Toll-Free Vanity Numbers for International Marketing

Online, February 14, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Ever been to the United States? In that case you will have come across toll-free vanity phone numbers everywhere; on billboards, magazine ads and in radio and TV commercials. A strange sight for the visiting European? Maybe. However, if you're a European businessman, or woman, thinking about entering the US market, toll-free vanity numbers are something that cannot be ignored. TeleForwarding explains how toll-free vanity numbers and universal toll-free numbers form the essential tool to support your international marketing efforts on this highly competitive market.

Vanity numbers, also known as mnemonic numbers, are telephone numbers that spell out a so-called phoneword, such as + 800 -FLOWERS or 1 888 - WEFORWARD. Each letter of these words corresponds to a key on your telephone dial pad. A comprehensive US study, comparing vanity and numeric phone numbers featured in commercial ads, has shown that of all respondents over 65% correctly remembered the featured vanity number against 31% that correctly remembered the numeric phone numbers shown in otherwise identical ads. Since vanity numbers are very recognizable and easy to remember, they also generate more response. Companies using vanity toll-free numbers in their visual advertising can expect an 84% improvement of recall rates over numeric phone numbers. For radio ads this percentage was higher still. Moreover, vanity numbers can prolong the life of your campaigns, for people will remember your vanity number, and thereby your brand or product name, even after your campaign has ended. In other words: vanity numbers are ideal for marketing your business.

"Of course, in order for the toll-free vanity number to work properly, it should be well-chosen. The phoneword should say something about your product or brand and it should match the intention of the hotline", says Hans Lasonder, CEO of TeleForwarding. This way, your phone number will live up to your customer's expectations which provides them with a positive first impression of your company. "Indeed", Lasonder adds, " US consumers generally already associate toll-free numbers with a professional, customer oriented, organization. A well-chosen toll-free vanity number, as it increases recognition and brand awareness, will add to this positive corporate image and multiply its effects."

Consequently, for companies active on or thinking of entering the American market, Lasonder would strongly advise the use of a toll-free vanity number in their marketing campaigns. However, with only a limited amount of US toll-free phone numbers available, will you be able to get the vanity number of your choice? "This can be difficult", Lasonder admits, "but this is where we come in. First of all, we have a thorough knowledge of the US domestic toll-free market and can advise our clients on various options of obtaining the right phone number. By being creative and thinking out of the box, we generally succeed in providing our clients with the toll-free vanity number that best suits their specific needs."

Lasonder has some more unique advise for international companies that consider the US market as an important market, but are active on other markets as well. For, "there is a great way of complementing your US toll-free number with universal toll-free numbers worldwide. Since it takes a bit more effort to find a US vanity toll-free number, we advise you to acquire, or let us get you, a US toll-free vanity number first", Lasonder continues. "When you have found your + 1 800 number (or +1 855, +1 866, +1 877 or + 1 888 number) there, we can match this number with an almost identical universal international freephone number, also known as a UIFN or + 800 number, that can be activated in over 50 other countries. This means that with only two, almost identical, toll-free numbers you can market your company in the whole world.

Furthermore, thanks to international call routing options, all international calls will be forwarded to a location of your choice, anywhere in the world. These calls can be routed according to their origin, which means that you will still be able to forward, for instance, calls from Germany to a German speaking employee in your headquarters in New York. With the TeleForwarding Online Call Traffic Dashboard, moreover, you will be able to monitor the response to your international marketing campaigns online and from one single location. This will allow you to proactively respond to changes in these response rates which keeps you always in control of your international marketing efforts. Thus, with only one worldwide toll-free, vanity, phone number you can make the most of international marketing opportunities. This means a small investment, but a high ROI.

One worldwide toll-free number, one control centre, multiple effects. Do you want to boost your business, market your international brand and increase international response rates to your marketing campaigns? Order your international toll-free (vanity) numbers today! Visit our website www.teleforwarding.com or call us, toll-free, at +800 00123456.

Media Contact
Anniek van Engelenburg
Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +800 00123456