

In order to maximize the efficiency of your toll free number for business, you should not restrict it to a basic calling system. The real advantage lies in using cloud telephony services which offer various features that your business requires. 

  • Number portability: In India, a toll free number is yours as long as you pay for it. Also TRAI regulations ensure that the number is portable. Also if you choose to switch the toll free number provider, the new service provider should ensure the seamless portability. So, regardless of the vendor, the number is protected and safely transferred like a valuable asset.  
  • Integration of numbers with CRM: Cloud telephony can ensure seamless integration and this helps to improve your customer experience. With features like automatic call logging, every call will be recorded and analysed. Likewise, with screen pops, the agents will see who is calling before the call is connected thereby giving time for preparation. 

Conclusion

A toll free number for business is a great investment for every business owner who wishes to grow in the industry. It breaks down the gap between customer and your business. This ensures that your business will gain trust and credibility among them. This is an essential pre-requisite for every business. 

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Frequently asked questions

1. Can I own my toll free number?

Yes, Once allotted, you effectively own the number as long as you continue paying the service charges. 

A Vanity Number is a number chosen to be easily memorable, often spelling out a word or phrase.

Using a cloud telephony provider, a toll-free number can often be set up and activated within a few hours or one business day.

By purchasing multiple toll free numbers you can assign each one to a specific campaign and analyze the ROI of each one.

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