With the rise of e-commerce, businesses have started to originate from all over the world. Companies based in the United States are able to transact with customers in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Australia, etc. thanks to the internet. However, increased trade across countries boundaries created some communication issues.

In the past, it was expensive and difficult for a customer in one country to call a business in a different foreign country. First, international calling charges from one country to another can be expensive, depending on the country. Second, the process of dialing an international number can be difficult. Have you ever seen a Hong Kong phone number? It begins with +852, followed by a string of digits.

International calling costs coupled with unfamiliar phone numbers can discourage a customer from reaching out to a business. A missed opportunity can mean less revenue for a business. Don’t miss out on potential business because your phone lines are inaccessible to customers in a remote location.

To solve this issue, virtual phone numbers enable businesses to source customers from any country they desire, no matter where the business is headquartered. In fact, some businesses that use virtual phone numbers have reported greater than 50% increases in call volume. Here are some valuable benefits that a company can realize with a virtual phone number.

1. Become more accessible

Virtual phone numbers are convenient and free to dial from their corresponding country. In other words, it costs nothing for somebody in the United States to dial a US 1-800 number. When a business advertises a toll free number, customers know that they can access that business over the phone with relative ease.

A business that is accessible to potential clients will do better than its inaccessible counterpart.

2. Improve customer service

Customers don’t want to pay money to call any business. That much is simple. If a customer has questions or concerns, and they can’t contact a business, they will not be satisfied. They might develop an unfavorable opinion of the business, or worse, move to a competitor.

It is important for businesses to provide great customer service. Also, a negative review can be pretty damaging.

3. Project a professional image

Consider any successful multinational corporation – they all use local and toll free virtual numbers. Toll free numbers establish an air of professionalism with clients, while local phone numbers allow customers to perceive the business as a local and familiar operation. Prominent businesses use virtual phone numbers, and so should you.

In addition, a one-person operation can really benefit from a virtual phone number. Instead of relying on his or her personal cell phone to take calls, the entrepreneur can advertise a toll free business phone number. Virtual phone numbers also include a suite of advanced features to help scale a business.

4. Run your business from the cloud

‘Virtual’ phone numbers are just like they sound – virtual. This means that they aren’t tied down to any phone line. Rather, they can be managed from an online control panel. Entrepreneurs are able to run their businesses no matter where they are in the world.

Bottom Line

Businesses these days are able to transact with customers from all over the globe. For a business with customers in foreign countries, it is important to provide a free and convenient point of contact. Virtual phone numbers are free and easy to dial and a toll free number can have a tremendous impact on sales and a company’s bottom line. Smart businesses around the world are getting virtual phone numbers and reaping the benefits.

Do you have experience using virtual phone numbers for your business? We would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share your experience in the comments below.

The post 4 Reasons to Get a Virtual Phone Number for Your Business appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

A “Unicorn” is a startup company with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. In the past decade, unicorn startups like Airbnb (Founded: 2008, valuation: $25.5B), Uber (2009, $68B), and Snapchat (2011, $17.8B), have all seen a massive inflow of funds from private tech investors.

California is home to numerous technology corporations, and Silicon Valley is probably the first place that comes to mind when you think about startups. Venture Beat pointed out that almost half of the startup “unicorns” are in California. They also show, however, that unicorns are scattered across the globe, with headquarters in China, Germany, India and Canada.

These days, an entrepreneur can open his own startup anywhere. Email and phone forwarding enables you to run a business effectively from anywhere in the world. As a result, coworking spaces have popped up in major cities around the world.

Where Can Entrepreneurs Find Cheap Alternatives to Office Space?

Deskmag gives a great definition of a coworking office: “Every workspace with flexible structures that is designed for and by people with atypical, new types of work – that is not exclusively for people from one certain company.”

Before the rise of coworking spaces, entrepreneurs had very few options apart from leasing office space. Sure, you could set up shop in a (cramped?) home office, but every business needs an address. Nowadays, entrepreneurs can occupy coworking spaces on a membership basis.

The major economic reason why an entrepreneur will use a coworking space is to save time and money. Coworking space operators will usually offer flexible terms that allow renters to move in and out and upgrade or downgrade their pre-furnished offices as the renters please. But a coworking space has value that extends beyond what a business can save on rent.

Coworking spaces deliver value-added benefits that are difficult to quantify in dollar terms. The first benefit is the networking opportunities. The second benefit is helping your business project a more professional appearance.

The first major benefit of a coworking space is the opportunity to network with like-minded people. In the entrepreneurial world, who you know can be equally important as what you know. A great coworking space is a congregation of minds who share similar aspirations. Every person who walks in the door is a professional, and a coworking space is an ideal place to bounce ideas off your peers and create long-lasting business relationships

In addition to networking, a coworking space can help entrepreneurs project a more professional image for their business. Just like a toll-free number is more effective as a branding tool than a personal phone number, a coworking space will make a business look more established than a home office. A business address and phone number will show clients and investors that an enterprise is well-established.

Coworking Trends

These days, it is the small customer, or small group, that supplies the highest amount of demand for office space. There are more small groups looking for office solutions than there are large groups looking to lease an entire building or entire floor.

We look for this trend to continue as large corporations downsize. In addition, we expect coworking operators to modify their approach in order to attract more clients.

We expect four themes to emerge during 2017 with regards to coworking: niche communities, corporate partnerships, around-the-clock renting and added services. First, operators will appeal to specific groups and professional sectors to create a stronger community. Second, coworking providers have started to form partnerships with corporations. Third, the shared-space concept will be extended into living arrangements. Finally, look for some operators to experiment with concierge services, travel offerings, etc. in order to entice renters.

How to Choose the Right Coworking Space

The coworking market currently has thousands of players. Locations have sprung up in huge numbers in cities like New York, Hong Kong and Singapore while operators are designing new service offerings and rental models. Entrepreneurs, especially those with web-based businesses, are able to work in whatever country they choose thanks to virtual phone numbers and offices. No matter which country you reside in, there are several important factors to focus on when choosing a coworking space.

• Focus on community

Networking is one of the greatest benefits that come with a shared office space. We advise you to consider the types of businesses that occupy the space and decide if these peers will help your business grow

• Focus on function

What goals does your business have for the future? Some coworking providers have programs to accelerate the growth of occupants. For example, StartHub in Miami offers an incubator for global ventures launching in US markets, along with other great programs. You want a coworking space that will support your business.

• Focus on location

If your virtual office is far away from where you live, chances are you won’t spend much time there. We recommend choosing an office that is close to your home.

• Focus on utilities

High-speed internet is a requirement for doing business in today’s internet environment. The facility should come equipped with Wi-Fi, a fax machine and conference rooms. Some locations have a kitchen and free coffee and snacks. Others offers 24/7 access to the office. The utilities you want to look for will depend on the needs of your business.

Do you have experience with coworking? How did your business benefit from joining a coworking space? Do you recommend any particular locations? Share your comments below.

The post How a Coworking Office Space Can Improve Your Startup appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

Using Advanced Features

One of the benefits of signing up for a good call-forwarding service is the advanced features that are included with the service. You will have access to intelligent features that can drastically improve your phone forwarding system and make it much easier to manage a high number of incoming calls. Business users will find it convenient to manage their accounts from an online control panel. There are a wide range of features that can be customized to the needs of any specific business. Some of the top features are:

• Advanced IVR: an interactive voice response system is a computer system that will greet callers and route them to the appropriate department or extension. Callers can navigate your customized menu by using their voice or keypad. This is one of the best features for businesses.
• Time-of-day routing: this is convenient for users that move around throughout the day because calls can be forwarded to different numbers at different times or on specific days of the week. This ensures that you have the opportunity to answer every call.
• Simultaneous ring: this will allow multiple numbers to ring at the same time when your virtual phone number is dialed. If you have an inbound call center with multiple representatives, you can configure the service so that the phone of each representative will ring.
• Call recording: can be utilized for training and quality assurance purposes. Configure the service so that all or a certain percentage of calls will be recorded. You can play the recordings back through the online control panel. Service providers will typically offer this feature at an additional cost.
• Voicemail: A voicemail ensures that important opportunities do not go unanswered. This feature lets you listen to messages from customers no matter where you are.

What to look for and what to avoid

Call forwarding service providers should never require you to sign a contract. It is also important that your provider does not require an initial payment or activation fees. We suggest you choose a service that you can cancel at any time.

In addition, the best call forwarding service providers will typically offer a free trial that lasts two weeks so that you can test out the full service, risk free. The free trial should let you try out the full service and not a partial version of the call forwarding service you desire.

Finally, it is important to evaluate the billing procedures and note when your account will be charged for the service. You don’t want to pay for a service that you aren’t using!

The local or toll free numbers and international call forwarding service should be usable within a few minutes of activating your account. You should have complete control over your account features and settings throughout the service, and the option to add/remove numbers at any time is convenient. We hope that this guide explained call forwarding and that it will allow you to pick a call forwarding service that is right for your business.

The post GCF’s Guide to Call Forwarding appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

Learn how these numbers work and what benefits they offer your business and customers by reading on.

How Toll-Free Numbers Work

Businesses contact telecommunication business—like GlobalCallForwarding.com—to set up a toll free number. They purchase that number and all calls are forwarded to either a call center or some other direct number of their choosing. The charges incurred by using the number are passed on to the owner of the number being called, who pays a per-minute rate, never the party who makes the call.

Phone numbers are assigned by “Responsible Organizations” who have access to the SMS/800 database. Some numbers may be available for customization, also known as vanity numbers, but all others are strictly first come first serve.

Toll free numbers are available on an international level, and may be used to connect businesses with customers around the globe. The process works by forwarding calls to a specific phone number. This is typically done with a phone management software system. The goal is to seamlessly transfer phone calls to the phone number of choice without interruption or delay.

Phone calls can be made or transferred to landlines, mobile phones, and in some cases even fax machines. Providing toll free calling for customers is a responsibility most business owners recognize, which is why toll free numbers are so widely used.

Brief History of Toll Free Numbers

AT&T was the first company to own and use toll-free numbers. That was all the way back in 1967, and the first number had a prefix of 800, which is part of the reason why “1-800”is the most well-known of all the toll-free numbers. Before the inception of toll free numbers, customers were forced to call collect which came with hefty fees. Today, millions of toll free calls are made each and every day around the globe.

Benefits of Toll Free Numbers for Customers & Businesses

We’ve briefly covered how toll free numbers save customers big-time on call costs, but we haven’t explored what other ways businesses and consumers win big by using them.

For starters, 1-800 numbers and their brethren, have ‘name’ recognition—or number recognition if you will. Customers know as soon as they see commonly used prefixes that their call will be fee-free. They don’t think twice about giving a business a call because they’re confident they won’t be charged ridiculous rates.

Businesses, despite being the charged party, greatly benefit from using toll free numbers. While vanity-numbers (numbers that are brand specific i.e., 1-800-FLOWERS) are easy to remember, plain 888,855,877 numbers also build credibility for businesses. Even the smallest of businesses can benefit from having a set number. Corporations and established businesses are recognized for having a toll free number, so by default all businesses who use them look more responsible and credible.

Toll free also helps your business stand out, especially if you are just getting started. If you have your sights set on global dominance, 1-800 numbers provide direct access to your business, and customers don’t think twice about calling you.

Putting it All Together

Corporations and industry leaders use toll free numbers to establish themselves as credible, reliable, and trustworthy. Small businesses can do the same when they invest in toll free numbers. Customers benefit by free calls, and are more likely to select companies who care about customer service. Without toll free numbers the business world would be completely different. Fortunately, this service is available anywhere in the world, all thanks to global call forwarding technology.

The post What Does It Mean When It Says Toll Free? appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

Technology has changed the way we communicate, but the core essence has remained intact—we want to know how we got where we are.

This is never truer than it is in business.

Companies develop entire marketing plans around the movements of their customers. Of course, they have to map these movements to ensure their strategy is working. That’s where customer journey mapping can help.

This somewhat complicated but nevertheless powerful process, can map out precisely where your business is excelling, and where it could use assistance.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at what customer journey mapping is and how and why you should use it.

More than Data

The vast majority of organizations don’t struggle to gather data. What they do struggle with is understanding the frustrations and personal experiences of their customers.

Customer journey mapping prevents good data from going to waste while improving what that data reveals. It creates a framework that enables organizations to provide a better customer experience. It does this by documenting the customer experience from start to finish and shows you where potential improvement can be made.

For example, if you own a coffee shop you’d want to know what brought the customer in (i.e. Stage 1). Did they see an ad on Facebook? Did a friend tell them about your shop? Next, you’d want to know who helped them, who they had contact with, and how that exchange went. Was it pleasant? Finally, you’ll want to know what they thought of your product (the coffee) and whether or not they’d come back.

In this scenario, all unfiltered data would be able to show is what the customer bought and how much they paid—that’s about it.

As you can see, using real-time information supplied by customers goes way beyond what surface level data could ever hope to.

Customer journey mapping does this all with the help of visual aids.

Most maps are laid out in an infographic for easier digestion. Dimensions including touch points, goals, and customer feedback are priceless to create an accurate customer journey map.

Improves Marketing

The goal for any organization using customer journey mapping is to isolate the customer’s perceptions and then use that information to create a strategic and successful plan moving forward.

Understanding how your customers interact with your products also reveals new ways to improve your marketing efforts.

An excellent customer journey map captures your customer’s experience in relation to their needs and expectations. It helps you figure out how you stack up and exposes where gaping holes are in your strategy.

Essentially, they provide profound insight and create actionable steps for your organization. They show positive and negative interactions and help you replace those negative customer experiences with more of the positive ones.

Tips for Creating Customer Journey Maps

Customer journey mapping should focus on building valuable insights and putting them in quantifiable maps. Here are a few tips to help you do that.

Tip #1:  Incorporate Customer Satisfaction Measures

Tip #2: Decide on the behavioral stages and develop data based on each stage.

Tip #3: Customize the journey map to your audience (stakeholders might want different information than marketing departments, etc.).

Tip #4: Isolate your customers’ goals.

Tip #5: Identify key touch-points (where do customers interact directly with your company?).

Tip #6: Get specific. Interact with your customers, survey them, and find out precisely when and how they get in touch with your business.

Using Customer Journey Mapping to Move Forward

Non-linear data, like that you’ll find in a customer journey map, is indispensable for connecting your team. Understanding how your customers are interacting with your products, service, or business strengthens your team to take actionable steps moving forward. It gives you the knowledge you need to expand and improve upon what you already offer, and improves customer experience.

Clearly defining your audience, gaining greater insight into the customer lifecycle, and combining this knowledge with the talent on your team leads to greater business success.

No company—no matter how established it may be—can get away without exploring customer journey mapping. It holds the key for growth, customer satisfaction and long-term success.

Determine how customers’ behavior is influencing your bottom line, whether they prefer mobile ads over in-person advertisement, and learn what steps you can take to improve your marketing and brand presence by exploring customer journey mapping. You may be surprised at what you find.

The post What is Customer Journey Mapping appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

Mobile phone technology has progressed significantly since ‘cell phones’ were first invented. The first modern portable handset was invented by Dr. Martin Cooper in 1973. Motorola sought to build a personal telephone that belonged to an individual rather than a home or a desk.

1973 – 1980s – 1G

Dr. Cooper was an engineer and general manager at Motorola at the time he invented the cell phone. The prototype developed by Dr. Cooper weighed almost two and a half pounds and was larger than today’s office phones. In 1973, he placed the first call from a portable phone – to a rival engineer at Bell Labs.

After Dr. Cooper’s revolutionary creation, it took nearly ten years for mobile phones to reach the market. Motorola rolled out the first commercial mobile phone in 1983, the DynaTAC 8000X, costing $3,995. The cost of Motorola’s first phone today would be $9600 after accounting for inflation! Mobile phone technology was relatively underdeveloped at the time, operating on an analogue cellular network.

1990s – Digital Cellular

Consistent with the rapid technological advancements of the 1990s, cellular phone technology improved exponentially. In the 1990s, a 2nd generation of mobile phone systems was created. Two systems vied for global supremacy: the U.S. developed CDMA standard and the European developed GSM standard.

Along with the new ways of transmitting information, cellular phone technology was advancing. Smaller batteries and improved energy-efficiency devices enabled companies to create smaller cell phones. While the brick-sized Motorola DynaTAC 8000 weighed 28 ounces, newer phones in the 90s weighed between 3.5 and 7 ounces.

The 2^nd generation of phone systems introduced text messaging and the ability to access web content from mobile phones. Custom ringtones were incredibly popular among mobile phone users. Of course, SMS/text messaging has been a huge success. ‘Texting’ is the preferred medium for communications among millennials. In addition, four out of five people use texting for business communications.

Nokia was a leader in the mobile phone industry during the 1990s. Nokia launched an early mobile phone with vibrations, and later introduced ‘Snake’ to cell phone users.

The first full internet service on a cell phone was introduced in 1999. However, this internet access was different from accessing the mobile internet.

2000s – 3G/4G

During the 1990s, cell phone use started to become commonplace and the demand for cellular data increased. More people sought access to the internet from their mobile phones and people sought faster data speeds.

Engineers in the industry began developing ‘Mobile Broadband’ to satisfy mobile phone users. 2G technology utilized circuit switching for data transmission. The major change from 2G to 3G was the use of packet switching to replace circuit switching. It wasn’t until 3G technologies that mobile phone users could access the mobile internet.

In 2007, Apple rolled out the first iPhone in the United States. The iPhone was a revolutionary device with full internet access, a touch screen and all the functions of a traditional camera phone and mp3 player. Apple has continued to make improvements to the iPhone and there are now more than 100 million iPhone in the United States.

By 2009, engineers began developing a 4^th generation of technology to accommodate bandwidth consuming applications like streaming media. The 4^th generation is called Native IP Networks.

Cell Phones Today

Like most electronics, improvements in mobile phone technology came about exponentially. Today’s cell phones have capabilities that are likely beyond the imagination of Dr. Martin Cooper. There are almost as many cell-phone subscriptions as there are people on this earth. The advancement of mobile phone technology is bound to continue in future years. What innovations would you most like to see in coming years?

The post The History of Mobile Phones appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

A virtual phone number is a local or toll free number that is not directly associated with a telephone line. It doesn’t look any different from a regular phone number and it is dialed the exact same way. Virtual numbers are typically used with a call forwarding service so that callers do not incur long distance charges.

If you don’t already use virtual phone numbers, you should start taking advantage of this great marketing tool. Hopefully this blog gives you the information you need to unlock the true potential of your business with a call forwarding service.

What are the benefits of owning a virtual phone number?

A virtual phone number is a cost-effective way to make your business more accessible and more scalable from anywhere in the world. When you get a virtual number, you take strides towards realizing the true potential of the business.

The main reason to own a virtual phone number is to make your business more accessible. When you have a virtual number in the same country as your clients, it will cost them nothing to call you. This will make existing clients more comfortable and will encourage prospective customers to call your business.

International growth is another major benefit associated with virtual phone numbers. Virtual numbers enable you to operate remotely because they are not tied to any landline. A business can buy a virtual phone number in almost any market while still operating from its headquarters.

Establish a virtual presence for your brand

Most scalable businesses will understand that their target markets are not confined to any particular region. Rather, its employees are constantly seeking out growth opportunities in different countries. A virtual phone number enables you to establish a virtual presence in any potential market.

Establishing a virtual presence does wonders for your brand. People around the globe will become familiar with your company and the services you provide when you advertise in new regions.

Branding is a valuable marketing component and a professional image can propel the success of a business. A known brand can build incredible value for companies and corporations. One of the most effective branding tools is a virtual phone number.

Cheaper than opening a new physical office

There are several issues that need to be considered before opening a new office. One important factor is performing market research focused on the proposed new location. This means identifying new target markets, measuring demand and measuring competition. Ideally, your market research will include test marketing, according to Entrepreneur.com.

Another important factor to consider is funding for the new location. There are many expenses associated with opening a physical office in a new country. You will need to pay rent, hire employees and cover additional operating expenses. Further, there are accounting and foreign exchange issues to consider.

Before opening a new office, it is important to consider all appropriate growth alternatives.

Operate remotely – from anywhere in the world

There are countless business opportunities that exist globally. Luckily, virtual phone numbers are offered in more than 120 countries around the world. This means that you can seize any opportunity no matter where you are located.

We provide local and toll free virtual numbers in over 120 countries and in thousands of cities. Entrepreneurs should take advantage of this great marketing tool and start growing their business today!

The post What is a Virtual Phone Number? appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

What is an 800 number? How can owning a toll free number help my business? If you own a web business, you have probably asked yourself these questions before. Maybe you have already done a Google search about toll free numbers.

If you already searched the web for information, you probably realized that the benefits of owning a toll free number are pretty obvious. For those who are unfamiliar, we will explain.

For one, callers can reach a toll free number without being charged for the call. Rather, the toll free subscriber, or the owner of the toll free number, pays for the call. This presents a major benefit because customers are 40% more likely to call a business if the phone call is free.

Owning a toll free number also just makes your business appear more professional. Imagine a business that advertises a professional and corporate 800 number, and then compare it to a business that uses the owner’s cell phone. The company with the toll free number is probably more likely to get your business. Simply put, owning a toll free number is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your brand.

What is the difference between the 3-digit codes?

A toll free number will begin with one of the following three-digit codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855 or 844. The six formats are essentially the same, aside from a slightly different appearance. They all cost the same.

One simple explanation compares the different toll free codes to website domains. The company says that 800 is essentially .com, 888 is .net, and 866 and 877 are like .info and .biz. Each number is still a toll free phone number – it’s simply a matter of preference when deciding which three-digit code to buy.

Why is there more than one code?

Businesses have been using 800 numbers for almost 50 years. The 1-800 numbers first originated in 1967 and were used primarily by hotels and rental car agencies.

Hotels and rental car agencies both take reservations from across the country. They also used to do a lot of business over the phone, before the internet was invented. It was important that customers could reach these businesses for free.

However, the market for 800 numbers became saturated as more and more businesses starting using toll free numbers. There was eventually a need for more prefixes.

To satisfy the demand, 888 numbers were created in 1996. 877 numbers were created in 1998 and 866 numbers in 1999. In 2010, 855 numbers debuted and most recently, the 844 number was created.

Which prefix should I choose?

The prefix that you choose depends somewhat on your advertising strategy. 800 numbers are more popular on common advertising media like TV, placards and radio. Business analysts consider traditional 800 numbers to be a sound decision. However, if the 800 number that you would like is taken, the decision to buy 888, 866, 855, etc. will not make a big difference.

Resp-Orgs and the FCC

Toll free numbers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis by entities known as “Responsible Organizations,” according to the FCC. The FCC regulates the way toll free numbers can be used or obtained. The biggest advantage for consumers is portability – this means that a toll free user can “port” his number to a new provider when he changes providers.

Portability becomes especially useful when you have owned an 800 number for a long time. It eliminates the need to advertise a new number to clients. In addition, you might have a vanity phone number that is perfect for your business. You will be able to keep your toll free number – whether it is 800, 888, 866, etc.

Toll Free Warehousing

The FCC’s rules prohibit toll free service providers from warehousing, or hoarding, toll free numbers. This means that a provider cannot legally reserve a number without having a subscriber in place. The FCC regulates this activity to ensure that a fair supply of toll free numbers is available.

The post The Difference Between 800, 866, 877 and 855 Numbers appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

Many successful businesses today subscribe to a toll-free number service. A toll free number allows callers to reach an individual or business without needing to pay for the call. Businesses will often advertise their toll free numbers as a free way of calling, because the toll free subscriber pays for the call.

Before the existence of toll free numbers, the only way to call long-distance for “free” was to place a collect call. Some people still place collect calls from a payphone or a prison phone, but collect calling is now almost extinct.

Manual toll-free systems

Collect calling was the first real means of reverse charging phone calls. In a collect call, the calling party would place a call to the operator (press ‘0’) and ask the operator to reverse charge the call. Next, the operator would manually dial the other party, provide the caller’s name, and ask if the called party accepted the call and the call’s fee.

It was still impossible to call another country at this time!

Many telephone companies provided this manual version of free calling. However, the process of reverse charging thousands of phone calls was taxing on the phone company’s’ staff.

InWATS

AT&T rolled out a new service called InWATS as an alternative to operator-assisted collect calling in 1966. InWATS was primitive, lacking the complex routing features provided by modern toll-free services and collecting no call detail records.

800 numbers were little more than a novelty. Some companies owned toll free numbers, but AT&T had a monopoly and charged a premium for the service. Customers were required to sign up for a fixed-rate bulk service that required special trunks. The service was suited to large volume users.

It wasn’t until competitors entered the game that toll free numbers for business became commonplace.

End of a monopoly

A federal judge ordered the monopoly formerly known as “Ma Bell” to split into over 12 different regional companies in 1984. Competition caused rates to drop, and 800 numbers became more affordable than ever.

Most businesses owned 800 numbers. So many numbers were in use that area codes were born.

Modern direct-dial systems

After the transition from a manual switching system to a computerized system in 1966, toll free calls could be routed based on instructions found in central databased. 800 calls could be directed anywhere.

Vanity numbers came into existence shortly after the dissolution of Ma Bell. Vanity phone numbers allowed users to choose their own phone number. Clever vanity numbers were created like 1-800-BUY-BEER.

Then a law passed that guaranteed number portability in 1994. This law ensured that a company could keep its vanity number or toll free number when changing providers.

800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 8-X-X?

The demand for toll free numbers skyrocketed in the 1990s, exceeding the supply of 800 numbers. To satisfy the market, 888 numbers were created in 1996. 877 and 866 numbers became available in 1998 and 1999. 855 debuted in 2010.

There is such a vast market for toll free numbers that new toll free prefixes have been created. Surely, the demand for the six prefixes will one day outpace the supply and a new prefix will be available as a toll free number.

Toll free numbers today

While the internet and email have drastically altered business communication, toll-free numbers for business are still very effective. A toll free number enables a business to project a professional image. In addition, toll free numbers allow customers to call the business for free.

Collect calling gave way to toll free services and long-distance communication was altered forever.

The post The History of Toll Free Numbers appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.

What does this mean for you?

Some brick and mortar organizations view this as a threat. Others, an exciting and cheap opportunity to boost sales and increase market share. Be the proactive businessperson and step out into the virtual world to bring forth your organization in the global arena. Here are some tips:

A User Friendly Website

The debate of the design vs. content has been raging for some time. As experts, Global Call Forwarding believes that there is no hard and fast rule that prefers one over the other. It simply cannot happen. A successful website is that which incorporates all the best features, including a professionally designed layout, well developed and credible content, and an intuitive, interactive interface. Make it simple. Remember, less is more. It takes an individual 5 seconds to decide if he likes the website or not.

Start Blogging! And Make It Good!

So, we’re back to content. What is your business about? One of the most effective ways to drive traffic toward your website is by maintaining high quality blogs. This also establishes credibility with customers and website viewers.

Social Media Marketing

This is where the world is at. Some of the world’s top brands heavily invest time and importance on creating and maintaining their social media image. This is where they promote discounts, special offers, contests, etc. It is basically a way to stay connected with followers and build a larger audience of customers and fans.

Create A Forum Where Customers Can Easily Access You

The difference between a good and great company often lies in their customer service support. This is why companies all around the world focus more on “customer retention” than gaining new customers. Creating and maintaining forums allows your customers to interact with you on an avenue that you can control.

The post Tips to Improve Online Customer Service appeared first on Global Call Forwarding Blog.