Sometimes the simplest ways to get more business elude small business owners. I ran my small business for a couple of years before it dawned on me that I should buy a toll free number – I wanted to buy a toll free number so people could call me toll free.
I hesitated for a while because I thought it would cost a fortune. However, I was dead wrong. I bought a toll free number costing $12.95 which includes 300 minutes per month.
I did my research. I called my local telephone carrier and asked about their rates (see “How to Buy a Toll Free Number below”). I then researched online as well. In the end, I went with both. Yes, I actually bought 2 toll free numbers – one for each of my offline businesses.
For the business I had an existing landline number, it made more sense to add on a toll free number to that account with my local number carrier.
For my other business, I had no existing telephone number, so it was much cheaper to buy a toll free number from an online toll free number provider.
I’m happy with both arrangements. Moreover, getting a toll free number has been very good for business. It’s also good for existing customers so they call me toll free.
Toll Free Number Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re like me, initially you’ll want to publish your toll free number everywhere. This is a mistake.
You might also think “hey, I can cancel my local landline number.” Do NOT cancel your local number.
Ditching your local number and wanting to only publish your toll free number is a mistake because of Google Places.
Google Places and Telephone Numbers
Google Places is the Google Maps listings of local businesses. My business ranks in the top 2 spots (it fluctuates) for my main town. However, I’ve also managed to rank in the top 8 for nearby towns without trying.
Google Places uses a variety of information for knowing your business serves a particular town or city, including using your local phone number.
Therefore, in your Google Places business account, be sure to list your local number. In other words, DO NOT ditch your local telephone number and DO NOT list your toll free number as your primary telephone number.
Google Places also uses your business’ contact information listed in local directories, including local telephone directories. Therefore, when you list your business in local directories, be sure to list as your primary telephone number your local number and NOT your toll free number.
Toll Free Numbers on Your Website
Google Places also reads your business’ contact information on your website you list in your Google Places account. This means you must list your local telephone number in your website in text Google can read. Here’s what I do.
In an image placed in my business websites headers (I have several websites promoting my business – a strategy I set out in my *Complete Small Business SEO and Web Marketing Guide), I prominently display my toll free number so people can call me at no cost to them. This appears in the top-right of my business websites on EVERY page.
Then, in the footer of my website (the footer displays on every page of my website), I list my local telephone number. It’s not in an image. Instead it’s in regular test. This way Google Places reads the local telephone number and knows my business is situated in a particular town.
In my contact page I list both telephone numbers.
On my print promotional materials, such as business cards, I list my toll free number.
For more information about ranking in Google Places, get my free 6 Google Places Mistakes that Hurt Local Rankings Report or get my full Google Places Ranking Guide.
How to Buy a Toll Free Number
- Determine how much time your business spends on the phone. Most toll free number providers charge both a monthly fee and a per minute fee.
- Determine all the geographic locations you wish to offer toll free calls. Is it locally only, throughout North America, or globally?
- List out all the bells and whistles you want – voice mail, caller ID, call forwarding, conferencing, routing, e-mail notifications, voice mail to text to your email, multiple extensions, fax (yes some include a fax number),
- If you have a landline phone number, call your carrier and ask about the cost to buy a toll free number. Often adding a service can be a good deal.
- Then, check out online toll free number providers and compare the cost. I use eVoice
(formerly My1Voice) for one business and am very pleased with their product and service.
- Be sure to ask all toll free telephone number providers how much it costs per minute if you exceed your monthly plan.
- Be sure to ask if there’s additional costs for the bells and whistles you want.
When you buy a toll free number, you’re making it that much easier for your prospective customers AND existing customers to contact you. That’s what you want, so the minimal investment is worth every penny. Thanks to online toll free telephone number providers, the cost is so low that pretty much any business can afford to buy a toll free number.
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