What does a perfect business phone number look like? Many people aim for a neat, geographically unbound number, such as a 010 number – and the more zeros it ends in, the better! But there are a number of other aspects to consider. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a business phone number.
The phone number – part of the face of your business
Is your business phone number really that important? Considering that it’s one of the first things your customers encounter besides your website, we’d say yes, definitely! You should aim for a number that is easy to remember and pronounce – both for customers and employees.
A good phone number looks different depending on the company
Like most things, there are trends in business phone numbers. If your business is entirely local, local area codes are more common. Of course, the coffee shop on Möllevångstorget in Malmö, for example, should have a 040 number, and the local street food shop in Kiruna should keep its 0980 number. But if you have customers all over the country, a traditional geographically unbound 010 number is often the most popular option.
But it’s what you do that should primarily determine the type of number you choose. A company that has some form of customer service or support will benefit greatly from having a 010 or 077 number – and one that ends in as many zeros as possible.
For some businesses, mobile numbers are useful
For companies that have a lot of outbound calls and salespeople, however, just the opposite is true. Many of us have been called by telemarketing companies for a long time, and have learned to recognize 010 numbers and other company numbers, which means that we often do not answer when it appears on the screen. Instead, displaying a private mobile number on outgoing calls gives a more personal feel – and the person on the other end is more likely to answer. (But, as with all trends, this too may soon change.)
A unified number series looks serious – and it looks good
One of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a phone number for their business is to buy too small a range of numbers in sequence. You may have eight employees now, and plan to hire maybe one or two more, so you buy ten numbers in total. That should be enough, right? No – because before you know it, the company has grown to 15 employees. The operator won’t have any of the next numbers in the sequence, and all the future colleagues will have numbers scattered all over the place.
Phone numbers create a greater sense of community than you might think. If everyone has completely different numbers, it can feel strange internally – and above all, scattered and unclear to customers. So be prepared for the future and buy a sufficiently comprehensive number range from the start!
In a large company, a uniform number series can even create better cohesion and structure between colleagues, especially if they are in different locations. It also shows professionalism, seriousness and structure to the outside world.
Why the right phone number for your business is so important
Whether you run a large or small business, your phone number plays an important role – both internally and externally. Many smaller sole traders, such as craftsmen of various kinds, often have their private mobile phone number communicated to customers, striped on the company car. But even if you work entirely on your own, it is important to always have a fixed number outwardly.
When a customer wants to reach you, it’s not the private individual “Per Larsson” they’re looking for, but the entrepreneur! Here again, the exchange number takes on the role of the serious face, something that sends professional signals to customers, and represents your company in the best way. If you are an entrepreneur, you should always have a business number, plain and simple!
To sum up
Most important when choosing the number is:
- Look at the target audience: who calls you, and who do you call?
- Where are you active, locally or nationally?
- Choose a consistent, professional and secure number
Good luck on the road to the perfect phone number that represents your business as well as possible! And hey, if you’re in the process of investing in business telephony, read our post on the mistakes many people make when buying a telephony solution!
