Second attempt at sending a reply on this one. For some reason having typed my reply and "posting" it, it never appeared.
Why, oh why is it that that sort of problem only occurs when you have typed a long reply? And that gives me another idea for a new thread.
Anyway back to the question.
My number has always given me good coverage of replies from all over Stockport area(South east Manchester). I've always covered all of south Manchester including Altrincham area (south west Manchester).
Decided to get an Altrincham number. BT wanted £104+vat per quarter to provide a virtual number and then charge for the cost of the diverted calls.
Had an idea and went to see one of my customers (from a previous life) in the Altrincham area and asked if I could put a telephone line into his office. Once installed I would never need to visit it and I pay him a straight £40 per annum (and still pay for the calls to be diverted). Arranging this with BT I asked for them for a golden number and was very pleased with the choice they gave me.
The only problem was it was one digit different to the local hospital switchboard number. Now picture the scene when my phone rings....
"Good Morning, Doctor Carpet, Roger speaking How may I help you?"
"Yes my GP has asked me to make an appointment with you"
"Well that's very kind of your GP to recommend I clean your carpets, but I don't think that is what you had in mind when you telephoned me!!"
(They hear the word "doctor" and they think they've got through to the hospital! Why a doctor should be answering the switchboard though is anybody's guess.
First year the return on this was £4000, second year £8000 and year 3 was £11000. It got complicated after that because a lot of work from that area became repeat and referrals but you can obviously see that it worked.
And yes it was in Yellow Pages!!
Some problems occur when customers from that area phone me up and ask my address as they wish to call round, but by explaining I am a mobile business usually solves that one. Secondly some custys are confused when I turn up and I have only a Stockport number on my van and not an Altrincham number. they think they have the wrong cleaner turning up. Usually deal with this once I have done the job and once they have expressed their pleasure at the job I explain the background to which they usually say something like "well I don't really care where you came from as you turned up on time and did the job you said you were going to do". And that surely is all we can ask of clients!
Roger