0800 numbers (or UK Freephone numbers) are free for potential customers to call from UK land lines, and enjoy widespread public recognition as 'freephone numbers'.
The 1st generation of Toll-Free was started in 1967 by AT&T as an alternative to collect calling and to reduce the need for operators. The AT&T service in 1967 was known as INWATS, or Inward Wide-Area Telephone Service. Sheraton Hotels was the first hotel chain in 1970 with a toll-free 0800 numbers.
Teleculture 2000 says that 63% of consumers prefer doing business with companies offering a 0800 freephone number. The Henley Research Centre says that 68% of people feel that companies who offer 0800 numbers care more about their customers.
More and more businesses (of all sizes) are seeing the huge competitive advantage of what 0800 numbers can bring to their business. These numbers offer a proven way of increasing business and developing customer loyalty. By enabling potential customers to phone your business free of charge from anywhere in the UK, these numbers are especially valuable when attracting new business.
Furthermore, it has been established that a free phone 0800 numbers will help you retain your existing customers and help gain new ones, as more calls will help you create stronger customer loyalty and increase sales opportunities. It is a well-known fact that it is five times harder getting a new customer than keeping an existing one. This fact alone makes a 0800 numbers an invaluable business asset. The service is free whether your customer calls from their standard BT landline during peak hours, in the evenings or on the weekend. 0800 free phone numbers are also able to receive international calls.
Benefits of using 0800 Numbers
•A 0800 free phone numbers can give a company a national identity
• People believe firms with 0800 numbers are more reliable and efficient. Given the choice of calling a supplier who has 0800 numbers and calling one who doesn’t, most people will go for the 0800 every time.
• Customers will call you more frequently, engendering greater loyalty. Because 0800 numbers are free to call from standard UK landlines, customers can call without worrying about the cost, this is vital to retaining caller interest, if callers are likely to incur a long distance call, or if they are likely to remain on hold or in a queue.
• An estimated 50% of advertisers now use a 0800 free phone numbers in their adverts
• 0800 number is portable and will never change. 0800 Numbers offer great flexibility. You can keep one number forever, regardless of where your business operates. If you move offices, no need to change vehicle livery, signage & stationery - when you move, your 0800 numbers moves with you.
Also research suggests that 0800 free phone numbers can generate up to 3 times as many calls as a business with a standard regional number.
About the Author:Amanda Morrison, independent consultant and motivational speaker in the converging areas of mobile telecoms, toll free systems, 0800 numbers, internet, media, advertising. She has over 10 years of experience in managing and implementing complex technical projects over a broad range of telecommunications platforms.
Related Articles
Benefits Of Using 0800 Numbers
By: Derek Rogers | 11/01/2008 | Business
If you are a small business that is just getting started or you have an online business that you are looking to expand into real-time interaction, it might be time for you to take advantage of what having an 0800 number can do for you. There are plenty of different...
Hosted Telephony Solutions
By: Kieron James | 21/04/2008 | Communication
Many organisations are recognising the flexibility which an externally hosted telephony service offers. Here you will find 10 features of hosted telephony most frequently cited by our customers:
Telephone Call Statistics
By: Kieron James | 21/04/2008 | Communication
Organisations of all sizes can learn much from analysing inbound telephone call statistics however historically capturing inbound call data would require expensive telecommunications hardware equipment, known as a PBX (private branch exchange) system. Nowadays however, hosted software can be deployed to fulfil this operation in a much more cost-effective manner.
Marketing Analysis of 0800 Numbers Usage
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
0800 numbers attract more and more businesses in UK. There was done research on 0800 numbers as part of a pro-active sales and marketing strategy. Results are shown in this article and they prove that free phone 0800 numbers will become a necessary marketing tool to stay ahead of company’s competitors.
Divert Options for 0800 Numbers
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
0800 numbers have diversion facility that can divert to up to 5 numbers, so you could redirect to a landline first and if that number does not answer or is engaged it will then try your mobile, therefore you never miss a call. Find more about diversion facilities of 0800 numbers.
International Toll Free Service
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
Find out what is International Toll Free Service, how it works and how it differs from Universal International Free phone Number and how business can benefit from using toll free 0800 numbers.
What is a Toll Free Number
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
The "Toll Free" article is designed to explain the basics about toll free service for anyone new to toll free service. Some of this will probably be a little basic if you already understand toll free service, but this article is mostly for beginners.
Location Based Routing
By: Kieron James | 14/05/2008 | Communication
One of the advantages of Calling Line Identity (CLI) presentation is that it allows communications providers like Numberstore to dynamically route calls with no interaction from the caller or called party.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Communication Articles
Solidworks Tutorial
By: Robert | 26/07/2008
SolidWorks allows you to view 3d parts from all different angles. There are infinite ways to view an object, but engineers usually only concern themselves with 4 main views. You can see these views in the above picture of the green link.
Udp
By: Robert | 26/07/2008
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is one of the two main transport protocols utilized in IP networks.
Samsung G600 - Now Enhance Camera Skills Through Phone
By: Adam Caitlin | 25/07/2008
Mobile phones in this high technology world have become part and parcel of life and have evolved out as a technological icon in modern day world. Among present day mobile phones, Samsung G600 is a great and savvy handset with modern technology.
Nokia 6236i Cellular Phone
By: Monty Alexander | 25/07/2008
The Nokia 6236i is designed to appeal to a wide range of users with a slim form factor, classic chrome accents and a number of features including a 65,536 color screen, VGA camera, streaming video capability and an integrated FM radio. A built-in speakerphone and voice recorder add a high level of convenience, while high-fidelity MP3 ring tones and streaming video capability add a high level of entertainment.
Free Icons
By: Robert | 24/07/2008
We have animated icons, funny icons, naughty icons, and pretty much any other emoticon you can think of.
Recording Calls on a Telephone Network Vs Hosted Call Recording
By: PXR5 | 24/07/2008
Many telephone networks and providers are now bundling phone call recording systems in with their line rental. Whilst these services may be useful for some businesses, they are not without their flaws...
More and More Businesses Using Call Recording Equipment
By: PXR5 | 24/07/2008
More and more businesses across the UK are experiencing the benefits of using phone call recording equipment These systems are becoming increasingly popular in a variety of industries and sectors...
Is Cheap Broadband About to Go the Way of Cheap Petrol, Cheap Flights, Cheap Rice...?
By: Shirley Stevens | 24/07/2008
BT is keen to increase the amount they charge broadband providers to access its telecom services and Ofcom (the communications watchdog) is considering granting BT permission to do so. If this transpires, cheap broadband deals may well become a thing of the past. However, there is no need to be too concerned just yet, as we explain.
More from Amanda Morrison
What is a Toll Free Number
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
The "Toll Free" article is designed to explain the basics about toll free service for anyone new to toll free service. Some of this will probably be a little basic if you already understand toll free service, but this article is mostly for beginners.
International Toll Free Service
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
Find out what is International Toll Free Service, how it works and how it differs from Universal International Free phone Number and how business can benefit from using toll free 0800 numbers.
Divert Options for 0800 Numbers
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
0800 numbers have diversion facility that can divert to up to 5 numbers, so you could redirect to a landline first and if that number does not answer or is engaged it will then try your mobile, therefore you never miss a call. Find more about diversion facilities of 0800 numbers.
Marketing Analysis of 0800 Numbers Usage
By: Amanda Morrison | 30/04/2008 | Communication
0800 numbers attract more and more businesses in UK. There was done research on 0800 numbers as part of a pro-active sales and marketing strategy. Results are shown in this article and they prove that free phone 0800 numbers will become a necessary marketing tool to stay ahead of company’s competitors.
Technology 
