In this time of economic uncertainty there is hardly a day that passes without a gloomy headline in the business media. Whether it’s a major company that has gone into administration or news about an organisation that has had to make staff cut-backs - it is clear that the UK (along with the rest of the world) is experiencing financial turbulence.

However, let’s focus on something positive.

There are small steps that businesses are taking to maximise the amount of telephone sales/enquiries they receive in order to help them through the ‘credit crunch’.

For example, according to research by the Institute of Direct Marketing, an organisation that uses 0800 telephone numbers can increase the amount of calls it receives by up to 185%.

So, a business with an 0800 number is highly likely to get more calls which could equal more sales and/or enquiries.

This is just one single way an 0800 telephone number can help businesses through these tough times.

Here are 9 more:

1. 0800 numbers (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/0800-freephone-numbers.php) are non-geographic – meaning they are not location specific like regular landline numbers. Thus, companies can attract more business outside of their physical area as they won’t be judged on their location. 

2. 0800 numbers allow callers to contact organisations, from a landline, at no cost to them – meaning that they are more likely to pick up the phone. This is likely to be the reason why it can increase response rates so dramatically (see above).

3. Given the choice, 63% of the public say that they would always call a freephone number first (Teleculture 2000).

4. The Henley Research Centre concluded that 68% of people feel that organisations which offer 0800 numbers care more about their callers.

5. 0800 numbers (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/0800-freephone-numbers.php) like all non-geographic telephone numbers, enable organisations to instantly smarten up their telephone systems with online call management features – such as welcome messages and call divert.

6. Online call statistics systems allow managers/marketers to see the location of callers to their 0800 number, amount of missed calls and busy periods in order to help with marketing/customer services and planning staffing more effectively.

7. Businesses can control where they want to receive their calls (e.g. out of hours and in an emergency). Their 0800 number can be rerouted to any UK landline or mobile with call divert features (http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk/call-divert.php).

8. 0800 numbers can be used with systems that send all voicemails as an audio file to a nominated email address – meaning that all important messages are received and can be stored and forwarded with ease if necessary.

9. All calls to 0800 numbers can be queued when combined with online call queuing systems. This enables companies to answer more calls and not miss out on potential business.

In all, it would seem that 0800 numbers offer more than just a free call (from a landline) and the reasons for their popularity is very apparent.

For people wishing to give their mobile callers a better deal, many are considering new 03 numbers, which are included in the free minutes offered by providers and cost the same to call as normal landline numbers.

About the Author:

Mark Guy is marketing and PR officer at Windsor Telecom.
For more information go to http://www.windsor-telecom.co.uk

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - 10 Ways an 0800 Number Can Help Beat the Credit Crunch