The importance of looking local

Depending on what type of business you have, you might want to portray yourself as a nationwide company, or as a local company. If you want to carry out work nationwide, then we advise that you have one of our non-geographic numbers for your business – either an 0800 number, 0845 number or 0844 number, depending on which one suits your business needs best.

However, if you want to appear to be a local business, even if that is to lots of different localities, then you are best having virtual local numbers. These are ideal if you are based in one area, but want to appear local to lots of different areas. So, for example, if you were based in Bristol but wanted to operate across the whole of the south west, appearing as a local business, then you could have an Exeter 01392 number, a Plymouth 01752 number, a Taunton 01823 number, a Penzance 01736 number, a Devizes 01380 number, and of course a Bristol 0117 number and Bath 01225 number. These are just examples, but they can all be pointed to the same phones in an office so all of your calls still go through to the same place, but appear to be more local than they actually are.

The reasoning behind this is that lots of people still prefer to use a local business for certain trades, and when looking for numbers will only go for area codes that they recognise, as they then know that the business is based locally. With lots of local phone numbers you can appear in lots of different local telephone directories as well. A local area code says to potential customers that you are a business that operates in their area, know the area, and are nearby if there are any problems.

Why use fax to email?

We offer fax to email numbers as all of our different numbers – including 0800 numbers, 0845 numbers, 0844 numbers and virtual local numbers.

They have to be a different number from your telephone number if you already have one of the above, but we believe if you use a fax machine, there are huge benefits to having a fax to email number.

Firstly, it means you can get rid of your fax machine. You don’t have to leave it switched on 24 hours a day 7 days a week so as not to miss a fax. This saves quite a lot of electricity.

However, it means you can still receive faxes, so if customers wish to send you a fax you are able to give them a fax number.

It also saves paper, as the fax is sent straight to your email inbox, so you only print it if you want or need to.

With the fax in your email inbox, it helps to create a more efficient filing system.

Finally, if you already have an 0800, 0845, 0844 or virtual number, it means that your fax number will match your telephone number, so you don’t end up with a non-geographic phone number, but then a fax number revealing you are in Essex.

Why small businesses should consider 0844 numbers

Many businesses choose to have an 0800 number because they are free for their customers to phone from a landline. The business, rather than the customer, pays to receive the call, which is a fantastic marketing tool if the business can afford to do it. However, not all small businesses or start up businesses can afford to pay the cost of receiving their telephone calls.

That is why 0844 is a great alternative. Your customers only pay 5p per minute to make the call to you from a landline, so not a premium rate, and you then receive 2p per minute of that charge as a rebate. This is a fantastic option for SMEs as it means they don’t have to pay for their calls, but instead get some money back which helps provide a top up to their income, especially if they receive lots of calls.

0844 still has the other benefits that 0800 numbers give small businesses. It is a non-geographic number and so makes the business appear to be a national company rather than a small local company operating only in one area and only providing services to that area. You can also add all the extra features to 0844 that you can to 0800, including call whisper, the “press 1 for sales” service, and call queuing. For small businesses and start up businesses, 0844 is worth considering.

0845 numbers: the perfect phone number compromise

Quite often when businesses are deciding which phone number to have for their company, they are stuck choosing between two extremes.

The first option is freephone 0800 numbers, which means the company would foot the bill for the calls received so that the customer, if phoning from a landline, doesn’t have to pay for the call.

The second option is charging the customer a higher rate to phone in, with some of the money from the call going to the company, a helpful top up to a company’s income in a tough economic climate.

However, there is a middle route, which is sometimes forgotten about or overlooked: an 0845 number.

Like the other options, 0845 is a non-geographic number, which means the 08 code doesn’t indicate your geographical location. This therefore gives your company the appearance of a national company, rather than a company that only does business in a specific local geographical location.

Unlike 0800 numbers, you don’t have to pay to receive the call, and unlike premium rate numbers, your customers don’t pay a huge amount to make the call. 0845 numbers are known as lo-call or low-call numbers, meaning the cost to call them from a landline is low, the same price as a local call. Therefore, your customers don’t have to pay much to make the call if using a landline, and you don’t have to pay anything to receive the call. A perfect compromise!

Deciding which phone to point your number at

 Here at DBS Chess Telecoms we offer 0800 numbers, 0845 numbers, 0844 numbers, London phone numbers, International Toll Free numbers and local numbers for 479 different UK towns and cities.

Once you have chosen which type of number is best for you, you then have to choose whether you would like any additional features, and where you would like your new number pointed.

All of these numbers have to be pointed (or routed) to an existing phone number. You have to choose whether you want it pointed to an existing landline number or an existing mobile number.

If your business will be based in an office or in a building such as a house then you probably want your number pointed to a landline number.

However, if your business doesn’t have any fixed premises, and you are usually on the road rather than in an office, then you probably want to point the number to a mobile.

Either way, people calling you will only see the number we provide you with, and not the landline or mobile number that it is pointed to.

Our charges are different for numbers pointed to mobiles from what they are to numbers pointing to landlines, so check this out before purchasing.

The benefits of virtual London numbers

Technorati Tags: London numbers,London phone numbers,020 numbers

Virtual London phone numbers are our most popular type of virtual phone numbers. There are many reasons for this. The obvious one of course is that London is our capital city, where approximately 1/8 of the UK population live, so out of the 479 different area codes that we offer, you would expect London to be the most popular. But, it also begs the question, why virtual London numbers?
Well, the cost of living and having a business in London is huge. Rent for residential property and rent for commercial property is enormous. Transport costs, living costs are all massive. And yet, being a London business carries a huge amount of prestige. If people see that you are a London business, they think you’ve made it.
Having a virtual London number therefore makes you appear to be a London company, giving you the prestige of appearing to be a London company, but without London costs. Instead you can base your business just outside the M25, or if you don’t need premises, point your 020 number to a mobile phone.
Follow these links to read the details about our London numbers to landline and London numbers to mobile.

About our 0844 numbers

In the last of our posts about our main categories of numbers, we’re going to be looking at our 0844 numbers. 0844 numbers are non-geographic numbers, meaning 0844 does not indicate any specific geographic location in the UK. They therefore give you a national presence.

If you have one of our 0844 numbers pointed to a UK landline, you will receive 2p per minute on every call you receive, and are not charged to receive the call. If you have one of our 0844 numbers pointed to a mobile then you are charged 8p + VAT per minute to receive the call, which increases to 27p if you are on the 3 Mobile Network.

Your customers calling your 0844 number from a landline, whether it is pointing to a landline or a mobile, pay 5p per minute to make the call. However, this varies according to their provider if they call you from a mobile phone. Whether your 0844 number is pointing to a landline or mobile, you pay an initial £5 + VAT set up, and then rental of £5 + VAT per month.

As with all of our numbers you only need to give 30 days’ written notice to cancel your number. You receive a fully itemised monthly bill, and if you order from us anytime between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday we will aim to have your number connected within minutes.