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It was announced that towards the end of this year, the five NGN (Non-Geographic Number) ranges will be reduced to two.

1850, 1890 and 076 ranges are to be withdrawn, and the 1800 (Freephone) and 0818 (Standard Rate) ranges will remain.

Service providers in Ireland have now confirmed the dates on which they will discontinue 1850,1890 & 076 telephone number ranges.

  • Vodafone is disconnecting all 1890, 1850 & 076 services on the 31st of July 2021
  • BT is disconnecting all 1890, 1850 & 076 services on the 31st of October 2021
  • Eircom is disconnecting all 1890, 1850 & 076 services on the 31st of October 2021
  • Virgin Media is disconnecting all 1890, 1850 & 076 services on the 31st of October 2021

Kendlebell will now cease services to 1890, 1850 & 076 services on 31st October 2021.

In preparation for this, we are recommending any companies who are using these numbers switch to alternative numbers to 1850 and alternative numbers to 1890, as soon as possible

Kendlebell Kimmage is also the only provider offering our existing customers the option to put a message on their current number to redirect to their new numbers.

Any business or organisation with 1850, 1890 or 076 number listed on a website, on other marketing material, on a company vehicle, or even embedded in a device such as a monitored alarm system, will cease to operate according to the above dates. 

Once disconnected, if your customers or clients have the number saved in their CRM system, on a business card, or in their contact list, they will receive a ‘number unobtainable’ tone once the numbers are disconnected. 

At Kendlebell Kimmage, we can check if an equivalent 1800 number or 0818 number to an existing 1850 and 1890 number is available, and can also supply businesses and organisations with these updated numbers prior to the changeover.

Please get in touch with us as soon as you can.

Here is the process to moving to your new number:

    1. Carry Out an Audit – As soon as possible, carry out an audit of your business or organisation’s marketing material, brochures, signage, website, company vehicles and any devices such as alarm systems to see where your 1850, 1890 or 076 number is being used.
    2. Locate an Equivalent Number – Contact us at Kendlebell to check if there is an equivalent 1800 and 0818 number to your existing 1850 or 1890 number. Our call answering experts can advise on the best options for businesses and can supply new numbers.
    3. Activate a New Number – Take a new 1800 and/or 0818 number as soon as possible and activate it. All numbers will be enabled to run parallel with your existing 1850 and 1890 numbers until they are retired.
    4. Inform Those Affected – Contact your customers and important contacts to ensure they are aware of the number change and can update your contact number details in their CRM systems and in their contact lists.
    5. Update Website & Materials – Update all affected materials such as business/organisation website information, social media channels, Google My Business information, leaflets/handouts and business cards.

 

At the end of this year, the five NGN (Non-Geographic Number) ranges will be reduced to two. The 1850, 1890 and 076 ranges will be withdrawn, and the 1800 (Freephone) and 0818 (Standard Rate) ranges will remain.

This means that for any business or organisation with an 1850, 1890 or 076 number listed on a website, on other marketing material, on a company vehicle, or even embedded in a device such as a monitored alarm system, they will cease to operate at 12.01am on January 1st 2022.

1850, 1890 and 076 numbers are widely used in Ireland, with some of the country’s biggest organisations and businesses to be affected by the disconnect. Such companies include the HSE, Gas Networks Ireland, Vodafone, RTE Liveline, AIB, Irish Life Health, Energia and the Luas.

If your customers or other important contacts have the number saved in their CRM system, on a business card, or in their contact list, they will receive a ‘number unobtainable’ tone once the numbers are disconnected at the end of 2021.

It is recommended that the necessary changes are made to switch to a new number as soon as possible. Switching early will allow for enough time to inform customers of the contact number change, and to update any materials required, such as website information, leaflets/handouts, business cards etc. In addition, it allows callers to become familiar with the new number, ahead of existing numbers being withdrawn. Until January 1st 2022, parallel running of existing and new contact numbers will be facilitated.

Our experts at Kendlebell Kimmage have shared the five most important things to do if your business or organisation has an NGN number that will be disconnected at the end of 2021, prior to their withdrawal. 

 

Carry Out an Audit

As soon as possible, carry out an audit of your business or organisation’s marketing material, brochures, signage, website, company vehicles and any devices such as alarm systems to see where your 1850, 1890 or 076 number is being used.

Locate an Equivalent Number

Contact us at Kendlebell to check if there is an equivalent 1800 and 0818 number to your existing 1850 or 1890 number. Our call answering experts can advise on the best options for businesses and can supply new numbers.

Activate a New Number

Take a new 1800 and/or 0818 number as soon as possible and activate it. All numbers will be enabled to run parallel with your existing 1850 and 1890 numbers until they are retired. 

Inform Those Affected

Contact your customers and important contacts to ensure they are aware of the number change and can update your contact number details in their CRM systems and in their contact lists. 

Update Website & Materials

Update all affected materials such as business/organisation website information, social media channels, Google My Business information, leaflets/handouts and business cards. 

At Kendlebell Kimmage, we can check if an equivalent 1800 number or 0818 number to an existing 1850 and 1890 number is available, and can also supply businesses and organisations with these updated numbers prior to the changeover.

 

13 Years in Business

Our 13th birthday at Kendlebell Kimmage officially kicked off last month, and after over a decade of happiness and success, things continue to get better for us year on year. Firstly, we would like to thank all who have made the past 13 years possible. From our fantastic team, to our impressive and loyal list of clients, we have succeeded together with all of you.To celebrate our birthday, we reflect on how it all began and what has brought our company to where it is today. 

The Beginning 

What feels like a short 13 years ago, Kendlebell Kimmage came to fruition as a family business, set up by Gerry Delaney and Gobnait Collins. Gerry and Gobnait both originally came from accounting backgrounds and while running his own consultancy business in 2006, Gerry came across the Kendlebell franchise. The business model intersected well with his professional background and experience to date, leading the pair to shift their focus from accounting, to setting up their own Kendlebell franchise. This is where the Kendlebell Kimmage story began. 

The Kendlebell Team 

Launched in 2007 with a team of four, including two additional Personal Assistants (PA’s), the Kendlebell Kimmage wheels were in motion. Since then, the team has grown to the larger number of ten staff. Every PA knows our clients extremely well. That is the difference between Kendlebell Kimmage and other companies. Our team is in regular contact with all clients and knows which calls may be urgent to one client, and not to another. 

Aside from Gerry, our workforce is female dominated and all of the Kendlebell Kimmage team have developed great relationships with each other over the years. We have built a strong bond among our staff and have always welcomed new additions with open arms. Twice a year, we welcome international interns into the office from Florida, USA. The interns are mostly business and marketing students who are eager to gain experience in sales, accounting and analysis work. Given our office size, it is the perfect place for them to do so. There are many staff members that act as mentors and unlimited learning opportunities while with Kendlebell Kimmage. 

Business Growth 

When Gerry and Gobnait first launched Kendlebell Kimmage, the company operated on a much smaller scale than it does today. The company originally began working with clients who were situated within Dublin 6 and Dublin 12. Relationships were built based on geographical location and this was due to the way clients were reached. Communication began by the company sending out targeted mailshots to closeby prospects. Though jumping forward 13 years to 2020, we have come a long way from sending out direct postal communication. Geographical area no longer matters, as since 2007, all businesses now have an active online presence, enhancing our channels of communication. 

Client List 

While many call centres are renowned for being impersonal, at Kendlebell Kimmage, we pride ourselves on the personal service we offer to each and every one of our clients. Over the past 13 years, Gerry, Gobnait and the Kendlebell Kimmage team have worked closely with an impressive list of over 600 clients such as Siemens, Swim Ireland and Free Now. One of our clients has even been working with us for over a decade! We have been working with Andec Communications since 2008.  

As one of Ireland’s leading virtual office service providers, we realise how important a first impression is for every company, and thisis the reason our business has flourished the way it has since launching. Since 2007, we have been representing our clients in a professional manner taking inbound calls, making outbound calls, carrying out support services such as back end processing, providing localised numbers and even addresses. Our team possesses the communication skills, expertise and technology to provide the perfect answer for all clients we work with. As of 2020, we are proud to be currently working with 220 clients. 

June 2020 

Since 2007, the Kendlebell Kimmage team has worked in our office, with the exception of recent times due to COVID-19. All of our PAs are currently working from home, though this has not affected our ability to continue working with, and supporting our clients. In order to seamlessly set up the team working remotely, every employee was set up with the necessary hardware and software, one by one, before it became compulsory by law. Over the past 13 years, Gerry and Gobnait have always kept the best interest of their employees at the forefront of their minds and this is a huge reason why the team always strives for the best while working for Kendlebell Kimmage. 

The Future 

The question now is what do the next 13 years have in store for Gerry, Gobnait and the Kendlebell Kimmage team. Post COVID-19, we envision our brilliant workforce to once again return to the office. As always, our team will continue to grow where necessary and we will spend the next decade doing what we do best for all of our clients. We love what we do. From the whole Kendlebell Kimmage team, we would like to express a warm thank you to all who have made our journey possible. Here’s to the next 13 years. 

So, you’re trying to survive in the modern business world with all its digital requirements. Are you keeping up?

You’re probably looking for something that seems too good to be true: A quick fix.

Perhaps we have good news for you today. Having a Dublin registered virtual business address could solve more problems than you think; putting you one step ahead of your competition.

 

Advantages of a Virtual Business Address

Manage Your Privacy

The benefit of being a business owner today is that you’re not forced to rent a property. If you can operate from home, why drive to work?

But mixing business and personal space has its challenges. You don’t want clients knocking on your door after seeing your home address on a business document. It can place your family at risk of unwanted intruders or difficult clients.

So, only mention your virtual business address from now on. You simply register with a reputable company and they even help with some of your administration such as fielding calls & receiving your mail.

 

Make More Business Impact & Gain Credibility

Another reason you want to keep your home separate from business is you’re building your brand. Having a meeting in your lounge may send the message that you’re not serious.

Let’s be honest: Your address needs to make some impression on whoever you’re doing business with. Looks do matter and in business, it’s often about your location. So, building your brand’s reputation can get an impressive boost if other business leaders glance over your documentation and see you’re located in an area they respect themselves.

Also, host meetings at a virtual business office as many of these service providers can offer you a board room to hire for a few hours.

Investors may not think you really exist if you simply operate from home, so impress them with a prestigious address on your business card.

 

Save Money

It’s simple math: renting a boardroom on occasion and paying an entity for the privilege of using its address will always be cheaper than:

  • Hiring office space
  • Installing telephone lines and internet
  • Having a full-time secretary just to impress visitors
  • Paying for a business postal box

Use your money where your business really needs it.

 

Build Your Business at a Pace that Works for You

Here’s a great advantage, especially in today’s tumultuous economic times: You can grow at your own pace. Along with saving money by not renting a premises full time, you’re empowered to spend your capital the way you want.

Invest in enhancing your productivity instead of wasting it on getting your own posh address in the form of an office. Wait until you know your income streams can support it all before taking the leap of renting a building. A virtual address is more than enough for the time being.

Who Needs This?

Not sure if this is for you? Take a moment and think about how it can impact your current business plan:

  • You can start up a business in your garage to save capital while you grow.
  • Many jobs only require a computer and an internet connection so you can work from your bedroom. The right address will help give your business a professional front.

Conclusion

It’s a new way of doing business and one you can’t ignore. The modern business leader needs to use tech and services to his or her benefit for maximum impact in your industry.

 

 

Let’s face it when you own a small business, time is money but time is scarce. You have to become a jack of all trades and wear 100 different hats. Or do you? Thanks to recent advances in technology, there’s now an easy way to get more done in your day.

Far more affordable than full-time employees, who often look for healthcare subsidies and pension fund perks on top of their monthly salaries, a virtual receptionist can assist you with many of your daily tasks without even being in the office.

Having someone available on demand when you need them will allow you to get on with your real job… that of growing your business and ensuring its success.    


Here are five signs that you need a virtual receptionist in your life:

You’re not capturing leads

Your phone has eight new voice messages that you haven’t had time to listen to yet. There’s a networking event coming up but you’re so swamped at the office that you won’t be able to make it. You haven’t updated your social media pages or even responded to enquiries posted on your website for the last two weeks. It’s time for a virtual receptionist.



You’re spending more than you’re bringing in


You crunched your numbers and then crunched them again before starting your business. But now, no matter which way you spin it, you’re spending more than your business is making. Apart from the continually rising costs of rental space, lights and water, petrol prices have spiked and this has had a big impact on your running costs. Advertising is costing you dearly and you still have to pay staff salaries at the end of each month. Wouldn’t it be great if you could reduce at least one fixed expense significantly? It’s time for a virtual receptionist.



You’re falling behind your competitors


The numbers speak for themselves. Your business initially got off to a good start, but now you’re being left in the dust. You realise that you haven’t been prioritising innovation. There’s barely any time to think at all these days, with all the repetitive tasks you have to do, let alone think BIG or think out of the box. The daily grind is preventing you from getting your start-up to the next level. It’s time for a virtual receptionist.

You’re super stressed


Juggling so many tasks, day in and day out has started to affect your health and your mood. You’ve been tucking into fast food to save a little time each day and your trainers are lost and covered in dust at the back of your cupboard. You’re a little snappy with everyone at work and at home. And you can’t remember when last you had a good night’s sleep. It’s time for a Virtual receptionist.


You’re overwhelmed by admin


It’s 10:30 am and you haven’t finished checking your emails. There’s a pile of invoices and quotations on your desk that have to be finalised before the end of the day. It’s month-end and staff need to be paid. And you have a trip planned for next week but haven’t booked your flights or accommodation yet. It’s time for a virtual receptionist.

Kendlebell pride itself on offering one of Ireland’s leading outsourced Virtual Receptionist service. We are easily accessible call us today on 1800 848 666 and talk to a member of our staff.

Does your business need a receptionist? Someone, to field the calls, a gatekeeper, someone who understands what is important and what isn’t, and who can represent the company smartly and professionally and, perhaps most crucially, free up your time to work on the business? If so, you have two options. The first is an in-house receptionist, and the second is a virtual one. Which is best?

Initial Costs

Cost is a big consideration when you think about employing someone. The hiring process is an expensive one, no matter who you want to take on or what position needs filling. Plus, it takes time creating a job advert, posting it, checking replies and reading CVs, interviewing (maybe more than once).

A virtual reception company doesn’t require any time from you they are already experts at what they do, and there is no need for an interview. And the money it costs to set up outsourced customer service is minimal, especially when compared to the hiring process. If you want to save time, money, and stress, the virtual reception is your best option.

Ongoing Costs

Everything in business has some kind of ongoing cost, and your receptionist, whether in-house or virtual, is no different. Although we don’t presume to tell you what to pay someone, let’s assume that your in-house receptionist is earning somewhere in the region of €35,000 or so a year. Don’t forget that there will be paid holidays and sick days to think of too. Although you need a receptionist, that could be a high price to pay for many business owners, especially at the beginning of their business journey.

With a virtual receptionist, those costs are much reduced. Depending on the package you choose, it could be that you pay on a monthly fixed rate or maybe by the minute it will depend a lot on the company you choose as well as your budget. Factor in the realisation that there is no holiday or sick pay to add on, and you’ll see you will be saving thousands of euros every year, yet still getting a highly responsive, professional receptionist to help you.

Flexible

Hiring an in-house receptionist means that you need to pay them no matter what. If the business is slow, they need to be paid, for example. And if you’re extra busy you won’t be able to have them work overtime unless you pay them to. Unless you work to a specific contract that allows you to, you won’t be able to use their time flexible. With a virtual reception, you can. If you want to cut back one month, it’s easily done. Equally, if you’re busy you can increase your usage. Change it monthly. Change it weekly. Change it so that it works for you – that’s one of the main benefits of using a virtual receptionist.

Capture Leads

An in-house receptionist will spend most of their time answering calls and fielding queries, but they will also have other work to do such as admin duties around the office. What happens if they are away from their desk doing this work, or perhaps at lunch, or answering the door, receiving a package, on another phone call? The ringing phone goes unanswered, and a potential lead disappears to call the competition instead.

If you use a virtual reception there will be no missed calls; there is always somewhere there to answer the phone and take messages. You’ll be able to convert more leads and give off a more professional image resulting in more sales.

Although your first thought when you need a receptionist might be to hire someone to sit in your office to do the work, that might not be the best thing for your business or your budget. A virtual receptionist will do the same work for less money and with just as much professionalism.

Can one thing in your business be both a benefit and a disadvantage at once? If you’ve heard the incessant ringing of your office phones, you know it can.

Of course, you want increased interaction with your clients, service providers and consumers. But it adds to overworked receptionists’ and office workers’ workloads.

Is there a way to navigate this situation more effectively to benefit all?

Find the Cause (Good or Bad)

Firstly, you must research the nature of this spike in call rates:

  • When does this happen? Is it a constant influx or sporadic? This determines whether your solution will be permanent, temporary or occasional.
  • Are there mostly complaints or simply enquiries? You may be able to fix a problem with a product or service, which will bring an end to the high call volume.
  • What is the nature of the enquiries? This will help you find the most suitable solution. If it’s associated with a recent promotion it’s bound to return to normal, which means you only need a short-term solution.

Organize Additional Staff

Depending on these answers, you may have to provide your receptionist with additional help. If call volumes spike at certain times for instance after a weekend you can assign current employees to telephone duty during those periods. This is more cost-effective than hiring more personnel that will only have work at certain times of the week.

Minimum Time — Maximum Results

No matter your solution you need to make sure calls are kept as short as possible. Yes, you want to provide personal service to each caller, but you also need to manage time so you can answer as many calls as possible.

When you put these guidelines in place, each call will be handled effectively:

  • Ensure the employee who answers the phone knows enough about your business to answer basic questions, instead of asking for assistance from managers.
  • Make sure phone operators know exactly when and how to connect calls to superiors if necessary.

Use Call Answering Services

A handy alternative to using your own staff is to outsource this task to a company that provides call answering services. A professional, friendly human voice will answer each call and you have these benefits:

  • You don’t have to invest in more office space or telephone equipment.
  • No HR process to find the right candidate is necessary.
  • Other employees’ work won’t be affected.

How Can You Utilize Your Website?

While you analyze the reason for your calls you should consider utilizing modern technology to your advantage. If most of the calls relate to basic questions about your business it means people want to know about you, but they can’t find the facts.

In today’s market, your website is probably consumers’ first step in research. After all, internet usage increases by the day and most people are more likely to browse online than pick up the phone. But if they can’t find information on your site, they’ll contact you.

Can you improve your website to display more basic information that consumers are currently phoning you about?. This is also relevant when you launch promotions or new products. When you keep your website up to date a large percentage of your audience will have information on hand.

We all know phoned-in complaints can take longer than average calls. You can minimize them by adding a discussion, review or complaints feature to your website. Make sure you answer each one, and you’ll have fewer calls.

Your phone ringing off the hook can mean more sales and more happy clients, but to guarantee this you need to handle it like an expert. There’s no single right way, but you need to take action if you don’t want those calls to turn into complaints about your business’s customer service. These tools will help you make the best of a challenging situation.

Employees represent the business and company they work for every time they interact with a customer or are in the public eye. Knowing how best to present themselves and act can be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful relationship with a customer.

Successful interactions can secure repeat customers, while unsuccessful ones can lose customers. Often, unsuccessful exchanges occur because of a lack of awareness or training.

It is interesting in hearing more about what we mean about ‘unsuccessful exchanges’ and what you can do to avoid them? The following are 7 deadly sins of customer service;

 1.  Impersonal Service

Treating customers impersonally is bound to lose their interest and loyalty. Not knowing customers’ names when interacting online or on the phone can be viewed as impersonal, especially with the rise of customer profiles and other data sources this information can be taken from. In person, it can be a good idea to ask for and use a customer’s name during an exchange, especially when trying to make a sale.

2. Language Choice

Using language that customers may not typically use or understand can alienate them and make them feel patronised. This includes industry jargon and acronyms as well as anything else that might not be familiar to the customer. Instead, paying attention to customers and matching them can make them feel welcome and recognised.

3. Moving Too Fast

Another impersonal way of interacting with customers is to dive straight into questioning them for their information, like account numbers and phone numbers. Slow down and say something friendly first.

4. Poorly Handled Complaints

When a customer buys a product or service, they also need to feel they can get support should anything be faulty or not up to standards. Customers expect an easy way to submit complaints and for complaints to be handled quickly and efficiently. Not providing this can persuade customers to go to a competitor instead.

5. Overcomplicating

Customers can feel overwhelmed when told to look at a website for information they need, recontact the business by phone or email, or fill out paperwork. Sometimes these things are required, but in most instances, the best course of action is to walk the customer through the process. They’ll appreciate it more than having to figure everything out themselves and will be more likely to make a purchase.

6. Disinterest

Lacking the initiative to respond to customers’ questions and issues with care and support can turn customers off buying a product or service. Customers like to be heard and acknowledged, as is the case in any relationship. The key is to engage and be friendly while providing the necessary information and how it will help the customer.

7. Lack of Training

When an employee isn’t properly trained, they cannot perform their job to the best of their ability and may not be able to help customers as needed. Ensuring that all employees have all the tools, technology, and information they need can make a huge difference.

Acknowledging your customers and making them feel appreciated and recognised can ensure their continued loyalty. Outsourced customer service can help with this, providing a wide range of services from telephone services and administration to order taking, so you can get on with other aspects of your business.

Regardless of whether you are a start-up business set to change the world with your revolutionary new technology, or you are the owner of a well-established company seeking to push the boundaries of your global presence outward, here at Kendlebell we believe that Ireland’s capital city, Dublin, must be on your list of potential places to set-up.

Its wonderfully welcoming people and world-renowned hospitality aside, there are many more reasons to choose Dublin as a hub for your business ambitions, so let’s talk about a few of them:

Taxation

The bottom line for your business will always come first. As such, when you are choosing an international location, finding the best taxation regime that affords you the flexibility required to make your venture a success is vital. Those based in Dublin can take advantage of Ireland’s highly attractive corporation tax rate of 12.5%.

With an excellent intellectual property (IP) regime, a 25% Research and development tax credit and an effective zero tax rate for foreign dividends also in place, Ireland’s incredible recovery and the ability for companies to thrive again in the wake of the recession makes a lot of sense.

What’s more, with 50% of the world’s top banks as well as 250 global financial institutions and 10 of the world’s top 20 insurance companies all based in the capital, confidence in the ability to access the best financial strategic minds and banking systems should be very high.

A Gateway to the Whole World

Dublin Airport is just one of four international airports in Ireland and offers an extensive number of routes into Europe and beyond.

With a comprehensive number of flights serving the United States every day and US Pre-Clearance facilities in Dublin, convenience is king for those that regularly make the trip across the Atlantic. Furthermore, additional flights have been added in 2018 to make Canada an even more accessible location, and direct flights are also now available from Dublin to Hong Kong.

Workforce

Ireland is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the quality of its education system. With an increasing number of technology graduates in the past few years, it makes sense that 9 of the world’s top 10 technology companies have chosen to set up shop in the capital city.

Business owners can also take confidence in the fact that there is an increasingly diverse talent pool. With many nationalities choosing Dublin as their preferred destination for work, those hoping to access a workforce with considerable flexibility in terms of languages will find highly-skilled professionals from across the globe working in Dublin. And, as Brexit nears, Ireland is now the only native English-speaking country in the entire Eurozone.

Those considering Dublin should take faith in the fact that 9 of the world’s top 10 technology companies, 9 of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies and 17 of the world’s top medical technology companies all choose Dublin as a European hub for their operations, which speaks to their ability to access a world-class workforce

Infrastructure

Dublin is currently undergoing major changes that will make the city more accessible to everyone that visits. With the government planning to implement the Bus Connects service that will increase the frequency of buses throughout the day, and combining this system with the existing Luas tram lines and DART/commuter train lines, travel within the city is set to become faster, more reliable and highly efficient.

Furthermore, the Dublin Bike scheme makes short trips around the city a breeze and with newer companies now bringing additional bike hire services to the market, those who wish to cut the carbon emissions will find their needs more than catered to.

A Great Place to Live and Work

Dublin is a city that can boast about and back up its claims as a truly exciting and fun place to work.

With a plethora of food, dining and social options at every turn of a corner, not to mention a thriving sporting culture, services for those that want to outsource some business tasks, and a spectacularly diverse and ground-breaking art scene, those that come to Dublin to work typically find it very difficult to leave.

What’s the purpose of having a dedicated virtual phone number for your business? When it comes to business phone numbers, having a virtual phone number holds a significant amount of value for your company – more than you might ever even consider.

The concept of using a virtual phone number – a phone number which uses VOIP telephony and call forwarding to divert it to another number – might be new to many SMEs in Ireland. However, a virtual business number is a very cost-effective option that can deliver a host of different benefits.

These include;

Gaining customer trust

Before they even contact you or purchase from you, potential customers will have analysed various signals of trust to decide if you’re a good vendor to buy from/hire. They may have read online reviews, asked friends for recommendations, reviewed your company page on social media or checked out your website.

Above all of these, there is one sometimes overlooked factor by businesses which can be a key decision-maker for customers – a phone number.

If a phone number isn’t provided or a home/personal mobile number is added as your business contact detail, it can deter the trust of your potential customers, as they may not see you as entirely credible or established.

Establish a presence in different areas/countries

If you are seeking to establish a business presence in a different county, state or even a different country, providing a local contact phone number for potential customers in that area is key.

Customers prefer to buy from or use local businesses so if you are using a foreign or non-local area code, this can be enough to sway them towards a different vendor.

Using virtual phone numbers with the area or country codes of the business areas you are targeting can help you to increase the likelihood of engagement from customers in that area. Even if you just have remote employees on the ground there, you can empower them to build a business in the area by providing a local virtual phone number.

Keep personal numbers private

Using your own mobile phone or home phone to accept calls requires actively publicising your private phone number. By switching to a virtual phone number, you can protect your personal number, even using the virtual phone number to show on the receiver’s call ID.

This will also prove a much more attractive option to employees who will undoubtedly be hesitant to have to provide their personal numbers to customers. A virtual phone number can also be a more cost-effective option than purchasing separate business phones for yourself and your employees.

Saving on international call costs

Making and accepting calls using a virtual international phone number is more cost-effective for you and your customers. Customers only incur the costs of phoning a local number while you can avail of low-cost rates as part of your virtual business number service.

You especially don’t want to place added expense on your customers or prospects simply because they want to contact you. Incurring additional costs to call a business can prove off-putting to potential customers.

SMS and Whatsapp Marketing

SMS and Whatsapp marketing and customer service lines is an incredibly effective ways for small businesses to reach and engage with their customers and vice versa. SMEs can facilitate SMS/Whatsapp contact numbers through the use of a virtual business phone number, opening up the channels through which customers can communicate. The greater the number of channels you make available to customers, the higher the engagement rate from customers and prospects.

Could a virtual phone number help your business? It’s a simple service but one that could go a long way towards growing your business, whether that is on a local, national or international scale.