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Friday, August 17, 2012

Vanity Numbers Become Part of Your Business Persona

Every business should have a positive persona that reflects its industry, the products or services it offers, and its inherent niche. Vanity numbers are great ways to enhance this image and provide consumers with something that they can easily remember when they are interested in making a purchase.

Reasons for Choosing Vanity Numbers
There are many reasons why a business may choose a vanity number instead of a typical toll-free number, but the most cited reason by far is to provide consumers with an easy way to remember the company in their times of need. Another reason vanity numbers may be the best option has to deal with the number of similar businesses in the industry; a single new business may need a unique way of setting itself apart from the crowd. For example, if there are six different businesses in the Yellow Pages that provide pet grooming services, consumers are more likely to remember 1-800-DOG-WASH as opposed to its numerical equivalent or numbers that are not associated with any phrases.

How to Choose a Number
When a business owner chooses a vanity number, he or she must consider several things. First, the number should reflect the industry or products with which the business is associated. This makes the number more memorable when consumers are confronted with a choice. Next, the business owner should also consider the persona he or she wishes to portray. While some vanity numbers may be chosen for professionalism, others may be chosen to incorporate a bit of humor or quirkiness. Finally, the chosen vanity number should not closely resemble another number chosen by a competitor; business owners would not want to give their adversaries an accidental advantage with misdialed calls.

Marketing and Advertisements

Businesses owners choose to advertise their products and services in many different ways. Television and radio ads, social media outlets, website ads, business cards, mailers and flyers are all very common marketing methods. The telephone number selected by a business owner will have a huge impact on these marketing tactics. For instance, consider some of the most famous vanity numbers of all time: 1-800-SAFE-AUTO, 1-800-96-JENNY and more. Each of these numbers is associated with a very catchy jingle that helps consumers remember the companies—and the telephone numbers—whenever the products or services offered by the businesses are in demand.

Corporate Image
One of the best ways for a business to project a national or global corporate image is with the use vanity numbers. Regardless of the size of the business, associating it with a toll-free vanity number will give consumers the impression that they are dealing with an established and reputable company. If a business in California sells mail-order fruit and a consumer in New York is interested in purchasing the product, it is much easier for that consumer to dial 1-800-FRUIT4U than to look through the Yellow Pages or on the internet for a local company.

The personas that business owners wish to portray can be greatly influenced by the selection of vanity numbers. By considering all of the factors, the vanity number selected can help to distinguish a business from its competitors and make it more memorable to consumers.

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