Choosing the type of virtual phone number that’s right for your local business can be a tough decision. A local virtual phone number gives you a neighborly feel and can help you earn trust with your local audience. A toll free number has the opposite advantage, giving your company the immediate appearance of a larger, more established business. So which one is right for you?
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits of each type of virtual phone number to help you make an informed choice.
Local Virtual Phone Numbers
The main feature (or drawback) of a local virtual phone number is that it betrays the size and scope of your business. To a potential customer, your local number is indistinguishable from a cell phone number until they call and hear your professional virtual phone system. The key is to know how and when that small size appearance is appropriate and beneficial.
In many types of business, the appearance of local presence is crucial to gaining new business. These verticals typically include areas of our lives where we place a large amount of trust in the companies we choose to work with, such as insurance, real estate, banking, legal counsel, and health care. These can also include areas where we want to feel like we’re giving back to our community, such as local retail shops or restaurants. We want to know that these companies aren’t big, faceless corporations and that there’s someone nearby that is working for us and shares our concerns and interests. In these cases, a local virtual phone number is better than a toll free number for establishing a lasting connection with a local community and its residents.
Toll Free Numbers
A toll free number immediately suggests to callers that you are an established and professional business, especially if you have an attractive 800 number or vanity toll free number. It implies a nationwide reach and the size, stability, and resources necessary to support that reach — even if reality is closer to a small local office of dedicated professionals or a savvy entrepreneur working from home. A toll free number helps your business stand with the pack against your larger competitors, getting your foot in the door so customers can see your unique qualities and value.
A toll free number also offers a scalable one-number solution. Your business might be tied to one area now, but what if you expand? With local numbers, every time you open an office or simply start doing business in a new city, you’re going to need to get another number for that area. And a new number could mean all-new marketing materials, such as fliers or business cards. Toll free numbers work nationwide, meaning you can scale your business up and expand anywhere across the country without needing to change one thing about how your customers reach you over the phone.
So Which Is It?
Ultimately, the decision comes down to perception. If there’s value to your business in being seen as smaller, more personal, and more in-touch with a local community, then a local virtual phone number is the right choice. If you’re up against larger competitors or have plans to expand, you’re better off with the professional image and scalability of a toll free number.
