Vanity Numbers – What’s So Special About Them?

Vanity numbers are toll free numbers that spell out a word, i.e. 1-800-FLOWERS, or business name. So you may ask, what’s so special about this alphanumeric toll free number? Well, to be frank, there is a lot a vanity number can do for your business. The most appealing thing about a vanity number is its ability to directly “speak” to your consumers. It has been noted that vanity numbers respond better than a regular toll free, which is comprised of randomly generated numbers. Although both add credibility and positive orientation to a business, vanity numbers can do a little more than that.

Think about the toll free numbers you’ve used in the past. Can you remember any of them? I guarantee the ones you do remember incorporate the company name or the company’s benefit (i.e. 1-800-QUICKLOAN). In turn, these businesses advantage from instant recall. Another gain when using a vanity number for your business is word of mouth marketing and customer referrals—making it an extremely inexpensive, yet effective form of marketing for your company.

Furthermore, the benefits of a vanity number go beyond the recall and marketing aspects of a business. They also promote higher sales and traffic. Regardless of industry or the type of ad utilized, companies that use a vanity number almost always generate more sales than those without a toll free number included. And because a good vanity number is easy to remember, room for repeat or referred business is present.

Needless to say, not using a vanity number for your business puts you at a disadvantage because it’s very likely that competing companies are using them, and what is the chance that your number sticks out more than one that is easy to remember and clearly identifies a company’s benefit/service?