Vanity Numbers: Choosing the Best One for Your Business

1-800-FLOWERS has been recognized as one of the most popular florist businesses in the industry. But why is this? What makes this flower company stand out from all the others? Well, the answer is simple–they capitalize on a vanity number.

Vanity Numbers and their Benefits

When it comes to inspiring initial trust and confidence in your customers, there’s hardly anything more effective than a vanity number. These toll-free numbers can be used to spell out phrases and words that are related to your business and the products or services that you offer.

Not only can they play a huge role in your branding, but also they’re easy to remember. And since vanity numbers are typically associated with large companies, they can help to significantly boost your credibility. The good news is, you don’t need the budget of a big business in order to attain one. Thanks to today’s IP phone systems, you can easily sign up for a hosted toll-free number.

Vanity Numbers In the Cell Phone Age

Many business owners question the usefulness of vanity numbers. They assume that everyone has a cell phone these days so the idea of a number being toll-free is a bit outdated. While it is true that cell phones have made it possible to call long distance without having to pay anything extra, it’s hard to ignore the research about vanity numbers. Studies show that ad response is much higher when businesses use these numbers. You see, consumers are exposed to countless advertisements each day. So when businesses use hosted custom numbers, it helps to get the audience’s attention.

Selecting The Right Vanity Number

When choosing a vanity number, your first instinct may be to use the name of your company. But before you do, think carefully. Does the name of your company actually describe what products or services you offer? Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind when choosing your number.

1. Avoid hybrid numbers. You should never mix numbers with letters. Instead, your phrase should be 7 letters long. So for instance, 1-800-DOG-FOOD would be much better than 1-800-543-DOGS.
2. Explore all of your options. There’s always a chance that the number you want is taken. In this case, you should search for variations of the number you would like. For example, 888, 866, or 855 may be available. So before giving up on your number, check these out.
3. Don’t use slang. If you’re thinking of using a word that can be spelled or pronounced several different ways then choose another one. Words like these only confuse your potential customers, so avoid them.

The Takeaway

Vanity numbers can go a long way toward promoting your business. If you’re still unsure about how effective your vanity number will be, then ask around. In fact, some of the best people to ask are your current customers. Is the number memorable? And most importantly, do they feel that it would inspire people to give you a call?