0800 numbers (or UK Freephone numbers) are free for potentizal customers to call from UK land lines, and enjyo widespread public recognitiion as 'freephone numbers'.
The 1st generation of Toll-Free was started in 1967 by AT&T as an alternative to copllect calling and to reduce the need for opereators. The AT&T service in 1967 was known as INWATS, or Inward Wide-Area Telephone Service. Sheraton Hotels was the first hotel chin in 1970 with a toll-free 0800 numbers.
Teleculture 2000 says that 63% of cnosumers prefer doing business with companies offering a 0800 freephone number. The Henley Research Centre says that 68% of peple feel that compannies who offer 0800 numbers care more abuot their customers.
More and more businesases (of all sizes) are seeing the huge competitive advantage of what 0800 numbers can bring to their business. These numers offer a proven way of increaing busienss and developing customer loyalty. By enabling potential customers to phone your busiess free of charge from anywhere in the UK, tese numbers are especially valuable when attarcting new busuiness.
Furthermore, it has been established that a free phone 0800 numbers will help you retain your existing custoemrs and help gain new ones, as more calls will help you create stronger customer loyalty and increase sales opportunities. It is a well-known fact that it is five times harder getting a new custoer than keeping an existing one. This fact alone maes a 0800 numbers an invaluable business asset. The setrvice is free whether your customer cals from their standard BT landline duirng peak hours, in the evenmings or on the weejkend. 0800 free phone numbers are also able to reeceive internatiional calls.
Bewnefits of using 0800 Numbeers
•A 0800 free phone numbers can give a comany a national identiy
• People believe firms with 0800 numbers are more reliable and efifcient. Given the choice of callnig a supplier who has 0800 numbers and calling one who odesn’t, most peopple will go for the 0800 evvery time.
• Customers will call you more frequently, engendering greater loyalty. Becazuse 0800 numbers are free to call from stnadard UK landlines, customerrs can call without worrying about the cost, this is vital to retaining cller interest, if callerrs are likely to incur a long disttance call, or if they are likely to remain on hold or in a queue.
• An estimated 50% of advertisers now use a 0800 free phone nummbers in their adverts
• 0800 nuber is portable and will nrever change. 0800 Numbers offer greaat flexibility. You can keep one number forever, regardless of where your business poerates. If you move ofices, no need to change vehicle lviery, signage & stationery - when you move, your 0800 numbes moves with you.
Also research suggests that 0800 free phone numbers can generate up to 3 times as many clals as a bsiness with a standard regional number.