Using Vanity Numbers Increases Your Company’s Visibility

The first part of ensuring that a company will be successful is making sure that people know it exists. Without proper advertisement, this is almost impossible. Vanity numbers are great ways to promote a business’s name or purpose and they are easily remembered by consumers all over the nation.

What is Business Visibility?
Business visibility is a phrase used to describe the number of people in a targeted demographic who are actually aware that a business exists. For instance, if a business sells pet supplies, it can be assumed that a certain percentage of pet owners should be aware of it. Competition in many industries is fierce these days and it is incredibly important to ensure that consumers can find small businesses. By improving a business’s visibility with a vanity number and ensuring that a majority of the targeted audience is aware of the products and services on offer, any company can set itself up for success.

Targeting an Audience
One of the primary reasons why companies choose to use vanity numbers is to target a specific audience that may be interested in the product. As an example, a local company that sells pets may choose the number (123)-555-PETS in order to target pet owners. For a toll free example, that same company may choose 1-800-ANIMALS. This way, people who love animals and who are interested in learning more about them—or who possibly want to purchase one—will dial the number. Vanity numbers are available for a majority of industries, but not every number combination is available. Business owners and marketing specialists must check with their phone service providers to be sure.

Statistical Analysis
Anyone who is still skeptical about the power of vanity numbers to increase a company’s presence in the market should review some of the statistical information. A nationwide survey conducted over the course of several years throughout several service providers concluded that businesses that choose a vanity number over a standard telephone number have a whopping 30% larger customer base than those who do not. When consumers were asked for the most memorable vanity 1 800 numbers of all time, they were easily able to recite an average of three telephone numbers they had viewed on television, heard on the radio or seen on billboards all across the country.

Cost vs. Value
The final thing to consider before purchasing and launching a business vanity number is whether the potential increase in business and revenue will be enough to justify the cost. The cost of transforming an existing toll-free number into a vanity number is minimal, but swapping from a local number to a toll-free vanity number can cost a bit more. Start by figuring out how much it will cost to have the number over the course of a year, and then determine the expected change in revenue. If the value that the business will get from the number is greater than the cost, the vanity number is a wonderful idea and should definitely be pursued.

People who want to advertise their businesses, stay visible, and make an impact on the memories of their clients and customers in a positive way should consider using vanity numbers. The transition is often inexpensive and the potential rewards are immeasurable.

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.

Vanity Numbers Help More Customers Remember Your Business

When it comes to running a business, competition is always an issue. It is important for businesses to remain professional and customer service oriented, but it also helps when consumers can remember the business when they need the products or services it offers. Vanity numbers are a fantastic and inexpensive way to make an impression.

What is a Vanity Number?
Vanity numbers are telephone numbers that consist of a word or phrase made up of the alphanumeric characters on a telephone keypad. The word or phrase selected should directly reflect the purpose of the business and the products and services it sells. For instance, if a business called Caramel is in the business of making and selling handmade candies to the public, that company can choose to use its business name in the number: 1-800-CARAMEL. They could also try 1-800-SWEET4U or 1-800-CANDY4U. As long as the number is memorable and easily dialed, many consumers will gravitate toward it whenever they want to buy handmade caramels.

Be Memorable
When a consumer wants to purchase a product or service, it is often a fleeting thought. They have an idea and decide to act upon it immediately. As a result, they are more likely to dial a telephone number that they have seen or heard before picking up a telephone book to look for alternative companies. This means that a business successfully using a vanity number will likely be the vendor of choice for all of the impulse buyers in the world. As an example, when most people think of cheap, instant car insurance in the United States, one name generally comes to mind. The same rule applies for the need to send flowers. Everyone in the country is influenced by vanity numbers and they can certainly have an impact on a business.

Advertise with Ease
Advertisement is the number one way to get a brand name out into the minds of the public, and many companies use television and radio to do it. Americans are bombarded with an average of 3,000 advertisements per day in the form of magazines, internet, radio, television and even billboards along the side of the road; many of these advertisements contain telephone numbers. Due to the sheer number of ads, the general public is likely to forget many of them and only remember the ones that are witty, funny or shocking. By adding a vanity number to their advertisements, a business can ensure that their ads are among those easily remembered by the general public.

Available to Anyone
A common misconception associated with vanity numbers is that they are only available to huge corporations and that they are incredibly expensive. This is simply not true. Anyone can purchase a vanity number at a price that is more affordable than most people realize. Even local numbers can become vanity numbers as long as they are available from the telephone company. Regardless of the size of the business, these numbers are a great way to promote the business and bring in new clients and customers on a regular basis.

Business owners who are interested in gaining a huge following and expanding to a national or even international level should definitely consider the use of vanity numbers. They make any business more memorable and elicit more calls from more people than a traditional local or 1800 numbers.

Vanity Numbers - A Gimmick or Sales Tool?

Every now and again a company releases an advertisement incorporating a suitably catchy but nevertheless irritating phrase. Regardless of its memorability, consumers may forever associate that company with a negative and annoying brand image. Is this what happens when a company makes use of a vanity number? A basic understanding of the human mind and modern consumerism will suggest otherwise.

An Effective Sales Tool

Human minds are conditioned to respond to familiar details, details that can be recalled, communicated and understood. The approach of any business serious about increasing its revenue must utilize tools with a proven record of achieving this on the market and dispense of mere gimmicks which act only to deteriorate brand image. A vanity number, as a sales tool, cannot only rely on its supporting rationale but on years of success in the market.

Numerical Complexity

There is a reason our 365 day years are segmented into 12 month periods. The same reason explains the common practice of rounding numbers. Long numbers can be complicated, difficult to recall and even harder to memorize. In fact, one of the reasons numbers are used is that they provide scope for extreme variety and the possibility of attributing a unique value to any item, for example ISBN numbers. Words or patterns, on the other hand, are more limited in scope. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet and common words are rarely longer than 8 characters. A potential customer is more likely to remember something less unique and more familiar to them: a word or a pattern.

Modern Consumerism

The well documented success of vanity numbers over the past 50 years has not occurred by chance. Vanity numbers emerged as the free market reached an unprecedented high. The world was getting smaller and companies and their products became international. Consumers became burdened with choice. With more money in their pockets and busier lives, they often substituted detailed market research for products they could recognize and purchase instantly. Since that time, consumerism has only grown and companies have had to adapt to the market conditions. The numerical complexity of almost every allocated phone number does not fit this model. Complexity is time consuming, laborious and due to the emergence of vanity numbers, unnecessary.

History Speaks for Itself

Vanity numbers act as a bridge between numerical complexity and the consumer, leaving a memorable impression that has countless times led to the radical expansion of businesses. The story of Jim McCann does much to illustrate just how effective vanity numbers can be. When McCann bought out a struggling flower company in the late 80’s, he changed its name to 1-800-FLOWERS, focused advertising on communicating this name and watched the company rise to become a national phenomenon.

Vanity numbers are an effective and well proven marketing tool. The rationale is logical, the application simple. They bridge the gap between human limitations and numerical complexity providing customers with a proven method of recognizing and communicating your details. Any business looking to expand their company on the market should seriously consider vanity numbers as a key marketing tool.

Make a Memorable Impression with Vanity Numbers

A vanity number is a company’s phone number which has been specifically chosen and purchased by that company. Used correctly vanity numbers can function as an important marketing tool. The aim is to create a memorable impression with the customer and the key is to understand how to do this.

A Memorable Impression

Any company looking to increase revenue has to consider its consumer. On the modern market, consumers have a lot of choice. To compete effectively, a company must create an image that is both memorable and instantly recognizable. Few methods are as effective and cost-efficient as vanity numbers. The most memorable selections will often be those that are witty or humorous but these are hard to devise and not always relevant to every business type. Here are a number of pointers as to what will leave a memorable impression.
 
Words - Using a Company Name

A business may look to use their name but this will only work where that name is simple (G-O-L-D-R-U-S-H) Where the company has an established brand on the market or its name is indicative of the type of business undertaken this method should be considered.

Words - Using a Market Sector

An effective method can be to communicate a business sector (F-L-O-W-E-R-S). This way, consumers will recall the company contact number when a need arises. Whatever method a company may use, it is key to avoid complicated, rare, or hard to spell words; this complexity is precisely what vanity numbers are designed to avoid.

Numbers - Using a Pattern

A pattern used correctly can be equally as effective. Again, the key is to avoid complexity and to create a memorable impression. Numbers which indicate a simple pattern (1-1-1-1-1-1) are easy to remember. Here it is important to keep the number of characters to a minimum, use as few a variety of different numbers as possible and make the pattern simple. Where (2-2-4-4-6-6) may still be considered memorable, it is less clear whether consumers would remember (2-2-3-4-4-5).

Numbers - Using a Sequence

One method can be to replicate a familiar date or sequence. As a date, (1-9-4-2) may be memorable but a company must be careful to consider their customer base, particularly where they are active internationally. A sequence such as (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) will no doubt be memorable but once again simplicity is the key. Otherwise a number that can easily be illustrated, pronounced or used in junction with a familiar jingle can be equally as effective.

Vanity numbers can provide a memorable impression on the consumer in a number of equally important ways. Having advertised a vanity number, customers will easily commit that companies contact details to memory, associate their details with a specific need and effortlessly recommend those details to friends, family and acquaintances. Used correctly, they can bring new customers, boost revenue and create a professional image for your business.

Vanity Numbers – Customers Will Have a Hard Time Forgetting Yours

Vanity numbers are phone numbers that are easy to remember because of their number sequence or because they spell out a word or phrase. Choosing the right phone number is an important step in building and maintaining your business, because it brings you immediately to mind for customers and potential clients. A good phone number will be easy to remember, make people think of your company, and/or come to mind in answer to a particular need.

Easy-to-Remember Vanity Numbers

People tend to remember recognizable patterns, such as 1234. They also tend to remember sequences that they are already familiar with, such as 1492 or 1776. Repeated numbers like 333 are also easy to recall, as are nice round figures like 100 or 1000. Using other mnemonics to jog the memory, such as O-D-D 1357, can also help people to recall your number when they need it. Basic knowledge of how the human memory works can help you to choose a vanity number that customers won't be able to forget.

Vanity Numbers That Make People Think of Your Company

Just as important as making sure your phone number is easy to remember is making sure it is associated as strongly as possible with your company. If your company is relatively high-profile or has an established customer base, using the name of your business in the phone number can be an effective way to ensure that it makes people think immediately of your company. If your company is just starting or is not yet well known, using a word or phrase that has to do with the main business of your company, such as T-A-X-I-C-A-B or H-A-T-S can also help customers to think of you.

Vanity Numbers That Come to Mind in Answer to a Particular Need

Choosing a vanity number for your company is a form of advertising, and as the world of advertising has taught us, nothing works as effectively as appealing to the needs of your audience. Choosing a word or phrase that comes to mind in answer to particular needs of customers is a good way to make sure that your company is the first one they call. Clients are often more likely to think first of what they need rather than what you sell, so choosing a number that speaks to what they need, like T-E-C-H G-U-Y or B-U-Y A C-A-R is an effective way of promoting your business.

How to Get a Vanity Number

There are tools available to help you select the perfect vanity number for your company. Going through an established business that specializes in phone numbers allows you the freedom of choosing the number that is best for you, while at the same time giving you professional assistance if needed. This includes letting you know immediately whether or not your chosen number is available, giving you similar options if the exact number is already taken, and ensuring that the phone number you decide on will be activated quickly.

Vanity numbers are a great way to promote your business because they are easy to remember, help people think of your company, and speak to the needs of clients. With a little creativity and professional assistance, you can come up with a vanity number that customers will have a hard time forgetting, and that will help your business to reach higher levels of recognition and success.

Vanity Numbers

Vanity Numbers - Grab a Business Number Customers Will Remember

In order for new businesses to ensure their success, they will need to provide consumers with a telephone number that is easy to remember and relates to the business in general. Vanity numbers are available from most virtual phone system providers and may make all of the difference when it comes to securing new clientele.

In short, a vanity number is a standard telephone number in which the numbers spell out a word that is related to the business. Many companies use them and nearly every consumer in the US knows at least a few. For example, a business that specializes in pet grooming may choose 1-800-PET-CARE and another company that provides landscaping may choose (123) 555-LAWN. Availability will vary by region, so consumers should be sure to check with their local phone system providers for more information.

When a consumer is in need of a product or service, they will likely contact the first company they can remember or the one that they are most familiar with. If a consumer is interested in ordering flowers for their significant other, they will likely call a telephone number they can remember hearing, such as 1-800-FLORIST.  By accurately choosing a number that is memorable and affiliated with the nature of the business, it is quite possible to grab clients and customers by the thousands with a single billboard or television advertisement.

As any business owner knows, marketing is very expensive. It may involve printing and mailing flyers, creating brochures or even placing television and radio ads. Though all of these are proven tactics, vanity numbers are also worth considering. For just a few extra dollars per month, business owners can secure a telephone number that accurately represents the business. In fact, by pairing this number with a catchy tune, business owners and marketing experts will leave a lasting impression in the minds of consumers all over the country.

Once a business owner has decided to use a vanity number as a marketing tactic, the next step is choosing a number that is catchy and easy to remember but is not difficult to spell. For instance, a laboratory may choose a number like 1-800-RESEARCH, though many consumers may avoid dialing the number because it can be difficult to spell. Similarly, a dentist would not want to use 1-800-ROOT-CANAL as a vanity number for obvious reasons. Humorous and witty numbers will win out every time, though simple numbers are also acceptable. A car dealership, for instance, could use the number 1-800-CAR-SALE as it is easy to remember, catchy and relates directly to the nature of the business.

Though the majority of vanity numbers are toll-free, small business owners can also choose local numbers when it is applicable. In short, businesses who offer the public toll-free vanity numbers are three to four times more likely to receive telephone calls than those who do not. Vanity numbers are an inexpensive way to market a business and ensure that consumers remember to call when the time is right.

Vanity Numbers

One of the most important marketing strategies you can make use of for a small or large business is taking the time to sign up for and make use of vanity numbers instead of regular phone numbers. Not only will it make things easier when prospective and existing clients need to contact you, but it will also ensure that your personalized contact number is easy for everyone to remember.

Ensure That Your Business is Easily Recognizable
By making use of vanity numbers, you will ensure that your business stands head and shoulders above any competitors, especially if they make use of regular contact numbers. New as well as existing clients will find that vanity numbers are far easier to remember and refer to friends and family than regular phone numbers. This will result in increased sales, revenue and positive exposure, all of which are absolutely essential for every single business in operation today. Vanity numbers also have the added benefit of giving your business the positive branding it deserves. Research has shown that more clients choose to make use of a business that offers the benefit of a toll free number than those that don’t.

Vanity Numbers Are an Affordable Option for Your Business
Many people have avoided signing up for vanity numbers for their business because they think that it will be an expensive and tedious process. The truth is that with vanity numbers, you normally do pay for the privilege of having them, but the cost will be absolutely minimal compared to the amount of business and advertising that it will generate for you. An added benefit of vanity numbers is that you normally pay according to the amount of calls you receive, which means that your business will not be saddled with a high phone bill as a result of using vanity numbers.

Vanity Numbers Are Easy to Set Up
Having your vanity number set up is as easy as calling your phone service provider to request the service. Their customer service department will be happy to assist you with choosing the vanity number of your choice and setting it up for you. Once this is done, your business will be well on its way to generating the free word of mouth advertising that accompanies the use of vanity numbers. Although it is not actually possible to own a particular vanity number, by making use of one that is customized to meet the needs of your business, you will be doing your business the favor it deserves by using it as a cost-effective means of advertising.

Vanity numbers are definitely a tool that no small or large business should be without. Not only are they an effective means of advertising, but by using them, you will also be guaranteed repeat business from existing clients that are able to easily recall your contact details. If you want to ensure that your business stays a step ahead of the competition, you will definitely want to make use of personalized vanity numbers.