The past year caused many businesses to change how they communicated with customers and forced them to adapt to more digital means of communication. Customers also expected a fast turnaround for service issues and the ability to connect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a time when the workforce was shifting to remote assistance as the norm. Having a dedicated phone line for customer calls is an effective means for communication and offers an opportunity for your business to connect to customers professionally, no matter the time of day.
The ability to connect to your customers at all times is paramount for success. Having a New Zealand business number available for them to call day or nite helps you connect and build rapport with the community you serve.
Here we discuss why having a toll-free number set up for your business is so important in 2021. We’ll also walk you through some of the options and add-ons available for toll-free NZ business numbers.
What Is a Toll-Free Number?
A toll-free telephone number starts with either 0508 or 0800 in New Zealand. It is a business number that allows customers to call the number free from any landline within the country without incurring long-distance charges through their phone company. Instead, the business that owns the toll-free number incurs the cost for customers to call in, usually at a per-minute rate.
Reason #1: Professional Look
The most important reason you should consider signing up for an NZ business number is to increase your legitimacy. Having an officially dedicated toll-free number for customers to call you at gives customers the impression that your company is well-established in the community and dedicated to serving them. Having that open point of contact makes you seem trustworthy.
Word Numbers
You have the option of choosing a toll-free number that spells out a word or phrase, called a word number or vanity number. Word numbers may include the name of your business or a catchphrase, as long as the number is available for use. For example, a popular trash removal service has the number 0800-GOT-JUNK. The wording of the number defines what they do and makes it easy for consumers to remember their phone number easily.
Reason #2: Convenience
A dedicated business phone number is an easy way for customers to contact you, especially when the number is free for them to call. Display your 0800 number on social media profiles, business listings, and your business cards. Your goal is to communicate with customers on their preferred service, whether by phone, text, social media, or email. Having these choices available allows you to have omnichannel communication, where all of your ways to communicate are connected. All the consumer needs to do is choose which way they would like to contact you.
An 0800 Number Moves with You
Don’t dread moving offices or locations. Your business number comes with you wherever your office or business goes. Even if your new location is not ready for service, 0800 numbers offer the option of call forwarding so that you never miss a call.
Reason #3: Accessibility
Your 0800 business number is accessible to your customers 24/7. They can call you any time and either speak to an employee or leave a message for you to respond to during business hours. Always having that line of communication open helps you build rapport and trust.
Reason #4: Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is one of the most popular services that toll-free numbers offer. When you have your business number set to forward calls, it connects your incoming calls to a different phone number. You can set call forwarding incoming calls to your mobile number, another business line, or a voice-over-IP (VOIP) system.
As we touched on previously, call forwarding offers a lot of flexibility. If your company is large enough to hire a call centre or contract with a company for customer service, your business number will forward incoming calls to the call centre. If your company is small, you could have incoming calls forwarded to your cell phone when you are not in the office so that customers can always reach you.
Reason #5: Affordability
New Zealand business numbers are affordable. Expect to pay per minute for your 0800 number, so short and sweet calls are best. Call termination rates vary depending on whether your customers call from a landline or cell phone and also whether you have call forwarding set up. When you sign up for services, look over your rate plan to understand the different charges to budget usage.
Get Your 0800 Number Set Up Today
A 0800 number is an affordable way for your customers to keep in touch with you. At Dynamite IT Solutions, we offer business 0508 and 0800 numbers. Contact us today to find out how we can help you stay in touch with your clientele.
We offer some of the best priced free phone number plans in New Zealand. With a minimum monthly charge of $30 and incoming calls from only 10c a minute, getting the best 0800 number for your business has never been so cost-effective and easy.
With a New Zealand free phone number, making it free to call your 0800 number from a mobile could be the difference between a potential client calling you or a competitor. As competition levels increase for businesses around New Zealand, make the decision today to remove this barrier from clients contacting your business.