[david_green]

Hi all,

What is your experience with using various telephone mumbers in advertising?

If you use your own home number and mobile only, you may lose out on some nice work a little further afield.

On the other hand if you use several 0800 numbers for different areas diverted to your home, as I do, you get the problem of small jobs too far away to do a survey in advance. Also people seem to think that they will only be speaking to an agent. It seems a slight put off for people who are thinking of calling you.

Any observations from your experience appreciated.

David Green

[Perry]

Hi,

when I was starting I did a marketing research and read a lot of information.
Both types have its advantages and disadvantages, but at the end I've decided to go for a normal landline number. So far I am happy whit this number.
And if you do mostly residential jobs, than it is better, cause people know they are calling to a professionalist.

[Glynn]

Your standard land line no is sufficient.
If they want yop they will ring you.

[Steve Weatherley]

I wonder if the 0800 numbers are not called as much as the landlines. Personally I would rather call a local number and dont mind that it costs me 5p. But then thats only my opinion.
I have considered renting a phone number from the next telephone dialling code area and having all calls forwarded to my landline. This gives the customers the impression that you have more than one operator covering more than one area. Not to mention it generates more calls. Is there anybody else out there who does this?

[HolmansUKLTD]

i advertise with my local number and freephone number bot are diverted to my mobile i dont advertise my mobile number.

Nick

[eco freindly. peoples champion ron .sherlock]

50-50 mobile -landline. seldom hear the mobile ring when working but get messages left. 0800 numbers ive heard are very sucessfull

[michelle warren]

Some of my business clients use an 07000 number (not sure how they obtained it). Due to the nature of their work they need to appeal to local and national customers. Hope this suggestion helps.
Michelle

[Art]

The thing with a 08 whatever number or something similar if u move offices or location u can transfer your number to any land line so therefore all advertising you've done through ads,leaflets,business cards etc. are still relevant to that number

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I use my standard tel no with Sheffield area code for my Sheffield customers to ring they know that I am local then I use 0800 numbers for surrounding areas as they normally would not ring a Sheffield number so 0800 hides my identity/address I then become 'may be' local - people like a local carpet cleaner!

Shaun

[Ian Gourlay]

I am able to divert BT to any phone.


Or do you mean you can change your divert while away from base.


I am thinking of having O800 number for a Virgin Mobile instead of having another Landline,

But I have not calculated ifsavings on Line rental will compensate  extra call costs.

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

Personally i would say that the 07074 looks like a mobile number and people will not want to phone it. I do not get any custies phoning my mobile.

Goron

[Art]

Hi red carpet i'd say 0845 numbers are the most cost affective for your customers and yourself. Firstly your customers pay only a flat local rate call to these numbers. Some of the others are tempting as the company you buy them from give you a percentage of the calls made to these as they are premium rates to call, but i think alot of people are aware of this and this might cost you calls coming in, so in my opinion a bit of a false economy. Hope this helps

[scott.]

I use a  0870....It doesnt cost me anything, and its a national call rate to the customer...havnt had any problems with people calling.