Did you know the average American sees between 4,000 and 10,000 ads daily? From their YouTube and Instagram accounts to billboards, bus wraps, calls, and texts, the average person is drowning in ads.
For marketers, each day is a knock-down, drag-out fight for attention and conversions.
Thankfully, there are ways for any marketer to get their attention by using the place customers spend the most time: their phone.
Using vanity numbers for business, toll-free, and shortcodes are impactful choices any business can make to sidestep the noise and memorably reach customers.
Phone calls are not dead (and texts are definitely not). There are ways to make your phone number and text messages to leads and customers work harder for your business. Doing so may require an upfront investment in a new (or new kind of) phone number, but the likelihood of a steady payoff is high.
You can use three kinds of phone numbers to bypass the spammy calls and texts your potential customers are receiving from scammers and get through to them as legitimate businesses with the offers they want. These numbers are:
Search for available vanity numbers that fit your business needs. Here’s how:
Phone calls are not dead (and texts are definitely not). There are ways to make your phone number and text messages to leads and customers work harder for your business. Doing so may require an upfront investment in a new (or new kind of) phone number, but the likelihood of a steady payoff is high.
A vanity number is a phone number that spells out your business, service or offer using a short word or acronym so that callers can easily remember what you do. Large corporations (1-800-FLOWERS, 1-800-GO-FEDEX, etc.) often use vanity numbers to make it easier for customers to remember their business, place a call, and make a purchase.
Vanity numbers come in two flavors: local and toll-free. Telling them apart is easy once you know that all toll-free numbers start with one of the following combinations: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833.
On the other hand, local vanity numbers will direct you to a local business that’s paid for their vanity number. It’s not unlikely that, for a local business, customers or leads will recognize the area code because local vanity numbers are purchased expressly for their trust-building familiarity. And when a new number pops up on your phone, you’re more likely to pick up if you recognize the area code.
Millennials and Gen Z customers are likelier to remember a vanity number over a regular phone number than other generations. For the Gen Z market, the likelihood of them calling a vanity number for business over a regular number is nearly 30%! And, no matter the generation, 85% of people are more likely to remember a vanity number over a non-vanity number after hearing it just once in an advertisement. (And in an attention economy, being memorable is half the battle of a new conversion.)
Businesses that routinely use calls and texts as part of their marketing efforts will generally see a great return on investment (ROI) on their vanity numbers, whether or not they’re toll-free. Using a cute, funny, or informative acronym or description (1-800-GOT-JUNK?) or pairing it with a familiar local number is a time-proven way to increase brand awareness and drive calls.
To get a vanity number for your business, you’ll need to contact your phone provider or carrier and request one. Together, you’ll work to find a vanity number that meets your brand goals and is available for purchase.
Once you’ve found the vanity number that matches these criteria, you must pay a one-time setup fee to activate that number. This setup fee is determined by customer demand for that pattern, area code, word or acronym, etc., and can range from $80 to $40,000!
Toll-free numbers are easily recognizable because most start with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833. These numbers mean that you can call that business or service without paying any fees from your landline and are useful for reaching out-of-area and even international businesses.
The last popular phone numbers for businesses are shortcodes. Companies rely heavily on SMS traffic to communicate with their leads and customers. Short codes are short phone numbers, typically 5-6 digits long, that are used to send and receive text messages (SMS) and multimedia messages (MMS). They are often used for marketing campaigns, customer support, and other business applications where a short, memorable number is needed.
You can reach a large audience super fast (and scale with your business)
They’re more memorable than regular phone numbers
Text messages yield higher conversions
Consumers prefer texts over phone calls
Credibility
Like vanity and toll-free numbers for business, getting a short code starts with a beloved provider. However, unlike those other phone numbers, a short code is leased to companies rather than purchased outright.
Your provider should apply on your behalf, either for a dedicated short code (a memorable one you get to choose that aligns with your branding) or a random one. Approval can take a few weeks, so it’s best not to plan a campaign around a short code until you’ve been cleared.
Whether you’re looking to send hundreds of offers out via text, plaster your company’s mission on a billboard, or get your phone ringing from your next Google Ad campaign, getting a memorable phone number or shortcode for your company is a proven way to increase brand recognition, trust, and sales. Once you figure out your main goal for getting a vanity number, toll-free number, or powerful short code, you’ll be ready to start the acquisition and approval process with your provider.
To get a vanity number, toll-free number, or short code, contact Convirza, a provider with a team of regulatory experts and engineers ready to help you find the perfect number for your business.
Using vanity numbers, toll-free numbers, and shortcodes can help your business stand out and increase brand recognition, trust, and sales. Whether you’re looking to send hundreds of offers via text or get your phone ringing from your next Google Ad campaign, getting a memorable phone number or shortcode is a proven way to achieve your goals.
Contact Convirza at sales@convirza.com or fill out the form below to speak to someone who can start the process.
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