Business Phone Number

How to Get a Business Phone Number- A Complete Guide

Do you have a dedicated phone number for your business? The business phone number is one of the customers’ main contact points. But what exactly is a business phone number? How do you get one? Which business number should you go for? In this blog post, we will help you answer all these questions.

Using a personal phone number for a company as a business line can negatively impact a company’s professional image and make it difficult to separate work and personal communication. By getting a dedicated business phone number, companies can establish a professional image, streamline communication, and improve overall efficiency.

There are several options for getting a phone number for business, including using a virtual phone number service or getting a dedicated phone line from a traditional phone service provider. When understanding how to find out a business phone number, it’s essential to consider the location of your business and whether a local or toll-free number would be more appropriate.

For new and old businesses, effectively communicating your products’ highlights and selling points is imperative. Failure to do so can cost your business loyal customers and turn away potential leads. A proactive communication system can be a game-changer. And to start with, you need to get a business phone number.

What is a Business Phone Number?

A business phone number for the company refers to a dedicated contact number for your business. Separate from personal phone numbers, a business phone number caters specifically to business communications. It is meant for calling prospects or receiving calls from customers. Depending on your business requirements, you can opt for local, toll-free, or customized phone numbers.

When & Why Do You Need A Business Phone Number?

60% of customers prefer to contact businesses on the phone.

A business number is needed when a company wants to establish a professional image and improve its communication and organization. Setting up a business phone number helps establish credibility and professionalism and makes it easier for customers to reach you.

In addition, it is an essential tool for building and maintaining relationships with clients and partners. Whether you have a small business or an old, established one, a phone line will address all your needs for phone systems for small business.

Using a random phone number or personal cell phone number for business calls will definitely not cut it.

65% of consumers are more likely to answer calls from numbers identified as business numbers.

Not only is it important to get a dedicated business phone line. Selecting a business phone number that caters to your target customers is crucial. And to break it down for you, here are a few reasons why you need one:

1. Build Business Credibility

Business phone numbers add the same credibility to your business as professional email IDs do. A business caller ID leaves a good impression on potential customers.

Contrary to reality, customers believe that setting up a business phone system involves a good investment. Naturally, a business that can afford a business phone system is more reliable than one that does not.

If you have a phone number dedicated to business communications, you will have a better response rate and more loyal customers.

2. Establish a Local Business Presence

When setting up business phone numbers, it is important to consider the demographics of your target market. Customers are more likely to invest in a business that is easily accessible to them and has a local presence.

Phone numbers with local area codes can solve this purpose for you. Especially in the case of global corporations and MNCs, a local phone number can help remove any apprehensions that the customers may have.

Want to learn more about business phone numbers?

JustCall-Demo

3. Designated Business Hours

Another major benefit of getting separate phone numbers for your business communications is to allocate specific hours for business calls.

If you’re using your personal phone number for business calls, you will likely receive calls even after business hours. But, with a business phone number, you will have to answer customer calls only during the designated business hours.

4. Professional Voicemail

When you get a business number through a business phone system, you also get access to other special features. One such feature is the professional voicemail. For callers contacting you during out-of-business hours, the caller is sent to the voicemail box.

This way calls to your business phone will be directed to the voicemail box. So, even when you are unavailable, customers can drop voicemails and be assured that their queries will be addressed.

5. Auto Attendant for Business Calls

With a business phone number, various functionalities catering to customer support come as a part of the package. The IVR or Interactive Voice Response System serves as 24X7 support for your business.

A well-designed IVR menu makes it easier for the customer to navigate to the relevant agent. With a simpler resolution of queries, customers return with a more satisfying experience.

6. Eliminate Security Issues

Using a personal phone number for business communication leaves you vulnerable to security issues. Phishing attacks through phone marketing can put you at risk of bank fraud.

But, if you have a business phone number, you don’t have to distribute your personal contact details on your website/business cards, etc. Moreover, it ensures that you will only receive calls from professional contacts.

7. Eliminate Confusion

Using a personal phone number as a business number can create confusion for customers and potential clients. It can also make it difficult for customers to reach you during work hours if you are not available.

It’s important to understand how to get a specific phone number for a business to maintain professionalism, ensure clear communication and make it easy for customers to reach you when needed.

Types of Business Phone Numbers

Securing a business phone number also involves deciding the type of business phone number (s) you will avail of. Businesses have the option to go for local numbers, toll-free numbers, virtual phone numbers, and mobile numbers.

1. Local Phone Numbers

  • Local phone numbers are business phone numbers that cater to a particular city or region.
  • The 3-digit area code of the corresponding state or region usually precedes the business numbers.
  • Customers tend to be more comfortable investing in a business that is easily reachable and accessible.
  • Local business phone numbers remove the need for setting up a physical store or office.
  • You can have a local business presence for your customers by getting a local business number preceded by the relevant area code.

Examples:

  • (212) 555-1212: This is a local phone number for the 212 area code, which covers parts of New York City.
  • (650) 555-1212: This is a local phone number for the 650 area code, which covers parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.

2. Toll-free Numbers

  • Phone numbers with 1-800, 888, 877, 866, 855, and 844 prefixes are toll-free numbers.
  • A toll-free number for your business will allow customers to make calls without charge. Instead, the business bears the cost for every incoming call.
  • These numbers contribute to your image as a reliable business that puts the customer’s needs and welfare first.
  • What’s more, toll-free numbers are easier to remember.

Examples:

  • 800-555-1212: This is a toll-free phone number that can be called for free from anywhere in the United States.
  • 888-555-1212: This is another toll-free phone number that can be called for free from anywhere in the United States.

3. Mobile Business Phone Numbers

  • You can also use mobile business phone numbers for your business calls. These are business phone numbers allotted to mobile devices.
  • You can make and receive calls from your mobile phone using a VoIP phone system.
  • Virtual business phone numbers are also popular amongst businesses.
  • Virtual phone numbers or direct inward dialing refers to phone numbers that do not require a directly connected business phone line.
  • You can make or receive phone calls from any device with a virtual phone number, including VoIP desk phones, cell phones, etc.
  • Virtual business phone numbers are also known as online phone numbers since they allow you to route calls to another phone number, IP address, or device.

Examples:

  • (347) 555-1212: This mobile phone number with the 347 area code covers parts of New York City.
  • (415) 555-1212: This mobile phone number with the 415 area code covers parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Additional Features of Business Phone Number

With the following features listed below, a business phone number opens doors for future growth opportunities for your business:

Appointment Scheduler

To make a solid first impression on prospective clients, what better way than to make your customer onboarding experience hassle-free? A business phone appointment scheduler makes not only the appointment booking experience a seamless one but also one that is beautifully and systematically designed.

Auto Dialer and Automation

Automate the time-taking processes like dialing numbers and waiting for your calls to be answered. A business phone requires you to upload your contact list while it automates the rest to connect you to your customer. It lets you take important notes while on call and sync them into your CRM.

Team Collaboration

Managing a big team can be a cumbersome task. You can manage teams of every size just as effectively with a business phone number. It allows you to coordinate efficiently by assigning phone numbers, lets you analyze call logs and recordings and helps you stay connected with your team on the go.

Website Click to Call Button

This feature allows you to benefit from your potential client’s positive first impression and turn him into your customer in just a click. A direct connection is established between you and your customer while they are still on your website.

Call Analytics

Business phone numbers often come with call analytics that can provide insights into call volume, caller demographics, and other metrics. This can help you better understand customer behavior and improve your communication strategies.

How to Get a Business Phone Number? [Easy Steps]

Learning how to get a business phone number on your cell phone can be challenging. Especially when you lack the knowledge of where you should start, which business phone providers are good, which features to look out for, and so on. But we’re breaking it all down for you with the help of these steps:

1. Get a Business Phone System

The best pathway to obtaining a business phone number is through a business phone system. While you can avail of a separate phone number from your existing phone service provider, it may not provide the features a business phone system comes with. It is crucial to keep your use case and the business phone cost in mind when selecting a provider.

A traditional fixed phone line does not serve the purpose fully. A cloud-based business phone system powered by VoIP is a more flexible and reliable option. A cloud phone system allows you to deliver and receive calls over the internet. Meanwhile, legacy phone systems bound by copper wires are redundant today.

JustCall is a cloud telephony solution that offers local and toll-free numbers in more than 70 countries. You can also access this virtual business phone system from nearly any device, including mobile phones, laptops, desktops, etc.

2. Obtain a Business Phone System Subscription

If you have selected JustCall as your phone service for businesses, you will have to sign up and purchase a subscription plan. You can select from the standard, premium, and enterprise plans. One local business number for every user comes as a part of each plan, with no extra cost.

So, you get one free business phone number with each subscription plan. And here’s the best part! Each subscription plan allows you to access various business phone features for your sales and support needs. Even better, you can set up custom phone numbers for your business using JustCall.

3. Select a Business Phone Number

Once you have purchased a business phone number, you can log in to your JustCall account and access the dashboard. To set up your virtual phone number (s), head to the ‘phone numbers’ section from the menu bar on the left. After this, you need to click on ‘Add a number.’

Get-business-phone-number

Now, you will see a screen with elaborate options for a new business number. Here’s how you can get a custom business phone number from the JustCall dashboard:

  • Select a Country

Select the country for which you want the business phone number from the drop-down menu.

  • Choose the Type of Business Phone Number

Now, pick the type of phone number (s) you want to obtain. Here, you can pick a local number, toll-free number, or mobile number for your business.

  • Filter by Business Phone Capabilities

At this point, you can also select which capabilities you’d want to avail, including calls, SMS, MMS, and fax.

  • Advanced Search Options

business-phone-number

Once you have selected it, you will see a list of phone number options. From here, you can make your pick and select a phone number. In this way, you can get custom phone numbers for your business. And now, you’re all set to start using your business number.

Benefits of VoIP for Business Phone Numbers

VoIP phone software is the best bet whether you want a new business phone number or use your existing phone number. For starters, you can get a virtual phone number without any hassles. But, the real advantage is the range of features you gain access to, along with the business number.

If you are using JustCall for your business phone number, you can use the following features for all your business communication needs:

1. Business Numbers in 70+ Countries

With a VoIP phone system such as JustCall, you can get virtual phone numbers in over 70 countries. This allows you to set up your business and cater to customers from anywhere.

Even if your business is not physically located where your customers are, the virtual phone number with local area codes establishes your local business presence. In fact, with every subscription plan, you get one free virtual phone number.

2. Multi-Device Access

A business phone system powered by the internet allows you to make and receive calls from multiple devices. It removes restrictions associated with fixed phone lines for small business and also reduces hardware costs. All you need is a laptop, cell phone, desk phone, or desktop.

VoIP phone, in this sense, is ideal for remote and on-premise operations. But, most of all, it is a more flexible arrangement and ensures business continuity.

3. Automated Dialing

Most VoIP phone systems come with an autodialer. The auto dialer automates the dialing process and removes the need to dial each customer manually.

A more sophisticated version of the feature, the predictive dialer dials multiple numbers simultaneously, eliminating all the unanswered numbers it comes across.

4. Multi-level IVR Menu

The IVR menu acts as a 24X7 auto attendant for incoming calls. Customers can easily punch the digits that take them to the relevant agent. This way, every query gets resolved quicker, and customers return satisfied.

5. Bulk SMS/MMS

A VoIP phone system such as JustCall is not restricted to calling. It also covers SMS and MMS capabilities. You can also run bulk SMS and MMS campaigns for sales promotions and lead-generation programs.

6. Call Monitoring and Analytics Dashboard

You can improve agents’ capabilities by tapping into call monitoring and analytics. Real-time call monitoring enables managers to listen and join agents during live calls with customers.

Meanwhile, you can always listen to call recordings and keep an eye on other call center metrics and KPIs on the analytics dashboard.

7. CRM and Business Tool Integrations

Your daily calling activities cannot happen in isolation from other business tools. You need CRM and other business tools to carry out all your operations. Swapping between third-party business tools and your phone system is very time-consuming.

Business Phone-CRM integration and other integrations sync all the information between the different tools. This removes the need for agents to go back and forth between the phone system and business tools.

If you already have a business number, you can trust JustCall to port your number without disrupting business communications and leverage all these features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a business phone number is a vital tool to establish a professional image and make it easier for customers to reach you. It also offers a wide range of features that can help to improve communication and streamline operations.

Carefully research your options and consider the essential features, and you’ll be well on setting up a business phone number that will help you stay connected and productive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a business phone number?

Getting a business phone system is very simple. To answer the question of how you get a business phone number, you first need a business phone system. A VoIP phone system is the best choice since it allows you to operate on multiple devices, including mobile phones, desk phones, laptops, and desktops.

You will have to purchase a subscription to a business phone system and then avail local phone numbers, toll-free numbers, or cell phone numbers for your team.

What's a business phone number?

A business phone number is a dedicated contact number for all your business communications. Unlike personal phone numbers, these numbers are meant solely to carry out and receive business calls. A business phone line helps establish a local business presence and puts security issues associated with personal phone numbers at bay.

What is a virtual phone number?

Virtual phone numbers or direct inward dialing refers to phone numbers that do not require a directly connected business phone line. This means you can place and receive calls from anywhere and using any device without being bound by fixed phone lines.

Does my online business need a business phone number?

Every business, big or small, should use a dedicated business phone line. Online business owners should have a business contact number on the website.

When contacting businesses for queries or complaints, the phone continues to be the most preferred medium. Phone numbers with local area codes build a local business presence and make it easier for customers to contact you for their queries.

How do I get an 800 number for my business?

An 800 number is a toll-free number. To get an 800 number for your business, you need to get a subscription with a business phone system. JustCall, for instance, offers 800 numbers, 888 numbers, and various other toll-free numbers.

Can you create a custom phone number?

Yes, you can create custom phone numbers for your business. For this, you need to invest in a reliable business phone system that allows you to pick from toll-free and local numbers with area codes of specific regions.

Looking to get a local/toll-free number for your business? Book a demo with our team to learn how you can get a business phone number!

Sandy leads the US Sales team at JustCall and he has been integral in growing JustCall’s ARR by 5X while bootstrapped. He is a big believer in using tech to enable sales and is the first person to try out every new feature in the JustCall stack. While he’s not writing high performance email cadences for his team, he dabbles in blogging about Sales Strategy, Sales Tech and Sales Training.

How useful was this post?

5/5

-

( 4 votes)

Learn from our videos