Is 0800 A Good Choice For Your Business?
Author: Derek Rogers
If you are a new company that is just starting out, you are
probably already thinking about the best ways to interact with
your customers and how to give them the care that they need. One
of the best ways that new businesses can communicate with their
customers and prospective customers is through an 0800 number,
where customers can call you toll free. If you are interested in
this valuable resource, there are a few things to consider to
see if it is right for you.
First, think about whether you can handle the volume of the
calls. Studies show that when a company posts their 0800 number,
whether it is online or in a paper advertisement, you'll find
that the calls increase, but their quality decreases. While you
will be handling calls from people who have a strong interest in
who you are and what you do, you'll also find that the amount of
calls that don't do anything for your business will increase as
well. The question to ask yourself is whether you have the
manpower to keep up. While some businesses have a dedicated call
center, others are staffed more sparsely. Especially if you are
just getting started, you'll feel the pinch and you need to
think about whether the people answering the phones will be able
to cope with the volume of calls.
What is your demographic like, and are they able to comfortably
call you if you simply have a normal line? With a toll free
offer like an 0800 number, more people will be able to call, but
keep in mind that there is a good chance that most people would
call anyway.
Think of how the use of an 0800 number affects your customer's
service as well as your own. Remember that while an 0800 number
is comparatively inexpensive to set up, there are some fees
included in with the maintenance and the reality of running it,
in money, if you are hiring other people to man the phones, in
time if you are answering them yourself.
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is whether an 0800
number will really mix well with your business. How many
customers do you expect to contact you? Is the business you pull
in from having an 0800 number comparable to the amount of money
that you would spend on the line itself. What methods have you
been using up until now? Some people prefer to use the internet
to interact with their customers, but the important thing to
remember is that although the internet is a powerful tool, it is
not nearly as pervasive as you might think. An 0800 number can
help you saturate your demographic with your information.
Essentially, it is important to think about what 0800 means to
you, in terms of payoffs and investment. At the end of the day,
it is a resource like any other, and you'll find that with a
little bit of thought, pre-planning and budgeting, you'll be
able to find out if it is right for you.
About The Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who
represents a number of UK businesses. For telephone services, he
recommends Telecoms World, one of the UK's leading suppliers of
0800 numbers: http://www.telecomsworldplc.co
