Tollfree Number

Automatic Rent Collection-Have Tenant Rent Zipped To Your Bank Account Each Month Automatically

2008-03-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a tenant not pay you on the first of the month when rent is due? Late on the first of the month, you call the tenant to express your concern and they tell you, "the check is in the mail"? Yeah right. Here we go again.

Tomorrow comes. No check. You call again. Still no check... "give it another day... I mailed it with plenty of time."

Maybe you're the lucky one who actually gets the rent on the fourth of fifth of the month (with a postmark for the first or second) and hope and pray that the check is good. Or, more likely, you are one the unlucky many who starts an eviction later than they should and never gets that rent.

Well, beyond some property management tips to help prevent that in the future, I can share with you something that I have been using that completely eliminates the "check is in the mail" excuse.

It's called automatic rent collection.

Here's how it works. When your tenant signs the lease, you give them two options:

1. Automatic rent collection free of charge or
2. Regular "mail me a check" rent collection with a manual processing fee for each payment

The overwhelming majority of tenants offered these choices will pick automatic rent collection.

With the company I use, ClearNow.com, the tenant fills out an enrollment form and attaches a voided check to the application and we submit it.

Then, each month, the rent is automatically drawn from their checking account and deposited right into my bank account.

What's great about it is that I can see very quickly whether rent was deposited and know that the amount is good (no bad checks).

I get an e-mail summary and can login to my bank account and/or my ClearNow account to check the status of any tenant's payment. If there was not enough money in the account, I can immediately start the eviction process and stop the process when payment is made. There is no room for, "my payment is in the mail"; it's either there or not.

So, stop the "check is in the mail" excuses for good and start collecting rent automatically.

James Orr is a professional real estate investor and marketing expert.

You can subscribe to his real estate e-newsletter and access audio downloads, articles, marketing materials and educational real estate videos at his website:

http://newsletter.jamesorr.com

Collection Call Strategies

2008-03-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

Creditors are starting to pick up on the fact that it does not pay to be a bully. Instead, collectors are looking for new strategies to try to obtain the money you owe. Many companies are training their employees to be positive and use language that is more effective. Though you may still be receiving collection calls, they might be more pleasant and possibly deceptive.

Regardless of how nice the person is on the phone, they still must operate within certain guidelines by law, specifically the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Even if they are not verbally harassing you, it may be considered harassment and thus illegal if they are calling several times an hour. Also, all collection calls are allowed only between 8 A.M. and 9 P.M. Certain states have rules about collection calls that may be more strict than this.

If you are being harassed by a collector, there are several steps you can take to get those calls to stop. First, send a ?cease and desist? request to the collector. You can also file a complaint with your state?s Attorney General as well as the local Better Business Bureau. A request for the verification of the debt is also in line and must be granted before they can continue to pursue the debt through collection calls. You are also able to let the creditor know what times and numbers are inconvenient for them to call.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about collection calls is the constant reminder of your debt. Talk to an accredited credit counselor to determine what steps you can take to handle your debt satisfactorily.

Even though many of the callers might have gotten nicer, the collection call still can be unpleasant. The best solution is to know your rights and properly care for your debt.

If you do encounter an unpleasant caller, remember that your rights against such treatment are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. They can sometimes be rude and get away with it, but it they cross the line by threatening unreasonable actions, you may have additional rights to pursue damages in court.

If you owe a debt, you should do what you can to pay it. It's the right thing to do. However, do not feel that you have to endure harassment from collection calls. If you need help, contact your nearest reputable credit counseling agency for assistance.

Ronnica Rothe graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Oklahoma. She is currently enrolled at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.

She is a regular contributor to educational information disseminated through Personal Financial Network. Related information can be found at http://www.managedebttoday.com/handling_collections.htm

Debt Relief - What You Should and Shouldn't Do When the Debt Collector Calls

2008-03-11T03:33:00.001-07:00

Having debt collectors calling is no fun. It's stressful and that stress seeps into all other aspects of your life. Unfortunately, avoiding those calls won't make the debt or the problem go away. If you're serious about debt relief you're going to have to talk to the debt collector? So what should and shouldn't you say?

Have you ever watched a detective show on television? Remember how people being questioned need to be careful because what they say can be used against them. This is true with debt collectors as well. Be very careful what you say to a debt collector. It can be used against you in the future.

Following up on number one, never share personal or financial information with a debt collector.

When talking to a debt collector, don't answer any questions you don't want to answer. You're under no obligation to answer his or her questions.

If you don't already have it, ask the debt collector to send everything to you in writing. This includes an itemized account of the original debt, plus all interest, fees and collection costs.

If you think the debt is wrong, dispute it. You won't get anywhere over the phone. Dispute it in writing. This needs to be sent to the debt collector no later than 30 days after they first contact you.

Remember, even though you owe a debt, you still have rights and there are things the debt collector can not do. This includes threatening you, being verbally abusive, or calling you repeatedly during one day or day after day. Take notes on this behavior. You may need it in the future.

Keep all these things in mind the next time you talk to a debt collector.

Learn more about how to use debt management tips with Freddie Johnson's free articles on debt relief, debt consolidation, debt management and credit repair tips at http://www.mydebtconsolidationtips.com

How to stop collection calls and other things

2008-03-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why a person may have fallen behind on there bills. Most of them are good honest reasons. But just because you fall behind in your bills doesn't mean you should be harassed, intimidated or even embarrassed by debt collectors

I would like to state that not all debt collectors are bad debt collectors. Most debt collectors are good people doing a tuff job. But that said there are many dishonest collection firms out there. And when you're in debt the last thing you want is to be hounded by unscrupulous people trying to get as much money out of you as they can. Any way they can.

Your best defense against dishonest collection firms is knowledge. As the saying goes knowledge is power. I my self have been the victim of Identity theft and have had to deal with a couple of unruly collection firms in my day. So this article talks about some of the things I learned along the way.

First off you should know that the law is on your side. That is the side of the consumer. Federal and state laws are written to protect you from collection scams, dishonest collection firms, protect your privacy and make sure you are treated decently.

Most likely the first question on your mind is how can I stop the phone calls. Yes, you can stop the phone calls. All you need to do to stop the phone calls is to send a letter to the collection firm asking them to stop. It is that simple. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act once a debt collector receives your letter they can not contact you except to say they will stop contacting you or to let you know they intend to take a specific action like a law suite. You should remember that just because they stop calling does not mean that the debt goes away. It's still there, they just stop calling.

Being in debt can be embarrassing. Most people are not eager to have there friends or family member know that they have fallen behind. In general state and federal laws prohibit debt collectors from talking to other people about your debt. In some cases a debt collector can contact other people but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. In general debt collectors are not allow to talk about your debt to other people except your lawyer or with your permission. Debt collectors are also prohibited from contacting you while you are at work if they know that you can't take calls at work.

The next thing I would like to talk about is harassment. Harassment is when a debt collector threatens you, uses obscene language or repeatedly uses the telephone to annoy you. All of these activities are illegal. In these cases it is best that you requested by letter that the agency stop contacting you. If they continue you should file a complete with your states attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission. Your states attorney generals office may even be able to direct you to an advocate who can help guide you through your situation.

Debt collectors are also prohibited from making false statements. A false statement can be when a collector represents or implies that they are attorneys or government representatives or falsely imply that you have committed a crime. A collector is also not allowed to tell you that they are sending you legal forms when they are not legal form or to tell you that forms or paper work are not legal forms when they are. Debt collectors can not tell you that you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt.

Ok so now you have some more knowledge. What can you do with it? First of all you can stop the annoying and sometimes harassing phone calls. You should also know that you can take action against the collection firm.

If you believe that a debt collection agency has violated the law the first thing you should do is to file a complete with your attorney generals office and the Federal Trade Commission. Second you should know that you have the right to sue a collection agency if they have violated that law. You have up to one year after the violation was made to file a law suite. If you win you can receive money for damages plus up to $1,000. You can also recover court costs and any attorney's fees. I am not a lawyer and you should always consult a lawyer before taking any legal action.

Now that you have some more knowledge I hope you will be able to better advocate for your self and help you deal unscrupulous collection firms.

If you would like more information on Credit law, Credit reports, Credit fraud or ways you can manage and get out of your debt you should visit Kissed by fire

Scottie Watts is a web publisher with knowledge in Credit law, Credit reports, and Credit fraud

How to Communicate Confidence When making Collection Calls for your Business

2008-03-08T02:09:00.000-08:00

It is essential to communicate confidence when you are speaking to past due customers or debtors. You must stay in control of the call and the only way to do this is by being confident and prepared.

Remember, everything you do represents your company. How you talk, collect money, send out invoices, and how you handle tough situations. Some tips I can share with you on how to appear more confident (even if your not!) when you make collection calls are:

? First impressions, come up with a greeting that says that you are happy, pleasant and confident. When your customer answers the phone and realizes you are calling about a past due invoice, they will not be happy. You must portray confidence, and not a dull boring message. Smile when you talk on the phone, it will be noticeable in your voice.

? Your voice should be loud enough to be heard and portray confidence, not to loud but not to soft. You want your debtor to hear you and understand what you are saying. Sit up straight in your chair and imagine the debtor is sitting across from you.

? Maintain "eye contact" by staying focused on the call. Don't check your email or watch the other people in your office. Stay focused!

? Relax! Sit up straight in your chair, don't play with paper clips or pens on your desk. Use your face, voice and posture to portray your confidence over the phone and in person.

If you put these techniques into effect you will collect more money and have better results from the collection calls you make. No one likes to make or recieve collection calls so take steps to ensure you make your calls in the most effective way the first time so you don't have to continue to make calls to people that you let get in control of the call! Good luck!

In addition to writing and marketing her books, Michelle was a member of The American Collectors Association for 9 years and shares valuable credit & debt information with business owners on her blog at http://www.BizCreditPolicy.com. Michelle is originally from RI and now lives in NH. Visit http://www.michelledunn.com and http://www.credit-and-collections.com for more information.

Stop Collection Calls!

2008-03-06T03:05:00.000-08:00

Are you sick of feeling harassed because you owe some company money that does not understand that putting food on the table is more important than paying them? Do you get sick of dodging phone calls when you don?t recognize the number on your caller ID?

Stop Collection Calls forever. I have been there and I know that it sucks to be constantly reminded of your debts. I hated it and it almost drove me off the edge. I tried caller ID and, also getting a new phone number all together. Somehow the collection agencies always found me.

I did not want to ruin my life by filing for bankruptcy, but it seemed like the only way to stop the harassment. Half way through my bankruptcy I found another solution. I learned that it truly is all about money.

The government is not there to help and the collection agencies just go on harassing and harassing until you either pay them or some other agency buys the debt and starts calling you. Did you know that most of the techniques used by collection agencies are illegal? How do they get away with it? Simple, the people they call have no idea what the laws are about calling to collect debts.

If we knew we would have them arrested and shut down. Plus they would not be calling us because we would have already told them that their calls were illegal and they needed to stop.

Are you sick of being harassed and feeling terrible because of collectors? Are you ready to take action? Go to the following website to learn more about stopping collection calls.

http://www.ready-repair-my-credit.com/collecions.htm

Dreamcatcher Studio's

2008-03-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

We just opened our Dreamcatcher Music Studio's In Rutherfordton, N.C. recording ( Steve Haynes ) Elton John look alike & ( Johnny Ray ) Elvis Presley look a like in our Studio. We are 24/96 recording at competitive rates, World Class recording at it's finest! We will appreciate your buisness and if given a chance we will take your music to the next level. Visit Our Website in caps: WWW.DREAMCATCHERSTUDIOS.ORG E-mail: dreamcatcherstudios2004@yahoo.com Our address is 121 North Street Rutherfordton, N.C. 28139 and # 1-(828)-287-9122.

Owners of The Dreamcatcher Music Studio's in Rutherfordton, N.C.

900 Number and Text Message Voting Decide Figure Skating Challenge

2008-03-04T03:41:00.001-08:00

Boston - If you don't like the new scoring system recently introduced into the world of figure skating, you could make up your own on Sunday and help choose the winner of the Marshall's Figure Skating Challenge.

Presented by ABC television, fans from all over the country were able to pick the winners during the first-ever live, interactive, fan voting during a nationally-televised ice skating event. Fans were able to vote via a 900 number, cell phone text message, or online voting at The US Figure Skating Association web site. The 900 number and cell phone text message costs were .75 per vote.

In addition, 2000 fans at Boston University's Agganis Arena were able to vote from their seats with a handheld device. But, the Marshall's Figure Skating Challenge did not totally abandon traditional judging. The ABC panel of experts--Peggy Fleming, Dick Button, and Peter Carruthers--were there to offer their expert commentary based on more than just who wore the cutest outfit.

In the men's preliminary, Michael Weiss thrilled the crowd with a back flip he dubbed a "tornado" and advanced to the championship round. Favorite Johnny Weir, whose 900 number message indicated a vote for him was a vote for the fact that he was "hot," also advanced to the final round. Interestingly, however, the panel did not agree with the public. It unanimously named Matt Savoie, a late replacement for the injured Evan Lysaceck, as the overall best. Savoie finished last in the public voting just behind third place Tim Goebel.

On the women's side, Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan advanced to the final round by easily outdistancing Alissa Czisny and Emily Hughes. The panel of judges voted Cohen the best, although she finished behind the veteran Kwan who was skating for the first time since a September injury sidelined her.

In the men's championship round skate-off, Weir overcame a fall in the first round to receive 64% of the vote over Weiss. For the ABC panel of experts, it was the only time that it agreed with the 900 number, text message, and internet voters who also gave Weir the title and $50,000 in prize money.

The ending of the show seemed similar to most of the women's figure skating competitions that we've witnessed over the past decade when Kwan has copped nine national titles. Kwan won the event, but it was bittersweet, because the panel of experts all voted for Cohen who is still looking for her first national title.

In all, according to the New York Times, 104,418 votes were cast via the 900 number, text message, and the web site. Advanced Telecom Services (Wayne, PA) handled the 900 number voting. Spark Network Services (Des Plaines, IL) provided the text message voting through its PromoTXT.com system. WinnerComm (Tulsa, OK) tabulated the online voting.

One thing is for sure, with over 100,000 votes, each costing .75, it was pretty difficult to rig the judges.

Anthony Wayne is the publisher of the Cool Ringtones Blog which covers ringtones and other aspects of the mobile data content industry

900 Number and Text Message Voting Decide Figure Skating Challenge

2008-03-03T02:46:00.001-08:00

If you don?t like the new scoring system recently introduced into the world of figure skating, you could make up your own on Sunday and help choose the winner of the Marshall?s Figure Skating Challenge.

In addition, 2000 fans at Boston University?s Agganis Arena were able to vote from their seats with a handheld device. But, the Marshall?s Figure Skating Challenge did not totally abandon traditional judging. The ABC panel of experts?Peggy Fleming, Dick Button, and Peter Carruthers?were there to offer their expert commentary based on more than just who wore the cutest outfit.

In the men?s preliminary, Michael Weiss thrilled the crowd with a back flip he dubbed a ?tornado? and advanced to the championship round. Favorite Johnny Weir, whose 900 number message indicated a vote for him was a vote for the fact that he was ?hot,? also advanced to the final round. Interestingly, however, the panel did not agree with the public. It unanimously named Matt Savoie, a late replacement for the injured Evan Lysaceck, as the overall best. Savoie finished last in the public voting just behind third place Tim Goebel.

On the women?s side, Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan advanced to the final round by easily outdistancing Alissa Czisny and Emily Hughes. The panel of judges voted Cohen the best, although she finished behind the veteran Kwan who was skating for the first time since a September injury sidelined her.

In the men?s championship round skate-off, Weir overcame a fall in the first round to receive 64% of the vote over Weiss. For the ABC panel of experts, it was the only time that it agreed with the 900 number, text message, and internet voters who also gave Weir the title and $50,000 in prize money.

The ending of the show seemed similar to most of the women?s figure skating competitions that we?ve witnessed over the past decade when Kwan has copped nine national titles. Kwan won the event, but it was bittersweet, because the panel of experts all voted for Cohen who is still looking for her first national title.

One thing is for sure, with over 100,000 votes, each costing .75, it was pretty difficult to rig the judges.

Mike Lieberman is the Internet Marketing Manager for Advanced Telecom Services (ATS), a leading provider of IVR, Mobile and SMS Applications. ATS has been in the IVR business since 1989, providing companies with 800 numbers and 900 numbers since 1989.

advancedtele.com

mikel@advancedtele.com

The Truth About 1-900 Numbers

2008-03-03T02:44:00.000-08:00

The Truth About 1-900 Numbers

900 numbers have been heavily advertised over the last few years as a great way to make money. Everybody from Dionne Warwick to Don Lapre are getting in on the pay per call action

In theory (theory mind you) they are a great way for people to make money. You start up a simple phone line and people start calling by the thousands (I sound like someone I know on TV).

When the numbers became popular a few years ago, sex and adult lines were a large part of the business. Psychic lines are now the rage. There are some psychic lines that are generating millions of dollars in calls per month (Although Dionne's did go bankrupt, didn't the psychics warn her?) but every single one of these lines has huge advertising budgets and the people renting out lines are not going to advertise a thing, only rent you the lines.

There are many company's that rent 900 numbers if you would like to get one. When company's first started renting lines 10 years ago, the person renting would only get a small percentage of each call, maybe 10% to 20%. But now that so many company's are renting lines (increased competition), the call per-minute amount you get is much more. You can literally find hundreds of different company's in the back of business magazines that will sell you consulting and 900 lines.

976 numbers were the first toll lines that came out. The problem was that they were local only and didn't have that many features. Large advertisers wanted one number they could advertise all over the US and get calls for, not just one small local area. 900 number's solved that problem.

There are really two big problems with 900 number's. The first is perception. 900 number's seem really idiotic to most people. If you have a great business idea or way to make money, 900 number's would probably be one of the worst places to advertise. How many friends do you have that call 900 number's each month? How many 900 number's did you call last month? These are the sorts of things you have to think of when you are going to start a business. If you would never use the services, why would anybody else? This is something that people like Don Lapre would never tell you. Don lapre just wants you to think that 900 numbers are just a big cash cow. Not the reality.

The other thing is money. You need a lot of money to really get a 900 numbers going. Starting with $500 isn't going to do it. You need a heck of a lot more than that. Most of the big company's have $500,000 monthly advertising budgets (that's even out of my league.)

You are much better off getting into direct marketing, network marketing, internet marketing or even real estate investing over dealing with 900 numbers

I hope this helps in your future marketing decisions.

David Bell

http://www.wspromotion.com/

Advertising research and development center

Phonewords - 13, 1300 And 1800 Numbers As Marketing Tools

2008-03-01T02:41:00.000-08:00

In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, image is described as "the character or reputation of a person or thing as generally perceived". A first impression based on non-verbal communication goes a long way in influencing this perception. Within seconds of meeting you, based on a single observed physical trait or behavior, people will assume to know everything about you (as is explained in the 2003 book Social Psychology by H. Andrew Michener, John D. Delamater, and Daniel J. Myers). Furthermore, according to research by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, appearance and body language (visual image) accounts for fifty-five percent of an invaluable first impression.

In short your visual presentation has consequences.

Phonewords can change your business number into an instantly recognized business tool. This makes the lettering system more efficient and easier to remember than a number based system. For example, 1300 DOCTOR is much easier to remember than 1300 362 867. 1300 DOCTOR is a phoneword. Your message becomes sharper, more focused, less cluttered and clearly more memorable.

Since light travels faster than sound or we can think, you are seen before you are heard therefore words are easier to remember than numbers. This is why, before even uttering a word your visual image will say a multitude about you as an individual (your perceived level of intelligence, competence, affability, self-esteem, confidence, power, beliefs and success) and about the organization you represent (its philosophy, culture, and standard of service).

The work world demands making a great first impression and keeping it. To communicate more intuitively day-to-day, start by understanding appearance psychology and non-verbal communication techniques. Doing so can lead to greater professional and personal success. By using phonewords within your business, you can increase your advertising effectiveness by 300% and boost your overall business sales by 30% to 200%.

Here are some of the benefits can be achieved for your business.

1. ADDITIONAL SALES AVENUE - One of the most important benefits of a good toll free phonewords is that it gives you an additional channel to reach more customers and close more sales.

2. IMPROVING CUSTOMER FEEDBACK - One of the most important and often over looked aspects of building a successful business is getting feedback and staying in touch with your clients, prospects, visitors etc. Knowing where visitors or prospects have questions, needs or problems is crucial to keep your business on the right track and growing.

3. BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE - Toll free numbers not only improve customer service but create a strong customer service image and focus and allow for hand holding when unsure customers can talk to a live person.

4. REPEAT AND SECOND HAND MARKETING - A good toll free number is one of the few things you can do to increase word-of-mouth and customer referral marketing as well as repeat customers by making it easier for customers to remember how to reach you or to tell someone else how to reach you.

5. BETTER DOMAIN NAME AVAILABILITY - YourName.com is usually not available. But 1800YourName.com usually is! This also has an added benefit of putting you ahead of even the A's in the alphabetic directory listed_numberings.

6. STRONGER PRESENCE - A good toll free number makes you look larger and more established and creates an image of a good more significant brick and mortar business, which has proven to be a real advantage in online marketing.

7. CUSTOMER FOCUSED IMAGE - Toll free numbers create a professional customer focused image. They show a companies desire to hear from consumers and make it easy for consumers to call and make the company seem more local no matter where they're based.

8. INSTANT BRAND NAME - Just like a good domain name, a good phonewords creates an almost instantly prestigious brand name.

9. CREDIBILITY & PRESTIGE - A good toll free number gives even the smallest start up, an air of credibility and authority. Consumers also trust companies more when they are more accessible. They feel more comfortable knowing they can pick up the phone and talk to someone real.

10. INCREASED RESPONSE RATES - The most tangible and measurable benefit of a great phonewords is an increased response rate to all advertising. If you don't do much advertising it won't make much difference, but if you do any significant amount of advertising a good number can easily increase your response rate by typically 12 to 42 percent and sometimes more. And one third of your advertising can certainly be a lot of money.

If you are interested in a Phonewords for your business visit http://www.phonewords.com.au. Or you can make further comments on that subject at http://1300phonewords.blogspot.com/

Faruk Ozturkmen is a Website Design & IT Solution Consultant with over 11 years of experience.

800 Number Directory Helps Take Care Of A Baby

2008-02-29T02:05:00.000-08:00

As a new mother, you are not told how difficult it is going to be for the first six weeks. Everyone tells you how wonderful it will be, that you won't get much sleep in the beginning, and that it will be very difficult, but no one says to you that the first six weeks will be horrible, and then all of a sudden it will get easier.

You need items that you have never even used before, and if you know anybody who has ever raised, carried, or even seen a child before, they have an opinion for you about how you should raise yours. You read an insane amount of articles before the birth about other people's birth experiences, your own fears multiply incrementally, and you start to wonder what in the world you were thinking, wanting to have a baby.

When you start focusing on what you need for the baby, you go to a number of stores, read more articles, and test out merchandise. It's interesting that people tell you to test out merchandise before you have the baby. You do not know what it's going to be like to have a baby, you are relying on salespeople and other articles to find out what you might "need" and yet, you are testing items.

The people who help you in the stores are often individuals who have never had children, either, so that is not especially helpful. They may carry the merchandise in these stores, but they are not always the best price, and they are not always the only items that are out there, just the ones that this particular well-known chain store chooses to carry.

So where else can you go? You are always sure to find an endless amount of stores on the internet, but calling them to find out information is not always feasible. Many of them do not have 800 numbers, or a toll-free solution to reach them.

Out of all the items you need for a baby, probably the most tested and yet most controversial item is a stroller. There are several manufacturers, every manufacturer produces at least five or so strollers, and you need to select at least one for your baby and family needs. Do you need a travel system, which holds both a car seat and a stroller, what are the weight limits, do you have more than one child who will need to sit or stand on the stroller, how long has this stroller been produced, has it been recalled, and so on.

One of the best answers is to consult a toll free directory. You can call different locations again and again, not only to ask them the questions you want to, questions that will come up after testing the strollers, and after hearing other questions pop into your head talking with other parents about their stroller, but also to compare prices. You would be surprised to find that the stroller price itself may not vary substantially from retailer to retailer, but for the effort, and using an 800 number, you could easily save yourself a significant amount of money in shipping costs.

Even your local well-known chain store charges significant costs to ship items to you, and if you compare prices, you are sure to find that the shipping costs are worked into the in-store cost. Using an on-line retailer, even with photos, does not tell you much of the information you will find relevant for your purposes, including what do others say about this product, have there been many returns, and if so, what do they purchase instead?

Make sure you get all your questions answered by the retailer you find on your 800 number directory. You can call as many times as you want, and you may also save a significant amount of money. At least enough to buy one more month's worth of diapers.

Published by the editorial staff of National Tollfree Directory. For more information about the 800 Directory, Toll Free Directory and 800 Numbers, visit The National Tollfree Directory: www.internettollfree.com. Please direct any feedback on this article to editorial@strbusinessmedia.com

800 Numbers Bring Leads - If It Doesn't Cost Anything - They'll Call

2008-02-27T02:12:00.001-08:00

How do I find you, how do I find out where you are, and how fast can I talk to you? These questions are ones we all wish a consumer would ask and then pursue aggressively to find our business. The problem is that the consumer is often fleeting in their pursuit if it is not easy, thorough, and cost effective. Think about how you look for a business or vendor when you have a broad choice. If your two choices are to look through a phone book or look something up online, which one will you choose? You choose online, if you're like me, since you can't remember where the hardcover phone books are, if you still have them, and not to mention they're out of date when they're printed. When you do eventually find those phone books, they're not particularly helpful with outdated listings. So the real question is, how fast can I get that information reliably?

Following this train of thought, it seems that the best option is to do a search online. But, once you get online, where do you go? Most people have identified one or two search engines or sites and frequent them regularly, but when those options run out or yield information that is not convenient for them to use, without 800 numbers, they will most likely find somewhere else to look. If you do a search by business type or title, often you will come up with several businesses to choose from. Sometimes selecting the right business will depend on their advertising, who else uses them, or these days, what kind of positive feedback is received. That is if you believe the feedback posted. Is it honest, is it part of a larger marketing plan, and how recent is it? The business could have taken a nose dive in service years ago, but we wouldn't know it by reading the feedback. Most of the time, though, we choose the option that won't take money out of our own pockets. If there is a choice between contacting a business via a toll free number or incurring a cost, most will decide to use the 800 number every time.

The frustrating part of the search can often be the process of being forced to look through several different sites using the same key word in your search, trying to find the same information. There are occasions when we will see the same listing again and again on different sites, but since the number listed is a long-distance call, we will not dial that number. No matter how reputable a business might be, many of us are loathe to call long distance on a chance. The safer and more cost-effective bet is to call toll free. The more the toll free numbers appear in our searches, the more apt we are to contact those businesses, and anything that makes consumers contact a business will certainly create opportunities to sell our services or our products. Better still, if there is an 800 number directory, that surely would make life easier and allow us the opportunity to shop around easier and give businesses a better chance that we will contact them. And as everyone knows, any increased traffic to a business is welcome. It gives more opportunities to convert that call into a paying customer. In the long run, it seems a small price to pay to have a toll free number listed on an 800 number directory to bring in more business.

800 Number Directory Brings Travel Bargains

2008-02-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

Travel has changed substantially over the last ten to fifteen years. Remember the days of flight travel when you were able to park, run through the security checkpoint quickly, and get to your gate twenty minutes before takeoff? Days of meals with plastic knives are gone. Now we have sandwiches and chips, available, but you get to purchase them in addition to your fare, which has also increased. Boarding cruises hasn't changed as dramatically, but the cost increase has affected who travels and how frequently.

Booking travel, though, has changed more than any other part of travel itself. Remember the days when airlines paid fees to travel agents to sell their tickets? When that went away, so did our friendly neighborhood travel agent. It was almost impossible for them to make a decent living. Then came the internet, which also changed how we saw travel reservations. Now one booked travel by going onto a website, first to get the airline's 800 number to call, and then to see a few scheduled fares, and now you can see quite a few, but you can never see the availability, or get a chance to take advantage of any hidden fare breaks.

There are sites now that claim to be able to book all travel together, flight, car rental, hotel, everything from soup to nuts, but if you've ever tried booking through them, you know first hand that it's better to book each one separately. I've even had the misfortune to have the flight booked fine, taken the car rental to the hotel, only to find that the hotel reservation had not been booked properly. So at that point, where are you to go in a town that is completely booked, and your reservation is not available? Where is your toll free number to call? Non existent. There is not only no one to call to be able to verify that you indeed did book the reservation, but all you have is a piece of paper telling them that you did book the reservation. Unfortunately for you, without someone to help you navigate through, you might as well fly home.

Booking travel is always the first challenge. Sometimes you don't even know which flight might take you to your destination. How many stop overs, which airport is better to fly out of, you know, who would know that, except someone who is in the industry. Ideally, you wouldn't want to incur the cost of calling several different providers, without the security of a toll free number, especially if you're bargain hunting. Remember, each airline or cruise line, or other travel provider has their own mark downs, some advertised and some not, so the best thing to do is to reach out and call them to find out how best to find those bargains.

One of the best solutions when traveling is to be able to reach out and call someone. Being able to run down a toll free directory to call not only your airline, car rental, and hotel or even a day tour reservation is the most secure way of booking your travel, not only because it saves you time when you book your travel, but also because you are able to then have someone to call if in fact you do find that there is a question about a reservation, location, or timing. No search engine or website is going to be able answer your phone call, tell you about fare restrictions, potential problems at a destination you're traveling to, or offer up a bargain.

Published by the editorial staff of National Tollfree Directory. For more information about the 800 Directory, Toll Free Directory and 800 Numbers, visit The National Tollfree Directory: http://www.internettollfree.com Please direct any feedback on this article to editorial@strbusinessmedia.com.

Use An 800 Number Directory To Shop Twice - Pay Once

2008-02-26T03:10:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the phrase "measure twice, cut once". Think of the savings if you could do the same while shopping.

Everyone loves to get a bargain. Not one friend I know would be happier having paid more for something they own. Shopping has turned into an art form. The younger we are, the more naive we are about bargain hunting. Maybe it?s because we didn?t have anyone else to buy for previously, just us. A novice bargain hunter thinks bargains start in the department store in the sale or clearance rack. But a sweater that was originally marked at $86.00 marked down to $76.00 is somewhat difficult to swallow as a bargain. In fact, I?m sure my husband wouldn?t see it as a bargain.

Someone a little more experienced may find that larger chain discount stores are the way to go, but again, sometimes those aren?t really the best buys you could find if you weren?t limited to your geography. In recent years resale boutiques where you could even bring your own clothing to sell became the newest craze, but you still had to physically travel to those boutiques and try on the merchandise. Additionally, it depended which community you were in as to the type of merchandise. Even more recently, along came online auction sites, but again, these are mostly used clothing, or clothing that you need to purchase in bulk. Hopefully, there are photos as well, but you can?t contact the seller on the phone, or if you are able to contact them, you really hope that they have an 800 number.

All this information boils down to having to shop mostly in your own geographical area. Gas prices having risen in recent years, and now being what they are limit our mobility in terms of searching for bargains. This includes even our groceries. Most of us know, though, that real bargains are usually found in other areas, if only we could reach them. If only there were an 800 number to connect us to those bargains, because being conscientious bargain hunters we wouldn?t dare pay to make a toll call to find out about sale merchandise.

In carpentry, there is a phrase ?measure twice, cut once.? That?s how I approach shopping. I would rather shop for days, calling toll free numbers if I had to, in order to find the right item and be able to say that I had purchased it at the price I wanted to pay for it instead of the price I had to pay because I was limited by where I live. Imagine what people in remote areas would have to resort to if they weren?t able to reach out to those businesses with 800 numbers? Let?s face it, toll free numbers are the way to go, and then you can call and ask whatever question you wanted to, and not have to worry about how long you?re on the phone with the retailer, or how long they place you on hold. You won?t have to count the minutes and calculate how much it costs. Instead, using an 800 toll free directory, you can calculate how much money you?re saving, and then what else you want to bargain hunt for. How you tell your spouse is up to you, but at least using toll free numbers you?ll have plenty of time to think up what you want to say.

800 Numbers Bring Leads - If It Doesn't Cost Anything, They'll Call

2008-02-26T03:09:00.000-08:00

Published by the editorial staff of National Tollfree Directory. For more information about the 800 Directory, Toll Free Directory and 800 Numbers, visit The National Tollfree Directory: http://www.internettollfree.com. Please direct any feedback on this article to editorial@strbusinessmedia.com.

Use An 800 Number Directory To Shop Twice, Pay Once

2008-02-14T04:39:00.002-08:00

We've all heard the phrase "measure twice, cut once". Think of the savings if you could do the same while shopping.

Everyone loves to get a bargain. Not one friend I know would be happier having paid more for something they own. Shopping has turned into an art form. The younger we are, the more naive we are about bargain hunting. Maybe it's because we didn't have anyone else to buy for previously, just us. A novice bargain hunter thinks bargains start in the department store in the sale or clearance rack. But a sweater that was originally marked at $86.00 marked down to $76.00 is somewhat difficult to swallow as a bargain. In fact, I'm sure my husband wouldn't see it as a bargain.

Someone a little more experienced may find that larger chain discount stores are the way to go, but again, sometimes those aren't really the best buys you could find if you weren't limited to your geography. In recent years resale boutiques where you could even bring your own clothing to sell became the newest craze, but you still had to physically travel to those boutiques and try on the merchandise. Additionally, it depended which community you were in as to the type of merchandise. Even more recently, along came online auction sites, but again, these are mostly used clothing, or clothing that you need to purchase in bulk. Hopefully, there are photos as well, but you can't contact the seller on the phone, or if you are able to contact them, you really hope that they have an 800 number.

All this information boils down to having to shop mostly in your own geographical area. Gas prices having risen in recent years, and now being what they are limit our mobility in terms of searching for bargains. This includes even our groceries. Most of us know, though, that real bargains are usually found in other areas, if only we could reach them. If only there were an 800 number to connect us to those bargains, because being conscientious bargain hunters we wouldn't dare pay to make a toll call to find out about sale merchandise.

In carpentry, there is a phrase "measure twice, cut once." That's how I approach shopping. I would rather shop for days, calling toll free numbers if I had to, in order to find the right item and be able to say that I had purchased it at the price I wanted to pay for it instead of the price I had to pay because I was limited by where I live. Imagine what people in remote areas would have to resort to if they weren't able to reach out to those businesses with 800 numbers? Let's face it, toll free numbers are the way to go, and then you can call and ask whatever question you wanted to, and not have to worry about how long you're on the phone with the retailer, or how long they place you on hold. You won't have to count the minutes and calculate how much it costs. Instead, using an 800 toll free directory, you can calculate how much money you're saving, and then what else you want to bargain hunt for. How you tell your spouse is up to you, but at least using toll free numbers you'll have plenty of time to think up what you want to say.

Published by the editorial staff of National Tollfree Directory. For more information about the 800 Directory, Toll Free Directory and 800 Numbers, visit The National Tollfree Directory: http://www.internettollfree.com. Please direct any feedback on this article to editorial@strbusinessmedia.com.

800 Numbers ? Different Types Of Routing

2008-02-14T04:39:00.001-08:00

Some of the available options for call routing of toll free 800 numbers are:

Time-of-Day (TOD) Routing: TOD is one of the simplest ways of routing. An example of TOD routing would be a company with two call centers, A (east coast) and B (west coast). Call center ?A? opens first and calls are sent to this location in the day time. However, as the time changes across the country, call are redirected to the call center ?B?.

Day of Week (DOW) or Day of Year (DOY) Routing: Working of call centers depends on the day of the week and business practices. All call centers don?t work 24x7. They might be closed for weekends or other holidays. DOW routing handles calls that arrive on that specific day of the week. DOY routing allows for alternate routing on fixed holidays. For example: December 25th.

Area Code or Exchange Routing: A company may want their toll free traffic to route to their preferred location. If a company has a call center in east and one in west then they may want to direct calls from east to their call center in the east and so on.

Percentage Allocation Routing: Companies having multiple call centers prefer to choose this type of routing. Here, they allocate calls on percentage basis to each of their call centers. Example: A company with 5 call centers may choose to allocate 20% of all incoming traffic to each center.

All-Trunks-Busy Routing: This is again a very important routing method which handles unexpected call volumes. If a company's trunk facilities are full and can no longer handle any more incoming calls then an alternate destination is chosen and the calls are routed to that destination.

Ring No Answer Routing: Some carriers provide this unique facility where they can pull a call back into the network if not answered.

Emergency or Disaster Routing: Generally, companies setup a disaster plan to overcome both natural (floods, fires, earthquakes etc) and man-made emergencies (bomb threats). IXCs provide alternate destinations in case any such event occurs.

Jatin Chawla is a freelance journalist. Jatin writes for http://headings.internettollfree.com, offering the latest information on 800 Number Directory visit http://headings.internettollfree.com/800-number-directory.html.

800 Numbers - Routing In The U.S.

2008-02-13T04:44:00.001-08:00

In the United States, the inter-exchange carriers (IXCs) generally handle traffic crossing boundaries known as Local Access and Transport Areas (LATAs). A LATA is physical location within the United States that outlines the boundaries of Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). LECs are capable of providing local transport within LATAs.

When a toll free number is dialed by a customer, a Responsible Organization (RESPORG) is assigned by the IXCs to own and maintain that number. In general, the RESPORG is an IXC who will be responsible for the delivery of the majority of the toll free services. In general, the RESPORG is an IXC who will be responsible for the delivery of the majority of the toll free services.

Looking at it with a more in-dept view, when a toll free number is dialed, every digit is analyzed and processed by the LEC. The call is identified by the service switching point (SSP). The SSP makes it possible to send call information to the signal transfer point (STP). Further, the STP asks the service control point (SCP) about the destination of the call.

It all boils down to the customer?s choice which is processed by the LEC and an IXC is assigned. It is possible to share toll free numbers among IXCs. One of the reasons why a customer would do this is for disaster recovery or for bargaining a rate among different carriers. For example, a customer may want to direct 50% of his calls to one carrier and the other 50% to another carrier as per his convenience.

After determining an IXC, the LEC sends the call to the IXC?s point of presence (POP). After the receiving the call, the IXC?s SCP decides where to pass this call. The SCP is the brain of the long distance network when it comes to routing. The protocol used for this call routing and control is known as Signalling System 7 (SS7).

Handling 800 Number Calls

2008-02-13T04:43:00.002-08:00

In the United States, both inter-exchange carriers (IXCs) and Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) offer toll free (800 number) services to their customers.

Unlike the format of telephone numbers which are geographic in nature, the format of the toll-free numbers is non-geographic. With the introduction of cell phones (in the year 1985) and internet phone services (in the year 2002), your house can have any area code in the United States. However, it will be considered geographic, as the calls from that area code will be termed as local calls where the recipient can be physically located anywhere else.

In the above mentioned scenario, it becomes feasible to track the proper location of the caller from the dial code (e.g. LA or Manchester). However, unlike telephone numbers, toll free numbers can be physically located anywhere in the world.

When a toll free number is dialed, the telephone operator needs to track down the actual physical location of the call. This is the first most important task a telephone operator needs to perform. To achieve this task, an operator is helped by the intelligent network capabilities that are embedded into the network.

To simply things further, the dialed toll-free 800 number is converted into a normal geographic number. Once it is converted into a normal geographic number, it is then routed to the telephone exchange in the normal way in the same manner as other geographic numbers are. Depending upon the case in hand, special routing methods can be applied if required. For example: Time of Day routing.

Note: The fact is that service provider don?t charge the caller for calls made to any series of 800 numbers. The charge is recovered from the recipients of these calls, billed by some other method. People often get confused between Toll-free 800 numbers and series if 900-numbers, for which the service provider charges the caller at rates far more than long-distance service rates.

What Are 800 Numbers?

2008-02-13T04:43:00.001-08:00

A Freephone telephone number is available in almost every country in world. It is a special number where the caller is not charged by the service provider. It is also called as a toll-free number or 800 Number in North America. In Australia, this number is also referred as Freecall number.

The called party pays for this call which depends of number of factors like amount of usage, the number experiences, the cost of the trunk lines to the facility and possibly a monthly flat rate service charge. Usually, government services are linked with toll free numbers and also some big companies provide toll free numbers as a support for their customers. You can also get a toll free number for your residence of cell phone.

The called party recovers these charges in the following ways:

? They might charge the customers for providing technical support.
? They can generate sale out of this call.
? There sales might have increased with the inclusion of this toll free service.

Toll free numbers are also referred as 800 Numbers in North America because of their numbering system. One had to dial these numbers after the original area code. Some of the area codes that had to be dialed were code numbers were 800, 888 (since 1995). Code number 877 (since 1997), code number 866 was included in the year 2000. Also, there were other numbers like 855, 844, 833 and 822 which are not yet active but are reserved.

There is a difference in the way we use a normal telephone number and the way we use a toll free number. The general way of writing a telephone number is ?+? sign attached with the country code, followed by area code and then the local number, for example: +1 (666) 123-1234. But, when we use a toll free number which are not accessible from other countries, we should eliminate the ?+? sign and the round brackets, for example: 1-800-123-1234.

0800 Numbers - Redefining Business Communication

2008-02-12T02:58:00.002-08:00

According to Ofcom's 2006 Telephone Numbering consultation, the 0800 freephone number is "a strong existing brand [which is] well recognised and trusted by consumers." Removing the cost of calling sends a very clear signal to your customers about the value you place on communication with them.

Thanks to the Internet, our business world has changed out of all recognition. Your customers have instant access to detailed price information. If you're intending to compete on price, there will only be one winner - the cheapest. And nowadays, finding the cheapest is neither difficult nor time-consuming. The Internet has also greatly reduced the time from innovation to imitation, so your unique business idea is unlikely to remain so for very long.

So what does all this mean for your sales? If you're competing online for business - and let's face it, who isn't these days? - there are fewer ways to differentiate your business from its competitors. As such, any opportunities to encourage communication with potential customers must be seized upon.

An 0800 number is certain to promote contact and can be introduced quickly with no disruption to your existing telephone system. Required capex is minimal as are the ongoing costs of providing a freephone number for your customers (just 2p per minute plus VAT from Numberstore).

Most importantly 0800 numbers are provided with sophisticated online call management tools...

Many Network Operators can route calls made to your freephone number to mobile and international destinations ensuring that your customers never hear a busy tone or wait more than three rings to be answered. Some providers (such as Numberstore) can even direct your inbound calls using VoIP to keep your telecommunications costs to an absolute minimum since a VoIP call may be routed anywhere in the world with no additional charges.

Most importantly 0800 numbers are provided with sophisticated online call management tools so you can update the destination for calls in real time. This is useful should you need to route calls to voicemail if you're in a meeting or to your mobile number if you're going to be out of the office for the day. Some providers offer - at no additional cost - intelligent number routing features such as call Hunt Groups, Time of Day Plans, IVR Menus along with your 0800 number - and in the case of Numberstore, clever combinations of these services.

There is an argument that the purchase of an 0800 number should be allocated to a company's marketing budget since in itself it provides a powerful promotional tool. But an 0800 number can also be used to judge the success of an organisation's other marketing activities, since inbound call statistics can be analysed to assess the effectiveness of these. Many businesses use a different 0800 number for each campaign to provide the most accurate data.

In a world in which it's becoming increasingly difficult to compete on price and innovation, find out how an 0800 number can help differentiate your business by visiting Numberstore.com or calling 0800 231 6321 - it's free!

Kieron James is the managing director of Zimo Communications, a Network Operator providing number translation services on a wide range of geographic and non-geographic number ranges. You can visit his site at http://www.numberstore.com

Voice Mail, 800 Numbers Increase Business Credibility

2008-02-12T02:58:00.001-08:00

Millions of Americans are small business owners, while millions more have second income streams from home-based businesses. Still others work remotely, or telecommute, at least part-time. Over the past decade, I've had the opportunity to do all three. Although attitudes have changed in the past ten years, I find that there continues to be some stigma attached to working in a professional career from home. The credibility of those of us who don't commute is sometimes questioned by those who do. That's why it's important to use voice mail and other tools to put the most professional face on our home-based businesses.

During my tenure as the editor-in-chief of two consumer magazines, I worked out of my home office in northern California. Although the publishers had offices in New York and New Jersey, the magazines themselves didn't have a physical office - only a virtual office. My art director was in southern California, my department editor was in Arizona, and I hired writers from all around the globe. All of us worked out of our homes, yet managed to create glossy consumer magazines with national and international distribution. How did we do it?

While much of our interactions took place via email, we also relied heavily on voice mail software. Although I'd considered hiring an answering service, I found that an answering service was cost prohibitive and less reliable than a voice mail system. With such a voice mail system, no one ever had to know that the magazine's core editorial staff was really located all around the United States.

Likewise, because we didn't have an office, we had to find a way to make the magazine accessible to subscribers who had questions or concerns. Our solution was to have a toll free number that subscribers could call to reach the service department. Our business 800 number was extremely cost effective, and our subscribers appreciated being able to call a toll free 1800 number rather than incurring long distance charges to order or inquire about a subscription.

800 numbers can add tremendous credibility to a virtual office or home based business. 800 phone numbers reassure customers that they are indeed calling a "real" business, and the cost of a toll free number is easily offset by the additional business you'll garner or the additional items you'll sell.

There are many companies that provide toll free numbers to entrepreneurs or those who work in a virtual office. When selecting a service, you should look for the following features:

* An "auto attendant" who answers the calls
* A voice mail system that offers multiple mailboxes
* Unlimited message capacity
* Music that plays while the customer is on hold
* Online administration
* Caller I.D. or call announce, so you can decide whether to answer the call or let it go through to voice mail

Having a virtual office doesn't mean you need to sacrifice credibility. With a toll free number and a good voice mail system, the people with whom you deal on a regular basis will never be the wiser.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Business and Entrepreneurs Website and Majon's Business and Entrepreneurs directory.

Networking Tips - Getting An 800 Number

2008-02-09T02:51:00.001-08:00

Another way to network is by using an 800 number and establishing a network of experts to refer your clients/customers to. An 800 number provides a way for your customers to reach you. You can answer information needs, resolve problems and obtain information from your customers. You will of course need to publicize your 800 number in your promotional materials, and advertisements. The best way to get the most out of your 800 number is to have a definitive plan on how you will employ it. Will you have prospects call to find out more about your products/services? Will you provide information when they call and then follow-up with printed materials, or will you direct them to a source?

After you have decided what you want the 800 number to do, put yourself in your customer's place, and be sure you are meeting all their needs. Ask yourself, if you knew nothing about what you were selling, would the information your 800 number is providing give you all that you need to make an informed decision.

An 800 number allows you to network on a broad level to areas and customers you might not have reached with just a long distance number. Many individuals will not make a long distance call, but will call an 800 number. If your business allows, have a network of experts to refer your customers to, or if you are selling products, additional sources for your products.

To obtain a network of experts, leave messages on the Internet; put ads in publications that relate to your business, go to trade shows, meetings and join groups that relate to your area or product. Be sure to determine that the individual you want to use as a referral is a good source for your customer base. Remember to contact a customer after giving a referral to insure that they received the information/product they needed and were satisfied, and if not ask why. A referral network is used to increase business. You want to insure that your 800 number increases business and pays for itself.

Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com

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800 Numbers

2008-02-08T00:51:00.000-08:00

Much has been written about the value of 800 numbers. Basically, an 800 number is like calling someone collect, since they pay for the call instead of you. Does an 800 number increase the chances of making a sale? Let's explore this a bit.

Suppose you read an advertisement, or visit a web site that lists an 800 number where you can get more information. Many times you get a "canned" spiel which, if you bother to listen to the whole thing, asks for your number so they can return your call. At that point, many people simply hang up as they don't want to give out their private number. The last thing they want is to be put on another telemarketing list. This tactic is used extensively in network marketing. Does it work? The jury is still out on this one.

Some make you fight your way through a maze of options - press 1 for this, 2 for that, and so on. Some don't even give the option of talking with a live person. If you don't select one it simply starts the option selection process again. - The jury is in on this one. The owner of this 800 number will pay for a lot of calls, that simply frustrate the caller and will never result in a sale. What a waste!

If you're lucky, you get a real person who answers the phone, and who can help. Now let's switch the focus here a bit, and make believe you are the person who answers. Is the caller a serious prospect, a bored teenager with nothing better to do, or what they refer to in the automotive trade as a "tire kicker?

Trying to determine if they are a serious prospect is a challenge. If they are, you might make the sale. If they aren't however, how do you gracefully end the conversation? Many small businesses are a "one horse" shop, without the staff, and equipment necessary to handle multiple calls. Every minute you are on the phone, with someone who is not a serious prospect, is not only wasting your time, but may cost you another customer, who can't get through because the line is busy.

Some people, who may have a slight interest, think that because it is a toll free number they don't have anything to lose, so they make the call. It doesn't cost them anything, so why not. These are your "tire kickers", are usually not serious prospects, and are wasting your resources.

How do you avoid these types of problems? Simple, don't have an 800 number. If a person has to spend their "nickel" for the call, they have already pre-qualified themselves as a serious prospect. You know that time spent with them will be productive. Now the small entrepreneur must have a separate phone line for this. If you are involved in several businesses, you should have a line for each one. That way, when the phone rings, depending on the number called, you can answer the phone in a businesslike manner.

We used 800 numbers with our businesses. As an experiment, we took the 800 number off our website, and put in a non-toll free number. Two things happened and they were both good. First, the number of calls received decreased by almost 80 percent. This of course concerned us at first. Secondly however, we saw our sales dramatically increase. Why? Because the prospects were pre-qualifying themselves, and we were not wasting our time, or losing calls due to lines being busy.

Do 800 numbers have a place in your business plan? Sure! If you are product oriented, a toll free order line is essential. People may hesitate to pay a toll for a product they wish to order. If you are service oriented, it is a must for technical support. With long waiting times for help, it would be a real turn off if one wasn't available.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday. Instructions on how to place your ad are in the Newsletter. Subscribe at: mailto:tipofday-subscribe@topica.com

Do I Really Need a Toll Free Number for My Business?

2008-02-07T00:36:00.001-08:00

Toll free numbers are no longer only for big corporations. If you have a business today, and want to be seen as serious, you absolutely need a toll free number.

Why do you need an 800 number? Here are only a few of the reasons:

Your customers will know they are valued: after all, you are footing the bill for their benefit.
In your customer's eyes, your 800 number places you at the same level with the more prestigious, service-oriented companies.
You can use it as a marketing or sales tool. Starting a specific marketing campaign to which you assign a toll free number, will help you measure the success in real time.
Helps you increase your sales: it's so much easier to pick up the phone and call, when you know you don't have to pay! Then, once you have your potential on the line, studies show your dollar value per order can increase ads much as 40%, because of the excellent opportunity for up-sells.
Customers are more likely to call for assistance if there is a toll free number available.

Now you may ask: but if I get a toll free number, won't it be very expensive? Actually, there are so many opportunities out there, that if you do your homework, you'll find very affordable rates. Some companies charge a minimum usage fee (usually $5), but others don't have any minimums. And the rate per minute can be as low as 3.9 cents a minute.

You also don't have to get a separate line for your 800 number, but instead you can receive the calls through your regular business line.

So, you decided to get a toll free number. Then here are a few suggestions for things to look out when getting a toll free number:

make sure you know exactly what your cost will be.
find you if you can redirect your calls to another number, in case you need to: after all, the purpose of a toll free number is to get people calling you, and talking to you. So, if you are out of the office, or away on some business, having your calls transferred to your cell phone will be very useful.
see if you can get a vanity number. What is a vanity number? It's a series of numbers that if typed on your phone keypad spells something memorable about your company. This is great for branding purposes, and makes you toll free number more memorable.

If you didn't think you needed a toll free number, I hope you now see how important it is to have one. I wish you success in your efforts to market your business, and finding the right 800 number for your company.

Adriana Copaceanu helps gift professionals grow their business. She also offers affordable web design to the gift industry at her gift basket portal

Selling - Using Toll Free Numbers

2008-02-06T00:48:00.000-08:00

One of the best tools that I have used is a phone number capturing system that enables people to request information 24/7, and today you are able to get them at fire sale prices.

When this system is used, not only do you increase the number of calls that are generated from your listings and reports, you are providing a valuable service to your customer.

It only stands to reason, that the person that is accessing information in our world of convenience will want immediate gratification. If you are not offering this quick and easy access you are missing the mother load of potential leads.

An additional advantage to this technique is that you can dramatically cut down on your work load. Your clients qualify themselves, you do not have to spend additional time on the phone trying to get a name and a number and you get to call back better prepared for the call. However, I can not stress this enough, you will most certainly increase the number of calls you will get and therefore the number of sales you can make.

I have used these systems for over 15 years and what I have discovered to be the most important aspect to increasing the number of quality buyers and sellers, is to return the calls ASAP. If you can return a call in a matter of minutes to an hour, I have found that you will increase the likelihood of developing a client relationship dramatically. At one time my team returned the calls over the course of days and even weeks, the conversion rate was dismal in comparison to returning calls in minutes to an hour?. Literally the results blew me away.

Just think about it for a minute, if you can return a call ASAP where the prospect has the information fresh on their mind they will be much more willing to talk about their interests. In a nut shell this makes your job a whole lot easier and much more satisfying.

With telephone rates dropping to such low rates over the recent past, there is no excuse for you not to have this tool in your business.

For more information go to http://www.SellingToolz.com

James Osmar has worked as a RE/MAX Realtor for almost two decades. On several occasions James has been listed in the Top 100 list of Canadian RE/MAX Realtors. He has gone on to build a very successful real estate agent referral service or what some would call a relocation service. Canada Referral and United States Referral are attracting a lot of attention in the Real Estate industry.

Utilizing toll free numbers as fax numbers

2008-02-05T02:35:00.000-08:00

Toll free numbers come in handy while expanding your reach beyond your current region of operation. They have a credible image attached to them, hence can attract you more callers. You can also utilize toll free numbers effectively as your fax numbers. Toll free fax numbers being free of charge for the senders, should attract a sizeable number of faxes.

It is a fact that in spite of the popularity of emails, faxes still remain the chosen mode for business correspondence. You should get sales orders or any other form of correspondence through the faxes. Many persons may choose fax over voice lines, since there may be chance of busy lines. You can hence put on a fax-on-demand system through the toll free numbers. This is approach is time saving. Your prospects or customers can get the kind of information they require, without waiting to get connected with a call representative. You can therefore publish your toll free fax numbers in leading national trade magazines. You will be assured fax correspondence from all parts of the nation.

Although, toll free fax numbers assure hordes of faxes, you should be able to handle all the faxes. If you own a small company and cannot afford sophisticated fax machines, a fax mail system will be better option for you. In this system, faxes will be converted into emails and sent to a specified email account. Receiving faxes via email means, you can receive multiple faxes simultaneously. There should be no problem of busy signals for your senders. You can manage your faxes in an easier way. The sender tag attached to your faxes can be used to sort out important faxes. Toll free numbers will ensure you hordes of faxes, while the fax mail system will help you manage them in a better manner.

This article has been published by AccessDirect, specializes in Hosted PBX systems. We also specialize in toll free service, fax mail, voice mail, auto attendant, and call forwarding. Apart from toll free numbers, you can also get local numbers from us. Visit us at www.messagingservice.com. John K represents AccessDirect, a leading provider of Hosted PBX systems.

Creating a credible image for your business through toll free numbers

2008-02-04T01:40:00.001-08:00

Setting up a business firm and capturing the market takes a good deal of effort. A considerable amount of this work can be reduced if you publish a toll free number for customer care and business correspondence. Toll free numbers have long been associated with well-established companies.

Toll free numbers were expensive during the initial years. Hence, only big companies could afford them. But times are changing. Toll free numbers are now affordable to the extent that even SOHO companies can own one. In spite of the lowered cost, toll free numbers still hold their respectable image. Even today, a majority of people in the United States attach toll free numbers with big companies. Hence, any small company that publishes toll free numbers is seen to be well-established and credible.

Toll free numbers are free of charge for the callers. Additionally, these numbers can be accessed from any parts of the nation. Any startup company that owns toll free numbers can thus win over new customers and clients from different parts of the nation. The company can go beyond its local region of operation. It can leverage on the credible image attached with toll free numbers.

This article has been published by AccessDirect, a leading provider of PBX phone systems (hosted/virtual). We also specialize in toll free service. We provide the popular toll free 800 numbers and numbers of other series. Our toll free numbers are supported by voice mail, fax mail, auto attendant, and call forwarding. Visit us at www.messagingservice.com.

John K represents AccessDirect, a leading provider of Hosted PBX systems.

ADVANTAGES OF TOLL FREE NUMBER

2008-02-02T00:54:00.001-08:00

A business organization engaged in any commercial activity depends heavily on its customers for growth and development, measured in terms of volume of sales. It is very essential for the company to understand the needs and aspirations of its customers because a business opportunity is generated on the basis of customer needs and feedback obtained from them. After undertaking market survey, a company launches new products and services and brings awareness about them amongst a group of people through advertisements in print and electronic media. Having made its products and services known to the general public, the company must provide a means such as a telephone number so that interested customers can obtain detailed clarification about the products and services such as price discounts, quality and features before making up their mind to purchase the product or commercially avail the benefits of the services.

A toll free telephone number motivates a potential customer to satisfy his curiosity of the product or service in a convenient and hassle free manner since he is not charged for making calls to the company. Also small companies with budget constrains do not like to be burdened with overhead expenses on telecommunication devices. In addition, toll free numbers serve as user friendly marketing tool.

Whenever a new company makes an entry in a competitive market where there are already other well established companies selling similar products, it has to highlight the unique features of its product or service through advertisements in order to capture a significant portion of the market. Many customers already familiar with that product/service want to give a try to this product/service offered by the new company so that they can avail themselves of its unique benefits. In the absence of a toll free number, they would not be inclined to contact the new company, resulting in the loss of business opportunity. It is now an established fact that advertisements with toll free numbers outperform those without a toll free number in terms of customer responses and sales turnover.

For long term survival and profitability, a company has to enhance the corporate image in terms of increased customer confidence and satisfaction. With a toll free number the customers get a psychological feeling that they would have a long term relationship with the company and the initial contact is not merely to the point of sale. This is because customers can use this number to call up the company officials at any time and anywhere on 24 7 basis to register their complaints, offer suggestions and also to obtain information for their queries. Additional facilities provided with toll free numbers ensure that incoming calls are received by a receptionist, recorded by a voicemail or answered by an answering machine in case of a routine query. Thus, calls don't go unanswered unlike an ordinary phone number.

Many a times after dialling the toll free number, pre-recorded messages of the automated attendant provide information related to the features of the products, the availability of different services, discounts on bulk orders and also the names and addresses of the dealers appointed by the company. Customers, spread across diverse geographical locations of the country, can obtain all the information they need with a single number at their place without the need to travel to company headquarters or search its branches. Thus, companies can use toll free number as a promotional tool. Companies in the field of electronic and consumer durables are in greater need of toll free numbers because customers invariably need after sale support and assistance. In the absence this facility, dissatisfied customers share their grievances with potential customers, thereby hampering future sales. Companies can nowadays subscribe to toll free numbers at a much reduced cost compared to usual telephone numbers since there is no rental charge and costly installation of hardware. A phone line is enough for this purpose. Charges are levied only for the duration of the calls made by the customers. There is no need to make the telephone numbers of all the departments public since one toll free number would suffice the cause. Pre-recorded messages provide different extensions so that customers are directed to the concerned departments. Competition among the telecom companies and mass production of hardware and software is further driving the toll free number charges southwards. The hardware and set up costs are also minimal. Similar to a local number, the toll free service providers are also offering such services as video conferencing, caller Id, call waiting, call forwarding, dropping of unwanted calls, voice mail or answering equipment. There is no way to distinguish whether the incoming number is a local number or a toll free number. Thus, by subscribing to the toll free number there would not be any major structural changes in the organization.

For small and medium sized companies, a toll free number is an effective means of reducing their operational expenses in terms of reduced sales and marketing workforce. Companies can save printing and distribution costs of promotional materials. This is because most often a large part of the advertisement material such as catalogues sent at different addresses based on guesswork or on the basis of some secondary source such as telephone directory does not end up in the hands of potential customers and is thus wasted.

Due to liberalization and globalization of trade, commerce and services and developments in the field of information and communication technology, the need for faster, reliable and inexpensive means of communication such as the toll free number may become a necessity for companies operating in different industries.

Manohar Chapalamadugu is the president and founder of 800PBX, industry's most reliable Toll Free Number providers with PBX services inbuilt. Visit http://www.800pbx.com for more details.

I am Mark, an in-house writer for 800PBX Inc, the provider of Toll Free Number with PBX Services. I am a regular reader and writer of business articles. This article provides an insight on how a Toll free Number helps your Business.

Cheap Conference Calls & Toll Free Numbers

2008-01-31T23:13:00.001-08:00

Many service providers in the market introduced cheap conference calls for the users, so as to maximize the customer-base by encouraging more and more people to opt for their services. The reason behind offering cheap conference calls is that in most cases, the service providers are having their own networks for conference calling. That means the overheads or additional costs are not there, which otherwise are added in fees charged from the customers. Overall, it is a very good option for organization to use and gauge the performance of service providers, before the make final decision to choose the best fitting service provider.

The service of cheap conference calls is provided to the customers by giving a toll free number along with a dial-in number for the participants. The host is simply required to call on that toll-free number and can conduct the conference thereafter. Usually cheap conference calls are reservation-less type of conference calling, which means that there is no requirement of a reservation for the conference call and one can make a conference call anytime.

Cheap conference calls do not mean that the service providers will provide limited services to its users. There is nothing like this and service providers provide conference call management systems to ensure higher performance. However, such conference calls have an automated system, because it needs minimization of the cost factor; yet one can ask for operator assistance, if the requirement arises.

A cheap conference call can be the best option for business purposes, training institutions, and anyone interested in making a conference call. With such a conference call, one can be connected with two, three, or up to two hundred people, in general, at the same time for conversation. Also there is no need of any extra equipment to be installed except the telephone system, which is sufficient to enable the host to make a conference call.

Small businesses and other types of organizations who have just started their ventures look to cheap conference calls as beneficial, for, their budget arrangements and costs are not as big as for settled companies. To automate the system of communication, and still to avoid the cost of heavy equipments, travel, and space, conference calling facilities are best options. So, we can say that overall, cheap conference calls are beneficial, as they are nothing short in the technical aspects, but at the same time provide economical options for the users.

For more information about Cheap Conference Calling, please visit www.call-conference-services.com

Max Stephen is the author of this article and the webmaster of www.call-conference-services.com

How to Save Thousands on a Multi-Line Phone System with Free Toll Free Number

2008-01-31T23:12:00.001-08:00

If you've priced a multi-line phone system, even for a small company, you know the price can range anywhere from $2000 up to $8000, and even higher.

Factor in the cost of wiring and your cash outlay becomes bigger.

But what if I told you that you could have a multi-line telephone system for less than $10 a month?

* No wiring * You get your own personal 800 toll free number with the system * Plus you get a bundle of other features expensive systems can't touch

Sounds rather unbelievable, doesn't it? But all you have to do is check out 'toll-free pbx telephone communication services' on the Internet. You'll find it's all absolutely true.

Here is how a toll-free business phone system works.

When you sign up with the toll-free business phone service you receive your own personal toll-free number. You can use it on your business card, in your advertising or include it in any of your promotions. In fact, it is the only number you will ever have to give out. It becomes the number for your office, fax machine, cell phone, home phone or any other phone in your office.

Your multi-line toll-free business phone will provide you with a number of extensions. These can be set up anyway you want. You can make #1, your office...#2, your secretary...#3, your fax...#4, your home...and on it goes. And remember, there is no wiring required. You can arrange for your toll-free business telephone in the morning and be using it that afternoon...without having to buy extra equipment.

Your phone can be answered in a number of different ways.

You can, of course, answer the phone yourself or have someone in your office do it. Or it can be answered by one of several greetings you or someone else records. For example, you can have one message for daytime and another for after closing hours. These messages can greet your callers in your voice, provide a list of menu options (which are the extensions you set up), invite them to leave a message or suggest they call back during business hours.

Each of these messages can be setup to automatically click-in at appropriate times of the day. That way you don't have to remember to activate them manually. You won't end up driving a block away from your office and suddenly think that you didn't change the telephone message before you left.

However, you can override the automatic setup, make any changes you want or record new messages by simply bringing up your control panel on the Internet. This control panel can only be accessed by you or someone you share your password with and makes everything apple-pie simple.

No busy signals.

It doesn't matter how many extensions are being used, your phone will always be answered. If an extension is busy, the caller will be invited to either stay on the line or leave a message. And if they decide to hold, you can provide music while they wait. This music can be anything you want because you select it...record it...and upload it using your personal control center.

Have your calls forwarded.

This is another feature with toll-free business telephone services. If you're going to be out of the office and want all your calls transferred to another number, you can set this up in less than a minute through your control center on the Internet.

Also, if you are expecting an important call or fax and won't be in the office to receive it, relax. Your multi-line toll-free services will send you an alert as a text message on your cell phone or PDA.

Here's still another 'out-of-the-office' feature. All messages left on your voice mail are recorded as a 'wav' file which means they can be e-mailed. And they will be...automatically. So wherever you are, you have access to your messages either on your computer or by picking up the phone and calling your voice mail.

Customize your phone number.

Let's say you run a wholesale florist business. Think how much easier it would be for you and your customers if you had a toll-free number such as 1-800-FLOWERS. Easy to remember. Simple to give out over the phone. And every time someone sees or uses your telephone number, you are promoting your business.

Your toll-free business phone provider will help you select a custom number that fits your business.

Keep track of all your calls.

Your toll-free business phone service will keep a log listing every call you receive or make. If you bill for telephone time, you always have a complete record showing every number you called or the numbers of people who called you. The log includes the length of the call, the date, the telephone number and other information you will find useful. It will even include missed calls.

All these features are available without new equipment, wiring or delay.

You could pay thousands of dollars for a multi-line system and still not have all the features talked about in this article. So before committing yourself to a multi-line telephone system, check out one of the toll-free business phone systems on the Internet.

Remember, you can have a full-function telephone system that will give you the appearance of a large business within a day or less. And without any hassle, equipment shopping or having your home or office torn apart by a need for rewiring.

A toll-free business phone system will give you everything you need or want...and then some. It's worth checking out.

Manohar Chapalamadugu is the president and founder of 800PBX, industry's most reliable toll free number providers with pbx services inbuilt. Visit http://www.800pbx.com for more details.

I am Mark Richardson, an in-house writer for 800PBX Inc, the provider of Toll Free Number with PBX Services. I am a regular reader and writer of business articles

Can Your Business Succeed Without a Toll Free Number?

2008-01-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

The toll free number is an indespensible part of doing business today. Toll-free numbers allow consumers to contact your business without having to pay for the call themselves. Toll free numbers can be a powerful sales and marketing tool and consumers have come to expect companies to have a toll free number for their customers to reach them. Many times, a toll free number will also give you more benefits than a local number service.

90% of Americans report using a toll free number and studies show that using a toll free number in your advertising increases your response by 30%. Other research shows that when faced with a choice of several similar businesses, consumers are much more likely to call a business with a toll-free number than a business with a local or long distance number. The reason for this is two-fold. One is because, right or wrong, people see a company with a toll free number as being larger and more stable. Secondly, they don't want to have to pay for the call themselves.

Some of the benefits of using a toll free number include number portability, call blocking, and caller id. In 1993 the FCC ruled that toll-free numbers are portable. This means that a toll free number belongs to the toll-free subscriber and not to the carrier. A company can now advertise with their toll free number with confidence knowing that if they change their toll free service provider, they won't have to change their number as well. A toll free number also allows you to block calls from areas where you don't do business. You can advertise your toll free number and not be concerned about paying for calls from consumers outside of the area that you do business in. Another benefit of toll free numbers over local numbers is caller ID. On a local line callers can block their id from being captured. Toll free lines use automatic number identification (ANI) to capture the caller id. Because you are paying for the call, you have the right to see who is calling.

Toll free numbers are an integral part of doing business today. They combine a powerful sales and marketing tool with added benefits over a local line. Small and large business alike use toll free numbers to appeal to a larger percentage of consumers, establish confidence with their customers, take advantage of features not offered on local lines and capture 30% more of the market. Can your business succeed without a toll free number? I guess that depends on your definition of success.

Brandi Cummings, an expert in the field of virtual telecommunications recommends checking out Freedom800.com (http://www.freedom800.com), a leading provider of toll free numbers and virtual office technology for small businesses.

Does Your Business Need a Toll-Free 800 Number?

2008-01-28T03:03:00.000-08:00

Should your business have a toll free number for customers to make sales, service and billing inquirers? The industry began in the early 1970s and today most customers expect you to have it. Providing a toll free line can bring in a number of benefits to your business.

From the customer standpoint, it opens an opportunity to inquire about your products or services at no expense. Not only does it show you are established and successful, but it also shows that you care about what is convenient for them. It creates a corporate image of your company in their mind. Customers expect you to give something back in return for their business.

Think of it this way. Have you ever purchased from a company that didnt have a toll free number? Some companies may not benefit from a toll free number, such as those with business to business sales or companies with a limited local targeted market. In other cases, such as catalog sales, Internet stores or companies with a continuous demand for support will most definitely need it. A toll free number allows you to advertise a local number to anyone in the United States. It is human nature to be attracted to anything free and it entices the customer to act now.

When was the last time you heard a toll free number in a radio or TV commercial? Were you able to remember or write it down? Did the number spell out any words? Having it spell a particular word is called a vanity number. Vanity numbers can be crucial for any business as they are easier to remember and promote. One company spent millions to have 1-800-FLOWERS and it has affected their sales in a positive manner.

When considering activating a toll free number it is important to also look at the drawbacks. Besides the fact of creating an extra expense, you will receive more calls from customers that are not necessarily serious about your offerings. Since the customer has nothing to lose, they may be tempted to call even if they are not interested anytime soon. Toll free lines also give them the ability to inquire multiple companies at no expense, while increasing your chance of losing the sale.

Whether you are a home-based business or a large fortune 500 company, anyone can get a toll free number. For larger corporations, it is best to purchase a hardware phone system such as a PBX. For an excellent online guide, see: http://www.buyerzone.com/telecom_equipment/phone_systems/. For smaller companies, many long distance providers offer an identical service at a fraction of the price. Such systems are what they call a virtual PBX or office. They allow you to have personal greetings, multiple extensions and mail boxes, on-hold music, etc.

Number Search ATTs web site has a useful tool for searching toll free numbers on any available prefix (800, 888, 877 & 866). Take your time and find a good vanity number that is relevant to your line of business. Avoid using words that are hard to understand vocally, such as swipe. Asking a few friends or family members to repeat the number will be a good test.

Service Providers doing a search on Google for toll free number or 800 number, will come up with a number of service providers. Be careful when choosing one as you may run into a few flakey companies. Major carriers such as, ATT, SBC, Sprint and Verizon offer the service, but are normally higher for low usage clients. Other carriers that specialize in this line of product, such as Telcan.net, also provide a reliable service.

Tracking System most providers offer an online management system that logs your call data in real-time among other features. One common feature is the ability for the provider to place a 1 or 0 in front of the callers phone number. You can use the call data to improve employee productivity and per call profitability.

Personalized Auto Greetings if you need a personalized auto greeting, look into the virtual PBX or office system feature. An example of such greetings would be, Thanks for calling Gotmerchant.com, for sales press 1, billing press 2 and so on. Even though this will add to your long distance bill, it may give an impression of a larger corporation.

Live Rep the toll free number can also be setup to go directly to your phone without any greetings. Having your customers bypass a list full of menu options before speaking to someone may have a positive affect.

Voice Mail You can retrieve your messages by calling your toll free number or use an online account management system if one is available. The voice mail service provided by your local telephone company may also be used.

Number Portability a portable toll free number belongs to you and not the carrier. You will have the ability to switch providers at anytime.

Incremental Billing the long distance is billed in blocks of time and typically come in 6, 30 or 60-second billing increments. A shorter interval will result in lower fees and can be significant on a larger monthly volume. 6 second billing is the most popular choice.

Call to Ring Number toll free numbers are pointed to any phone number of your choosing. One helpful feature among providers is the ability to instantly change this number.

Setup Charges there is normally no setup fees associated with a new toll free number unless you are using a vanity number. Even then, there are some carriers that do not charge a fee for setting one up.

Interstate & State to State when researching providers, make sure the rates you are quoted is for interstate (within your state) and state to state calls.

Residential or Business Line not all carriers are able to provide service to a business using a residential line.

Shared-Use Numbers some providers offer what they call a shared-use line and allows more than one person to use the same number by utilizing a pin number.

Curtis Stevens is the founder of Gotmerchant.com (www.gotmerchant.com), an online guide to merchant account service for any business looking to accept credit cards. His online site has helped thousands understand the service and protect themselves from unethical sales reps.

stdcds18@shsu.edu

Accessing Legal Services with Toll Free Numbers Directory

2008-01-23T03:12:00.001-08:00

Toll free numbers allow us to conveniently interact with product and service providers and obtain the information required. This is especially true for professional services in areas like law.

Legal services need to be accessible to the majority of the population whenever needed. It could be an emergency, or a routine legal query. Toll free number services give you instant access to legal firms and representatives whenever the need arises.

Prepaid legal services are easily available through toll free numbers. Whether it is signing a contract or insurance difficulties, speeding tickets or routinely occurring issues, a toll free number gives you access to legal firms who then return your call through trained professionals to answer queries and solve problems.

Having access to law professionals was never so easy. You need not pay for the call. The legal services cover a whole gamut of issues, from simple problems to legal hassles. Prepaid legal services can work over toll free numbers and charge monthly or annual fees for their services.

The Internet has made it all too easy to locate toll free numbers. Several online toll free numbers directories cover the entire U.S. with various tools to locate the services needed. Apart from providing phone numbers, they also contain useful email addresses, Website addresses, classified advertisements, and other related information.

A useful feature of online toll free directories is the reverse number lookup. A visitor can verify the contact addresses from a given toll free number at the click of a button.

Legal problems can arise anytime, anywhere. Toll free numbers give us access to legal help quickly and conveniently and save us calling charges as well.

For more information on toll free legal services, visit http://headings.internettollfree.com/legal-services.html

The author is the content developer of online internet toll free directory internet toll free directory He can be contacted at marketing@searchinfluence.com

Using an Online Toll Free Numbers Directory

2008-01-19T02:49:00.001-08:00

Toll free numbers make it easy and convenient to obtain information and conduct inquiries without having to pay for the call. The idea of the called party paying for the call goes back several decades ago, and picked up in the eighties and nineties.

A toll free numbers directory contains a list of toll free numbers listed alphabetically or in business categories. An online toll free numbers directory also provides other contact information like emails and physical addresses, apart from containing sponsored advertisements.

The convenience of toll free numbers is well understood. Whether it is a general inquiry, queries on product features, billing information, or feedback, a toll free number is the most convenient line of communication that is readily available free of charge to consumers.

Using an online toll free directory is quite simple with various tools available to make searching for numbers easy. A typical internet toll free directory allows the user to search using business names, categories, keywords, and also provides reverse phone look ups.

There are several major toll free directories on the Internet covering the whole of U.S. Apart from providing phone listings they may also contain information useful to consumers and businesses.

Toll free number facilities benefit both consumers and businesses alike. They make it convenient to locate service providers at no extra cost. They allow information to be accessed from a single point on a range of issues.

The Internet of late has emerged as another medium to conduct inquiries and access information. Emails are fast and easy to use. Still, a real conversation with a direct representative is an invaluable method of answering customer queries. This is especially true when an urgent query needs to be satisfied. A toll free number service means the answer is just a free call away.

For more information on toll free directories, visit http://www.headings.internettollfree.com

The author is the content developer of online internet toll free directory internet toll free directory He can be contacted at marketing@searchinfluence.com

Toll Free Numbers

2008-01-19T02:48:00.000-08:00

A toll free number is a special kind of telephone number provided by a commercial entity to cater to its customers. In this kind of numbering system, a customer is not charged for calling the number. Instead the commercial entity pays for it. The payment is based on a number of factors, which include number of calls and cost of trunk lines. Some telephone companies even charge a monthly flat rate for this kind of service. Toll free numbers are sometimes allotted to residential or a cell phone number.

Toll free numbers are often referred to as 800 numbers. The number 800 is the original area code that was used with toll free numbers. Now more area code numbers such as 888, 877, 866, and 855 are being used. Newer numbers such as 844, 833 and 822 have been allotted but are not yet active.

In the US, toll free numbers are provided by both Inter-exchange Carriers and Local Exchange Carriers. These numbers are not geographic in nature; a sharp contrast to the local telephone numbers. A toll free number can be located anywhere across the nation, or maybe even abroad. The physical location of such a number is determined by the telephone operator using an intelligent network mechanism. A toll free number is then translated into a normal geographic number and then routed in the usual manner through the local telephone exchange.

The routing of a toll free number in the US is handled by Inter-exchange carriers such as Sprint and AT&T. A company which wants to provide toll free number service chooses a Responsible Organization (RESPORG) to maintain them. A RESPORG is actually an Inter-exchange carrier that is going to provide the necessary services.

A company can share its toll free numbers among various Inter-exchange carriers. The task of determining which Inter-exchange carrier handles the call is performed by the LEC. Once the carrier is traced out, the call is forwarded to the carrier's point of presence (POP). The routing of the call is then performed by the carrier's SCP using a protocol called Signaling System 7. The call is finally routed to the company's trunk lines, wherein a PBX system handles the call.

This article is written for AccessDirect, providers of Unified Messaging, Voice Mail, and Hosted PBX services with local and toll free numbers. Visit us at www.messagingservice.com

AccessDirect, providers of Unified Messaging, Voice Mail, and Hosted PBX services with local and toll free numbers

What's Toll Free Numbers Got To Do With Ecommerce?

2008-01-18T03:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes skimping on things can save you good money. But skimping is not always the wisest business strategy. For example, I could?ve written this article in the windows program notepad as opposed to Microsoft Word, and saved a good $500 and never had to buy the latest version of Microsoft Office? However, wouldn?t it be worth the $500 if the improved impression of professionalism put forth in all of my writings some how garnered ten times that in profit? Would you have read this far if I had unknowingly published this article with a horribly obvious typo in the title? That?s right ? an insignificant error caused by ?saving money? can actually COST you money in the long run.

## Impression Is Everything! ##
If you have spent months developing a beautiful ecommerce website to give people the impression that you are the safest choice for whatever product or service you?re trying to sell them, then it?d be pretty stupid to have all of that professionalism dismissed by a simple mistake: assuming you?re going to SAVE money by not getting a toll free number!

The fact is, the sight of a toll free number is something that subconsciously stirs an idea of professionalism ? something we?re accustomed to from corporate America. Area codes are for calling your relatives and friends, after all. The phone prefix ?800? or ?877? or ?888? for some reason, as if by magic, stirs in us the image of a phone operator in a tall skyscraper that deals with hundreds of clients a day ? someone that doesn?t make their living off of ripping people off. The appearance of professionalism is the embodiment of confidence within the business world.

## Okay, so you?re convinced? now what? ##
Not having a toll free number for your ecommerce business (no matter how small) will cost you more in the long run than the short term savings will save you. The best part is though that toll free numbers are not NEARLY as expensive as one might be inclined to think! In fact, at the moment the prices for toll free numbers are as low as 2.7c/min from places like www.patricklongdistance.com

## What other services can I benefit from? ##
It just so happens that toll free numbers are not the only affordable telecommunications service that might be useful to the owner of an ecommerce web site. Conference calling (for those teleseminars), low long distance rates, broadband or t1 internet access, and more are all examples of things that can be gotten more cost effectively off the internet via web pages such as the one I provided in the last paragraph. Jacob Richards hosts a website about building ecommerce web sites.

Does my business need a Toll Free Number?

2008-01-18T03:11:00.001-08:00

There are several types of businesses on the market... from the traditional brick and mortar, to the dot coms. But does your business really need a toll free number? That depends on a number of factors, such as:

Do you only market your business to local customers, clients, or businesses?
Is most of your business done on an international scale versus a national scale?
Do you have an online business that leaves little room for personal contact?
Are your products special orders, in which others have to give specific instructions?
Do you have a business, where you are constantly on the go and away from the office?
Do you have employees that do a lot of traveling and call you collect or using a calling card?
To answer these questions, let's take them one by one. If you only market your business locally, and you do not have any intentions of marketing it nationally or internationally, you do not need a toll free number.

If your business is mostly done via international avenues, you may want to think twice about the cost involved in having a toll free number. For instance, if you are based within the US, and the majority of your clientele comes from overseas, a toll free number can become very costly. However, if you are based with the United States, and you have mixed clientele, both internationally and nationally, it may be advantageous to get a toll free number. In fact, some companies have the option of blocking certain phone numbers and locations from using your toll free number (such as Kall 8).

If you have an online business, it's a good idea to get a toll free number. Having a toll free number can make or break a sale.

Often, customers have questions and concerns about ordering your product and service and having a toll free number eases their minds, while making you look more professional.

Not having a toll free number doesn't mean that you will lose that sale, as the customer or client can just as easily email you. However, human beings are naturally inclined to do business with someone they know, versus someone they don't. Being able to hear your voice allows potential customers to get a feel for who you are, and in the process, develop a sense of security and trust in both you and your business.

Do you have a business that requires more contact with your clients? Say to customize a product or service, based on your client's needs? Speaking to that client one-on-one leaves little room for mistakes and misinterpretations.

Do you have a business where you are constantly away from the desk? Having a cell phone is a great idea to stay in touch with your clients, but what if most of your clients are out of state? Having a forwardable toll free number directed to your cell phone means that you never lose another business call.

If you have employees, such as salespeople, do they call you collect or use a calling card? What happens when those calling cards run out or they don't have any change? They have to check in by calling collect, don't they? Over time, having a toll free number can save your company big bucks.

If you decide that a toll free number is best for your business, there are several options you can choose:

Order a T-1 line from your local phone company -- you have to have a traditional brick and mortar business for this and it can be very costly.

Order a "Stand Alone" Toll Free Number -- you can use your "fixed" phone line and have a toll free number forwarded or redirected to that number. Your clients and customers never have to know that you did this.

Order a "Forwardable" Toll Free Number -- you can have your toll free number moved as often as you like. Forward it to your home phone, office phone, cell phone, hotel room, or wherever else you may be. This is the ultimate option for home businesses and businesses on the go.

The most important thing to remember, is that every business can use a little help. If you feel that a toll free number can help your business, order one today.

Make sure that the toll free number you order is one that you like, as you will be putting that number on all your business and promotional materials, as well as your website. (This really refers to Vanity numbers, like 1800 CALL ATT.)

And finally, make sure that you can squeeze that number into your business budget.

Alyice Edrich is a discount telecommunications agent. She offers great toll free numbers at a price any small business or home can afford. Visit her at http://edrichcommunications.com today!

Toll Free Phone Numbers Increase Conversions

2008-01-17T03:24:00.001-08:00

I hear it all the time. What’s the best way to increase my conversion rate? If you really want to know, the best way to increase your conversion rate is to test, track and split test everything. That way you will find out what works for your site rather than following what works on someone else’s site. Always remember, what may work for ones site, may not work for your site. So to figure out what works best for you, you’ll have to do some trial and error testing. However, there are some best practices you should follow that will increase your conversions regardless of your website, business or niche.

Yes I know that I just said that what works for one, may not work for you, but there are some universal strategies that will work for everyone. In fact, this is one of the simplest and easiest ways to guarantee an increase in conversions without doing to much work. All you have to do is add eleven numbers and some dashes and you’ll instantly see an increase in your conversion. Its called a phone number. If you add a phone number to your website and display it in a conspicuous location, you will experience an increase in visitor activity. Most of the time people won’t call, but it makes them feel more comfortable. Just as Live Online Support can increase conversion, so can a traditional phone number.

When implementing a phone number, there are some guidelines I suggest you follow. To deviate from these guidelines could decrease your credibility and your conversions. The first step is to make sure that you have a toll free phone number. You want to associate yourself and your website with the major corporations. That’s how you increase your credibility. All the big brand name companies use toll free phone numbers when dealing with customers that want to call them. So many businesses do this, that many people expect a toll free phone number such as a 1-800 number when deciding to call. If you put your cell phone number or any other number that isn’t a toll free phone number, you could be defeating the purpose of placing the number on your site in the first place (which is to increase your credibility). So no regular phone numbers! Another reason why you should use toll free phone numbers rather than regular phone numbers is that it is a convenience to your potential customers. Why? Because they aren’t being charged to call you. Whenever you can throw around the word "Free", do it!

There a TWO more important steps that I recommend you follow, but to learn more you must visit Stephan Smith’s Internet marketing blog or just visit: Toll Free Phone Numbers Increase Conversions - Web Traffic

What is a Toll Free Routing Migration?

2008-01-14T01:56:00.001-08:00

Before we can answer the question of what is a Toll Free Routing Migration, we need to briefly understand the function of SMS/800.

The 800 Service Management System (SMS/800) is a US based Operations Support System (OSS) that performs toll-free (800, 877, 888 and 866) number management.

The primary function of SMS/800 is twofold:

to act as the source of Toll-Free number availability and reservation status information.
to select the carrier on which a toll free number routes.

Service providers (e.g. Qwest, Global Crossing) that assign toll-free numbers for use within the US and Canada use the SMS/800 to establish routing records for customers, and download records to local exchange carrier Service Control Points (SCPs) to facilitate call processing.

Service providers generally prefer that their toll free numbers route on their own networks. Some service providers do not have a network presence in all places where Toll Free calls can originate (e.g. Puerto Rico, Alaska, Guam, Fisher Island NY). As carriers establish a network presence in new areas, they need to change their SMS/800 records to take advantage of their new network facilities.

Recently (in May 2007) Qwest established a network presence in Alaska LATA 832. Qwest asked their complimentary carriers to move their Alaska LATA 832 traffic from the MCI-0222 Carrier Identification Code (CIC) to their LGT-0432 CIC. All new 8XX's and existing toll free numbers must be rebuilt in SMS/800 to accomodate the new routing configuration.

Managing Toll Free Routing Migrations is a "cost of doing business" for RespOrgs and Telecom Providers and Resellers. These Toll Free Service Migrations cause thousands of records to be updated in SMS/800 and the corresponding SCP's and can be a resource drain for their provisioning departments.Matthew J. Noreen PMP® works for csf Corporation. csf's flagship software, 8MS is the powerful and easy to use alternative to SMS/800.

If you are facing a large Toll Free Migration (such at the Qwest Toll Free Routing Migration of of May 2007) we can help!

8MS allows you to Reserve, Activate or Re-Route hundreds or thousands of toll free numbers with our powerful on-line mass change commands. Rather than force your toll free provisioning users to redundantly key in similar data (over and over again) with the possibility for error and lost revenue, 8MS uses modern computing techniques to speed up your provisioning and get your word done in less time.

Imagine spending less time keying in changes, and more time solving your critical business problems! For more information see http://www.8msweb.com

Tips For Picking A Great Toll Free Vanity Number

2008-01-14T01:55:00.001-08:00

Huge companies like FedEx , UPS and FLOWERS® all starting using vanity 800 numbers years ago. If vanity numbers didn’t work great do you really believe these companies would continue to use them? Not a chance.

Here's a quick test... what is the 800 number for FTD Florists? Did you know it was 800-SEND-FTD? Good, but not as good as the memorable 1-800-FLOWERS!

Tips:

Avoid Number Hybrids

1-800-666-EYES is nowhere near as valuable as 1-800-CONTACTS. People can remember words, not numbers. A hybrid quickly becomes 1-800-something-EYES to the potential customer. A hybrid might be easier to acquire, but try to get creative with a full word.

Don't limit yourself to 7 Digits. A lot of good vanity numbers use extra digits (notably 1-800-MATTRESS "and leave the last S off for savings!")

You'll need to get creative. If you have a Dish Network installation business, you might start with a core word like DISH and add prefixes or suffixes to get a memorable number (e.g. 1-800-GET-DISH, 1-800-NEW-DISH, 1-800-DISH-NOW).

800 & 888 vs. 877 & 866

Whenever possible always try to establish yourself with an 800 vanity number. It is by far what the public is familiar with. (Although these are getting tougher and tougher to acquire!) When that is impossible, 888 is the second choice. Although not as good as 800, it is still better then 877 and 866.

Vanity Name Choice

Select a number that either spells out your industry (800- GOLFERS, 1-800-HEARING, 1-800-INSURANCE) or describes/reinforces the advertising message you are trying to convey (Fabulous Cruise Vacations: 1-800-FABULOUS). Avoid spelling out your company name unless you are sure everyone knows your company name. Stewarts Lawn Care is much better off with 1-800- LAWN CARE then 1-800-STEWART (which could be almost anything - e.g. Stewart's Root Beer which more than 60 locations in NJ, MD, KY, OH, WV, and PA.)

Spelling

The number should easy to spell. Avoid the use the letters "Q" or "Z" as they have only recently been added to newer phones keypads.

Marketing/Branding

Don't be selective where you use your new vanity number. Make it the front door to your business for everything you do that the public sees or hears. There is a reason why every thing 1-800-GOT-JUNK does places the 1-800-GOT-JUNK number on it (website, trucks, etc.) Same goes for Fed Ex with 1-800-GO FEDEX, they know what a value it is to them.

By following these simple tips you are well on your way to excellent advertising execution with a vanity toll free number! Matthew J. Noreen PMP® works for csf Corporation. csf's flagship software, 8MS is the powerful and easy to use alternative to SMS/800.

Our newest product is 800ForAll.com 800ForAll is an internet application aimed at allowing end-user consumers to easily search for an available (spare) toll free vanity number. Consumers will visit 800ForAll.com and follow the easy four step process to search for a toll free number, reserve it, select their toll free carrier, and enter their contact information.

North American Toll Free Service And Provisioning Overview

2008-01-11T02:21:00.001-08:00

Toll Free Service Overview

The 800 Service Management System (SMS/800) is an operations support system (OSS) used for the creation and maintenance of North American toll-free call-processing records. SMS/800 is also the source of toll-free number availability and reservation status information. Many users call the 800 Service Management System the "National Database".

All service providers that assign toll-free numbers for use within the US and Canada use the SMS/800 to verify the availability of specific numbers, reserve them, create customer records, and download records to local exchange carrier Service Control Points (SCPs) to facilitate call processing.

New Customer Records (CRs) and changes to existing CRs are loaded into the SMS/800 by a Responsible Organization (Resp Org). The Resp Org (usually a telecommunications provider) is an organization designated to manage and administer a customer's SMS/800 records. Resp Org's must go through a certification process to gain access to the national database.

After the CR is created or changed SMS/800 then downloads the appropriate information to the Service Control Points (SCPs) which directs toll-free traffic by providing routing information and carrier identification. The CR contains the call handling instructions and options chosen by the customer. These options could include choosing multiple carriers (e.g. Verizon or Qwest) for different time periods or routing calls to alternative destinations.

Toll Free Provisioning

Currently, there are 200+ Resp Orgs which input data into the SMS/800. There are four basic methods of provisioning (inputting, changing, or creating) this data:

Mechanized Generic Interface (MGI)
Batch Tape
Online Access (3270 Terminal Emulation)
Web Based Access (WBA)

Toll Free Service: Technology Which Makes Things Happen for You

2008-01-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

We all have seen them on the streets and in various advertisements, heard them on radio ad campaign, Television Advertisements with numbers like "800", "888" or "866" toll free number. These toll free call numbers are starting to sprout up all over the advertisement world, customer support centers and will soon form a perfect tool for powerful Marketing, Sales and no doubt a Customer flexible service that many consumers expect them.

Toll Free Number – a key to Stay Live, Stay In-touch

Toll Free Services which are categorized as less expensive Inbound Communication Tools comes with some of the enhanced features to “Stay Live, Stay In-touch”. No Matter what business or profession you are in, if you are a corporate house, professional person, a medium or small business house, people running business or providing service from home or field employees can use this tool to speak to office or even check their voice mail while they are in the field. Many companies offer special products and packages like toll free for corporate, toll free for professional etc.

Toll Free number helps you in branding your business or profession

Expedited services is utmost important in this fast moving world were consumers make there decisions quickly, your clients, customers, family members wants to talk to you while you are at work, home or driving a car. Having such Toll free numbers brands you as a professional person for your business, while always ensuring the full confidence to them that they can talk to you no matter what problem or need they have. While toll free number branding promote your exigency of increasing and spreading your business, getting higher sales and closing sales with new customers.

Apart from all time voice connectivity toll free service also have some attractive features like, number portability which ensures splitting of local and interstate traffics, Call Blocking feature ensures that you get calls from your selected areas or regions, Call tracking which uses DNIS (Dialed number identification service) for multiple toll free number directed to a single business location logs responses from a specific advertisement campaign that was promoted by using one of your toll free number service.

Thus, all this ensure that toll free service makes things happen for you with right, prompt and speedy communication.

Rakesh Patel (email: rakesh.patel.m@gmail.com) * Website content writing * Articles * Press releases * Editing and proofreading * Ghostwriting * SEO articles Writer with an aim of better SEO.

A Toll Free Directory Lets You Shop More, Search Less

2008-01-09T01:49:00.001-08:00

Whether a consumer, a seller, but mostly as an employer, how you source or locate what you buy is as important as the item that you purchase. What to buy, who to buy from, those are the two questions one would think would be most important, but now there are two more questions to have to answer, and that is where to look and how much to pay to call.

If not to be found in a mall shop or if you are too busy to go to the location itself and shop, or you then you must either do a lot of catalog shopping, or you shop quite a bit online. It is tough to shop online, though, because many times you do not know 360¦ view of the item, or more specifics, or the item photo does not upload to your machine, you need to know if they have the correct number you need in stock, any number of questions. The end result is you want to be able to go ahead and call the retailer. In this day and age of international consumerism, we often are able to purchase items from several different places around the world. However, not everyone stays up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to get our phone call, and our toll charges to call international have escalated over the years. Business to business purchasing particularly is difficult if you have to call and be cognizant of toll charges. What is the solution? Well, toll free would be the first choice for all businesses. In order to contact that business, would you e-mail first, and hope that they have an 800 number for that business, and that you could obtain their toll free number, or would you e-mail them and hope that they contact you back via phone? Neither seems a potentially productive response. Having a toll free listing is quite possibly the easiest way to have prospective buyers contact you, and for you or your employees to contact them.

Toll free numbers are not hard to find, as long as you donÆt mind wading through a phone book or a search engine listing that also includes toll numbers and out of service numbers. If you at all value your time, that will not be the best avenue of choice for you, particularly if you are an employer paying an employee by the hour, or a mother with limited time to search for something and call the location. But, with a toll free directory you are able to locate the correct number and do business quickly and efficiently. Simple math tells you that you would rather pay someone by the hour to be on the phone arranging for a purchase than paying by the hour for employees to search for a number. As a mother has limited time for most things, whether the mother is an out of home worker or not, taking time to peruse a phone book or a search engine is likely not going to happen anytime in the near future.

So do yourself a favor, whether an employer, employee, mother, student, or your average consumer, make sure you spend your time wisely, using it to choose merchandise, not finding it.

Advantages and Tips to a Toll Free Virtual Office

2008-01-09T01:48:00.002-08:00

Small businesses, home-based businesses and self-employed individuals have discovered toll free virtual office systems. They are finding that there are many advantages over a static toll free number from the Bells including features, flexibility and cost. Here are just a few of the advantages as well as things to look for in a toll free virtual office provider.

Toll Free Virtual Office Small Business and SOHO Advantages

Toll Free Virtual Office Advantage No. 1: Look Bigger.
If you want your small business to look bigger than it is, a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) with a professional main greeting and dial by name directory would help. Unfortunately, these systems cost thousands to install and even more to maintain. But you can accomplish that same professional image with a toll free virtual office for literally pennies a day.
Most toll free virtual office systems come standard with multiple extensions. If you are a one-man-band, you don't have to sound like one. Give your callers options such as; 1 for sales, 2 for billing and 3 for support. It does not matter that all extensions lead to you. Studies show that consumers perceive companies with a toll free number as being larger and more established. Give your customers the sense of security they are looking for with a toll free number of your own.

Toll Free Virtual Office Advantage No 2. Freedom of Movement.
break out of your brick and mortar office with a virtual office and you will free yourself up to go out and get new customers without leaving your current customers to fend for themselves. With a virtual office you can forward your calls to your office phone, home phone or even your cell phone so you never have to miss a call.

If your physical business is not in North America, but your customers are, a toll free virtual office is the perfect way to keep your business growing. You can transfer your calls anywhere in the world and even get your voicemail messages through email or an online access panel.

Got the latest bug that's going around? Telecommute. With a toll free virtual office even the receptionist can work from home. Virtual offices make it possible to transfer calls to other extensions or numbers, send people to voicemail, and manage messages online.

Having your voicemail delivered to your email is a perfect solution for busy people and email addicts. You no longer have to be by the phone to get voicemail. An added benefit is that the message, which is in a file similar those used on MP3 players, can be stored indefinitely on your computer.

Toll Free Virtual Office Advantage 3. Cost
A PBX is way too costly for most small or home based businesses. A toll free virtual office on the other hand easily fits into even the smallest budgets. Most systems range between $10-$50, depending on the functions and features you choose. Features such as call waiting, caller ID, on hold music, call forwarding, and multiple ring-to numbers are usually costly extras with landline service. With most toll free virtual office systems those features come standard.

Toll Free Virtual Office: Finding the Right Provider for You

Toll Free Virtual Office Tip # 1 - Go With An Established Company.
Paramount to getting new business, as well as keeping the business you have, is making sure your customers can get the information they need, whether that is from you or an automated system. You can't afford to have your calls not get through or to have dropped calls. One way to make sure you are going to have a reliable system is to go with a reliable provider. An established company will have remained in business, while others have gone by the way side, for one reason - they are good at what they do.

Toll Free Virtual Office Tip # 2 - Service Backed By a Promise
Go with a service that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. This will allow you to try out the system without worry. If you find that it doesn't suit your needs, you are free to cancel and get your money back.

Toll Free Virtual Office Tip # 3 - Toll Free Number Portability
A company that knows you are going to be happy with their service will be confident enough to offer you the opportunity to take your number with you if you are not. You can put your new toll free number on your business cards and marketing materials without worrying that you may have to change your number later.

Thousands of small and home based businesses have discovered that toll free number virtual office systems are good for their business. These systems give them a professional image, the flexibility and freedom to do business wherever they are and much more for a price that is within even the smallest budgets. It's worth it to take a look at how your business can benefit as well.

Brandi Cummings, an expert in the field of virtual telecommunications, recommends checking out Freedom800.com (http://www.freedom800.com), a leading provider of toll free numbers and virtual office technology for small businesses.

The Good And Bad Of Toll Free 1 800 Numbers

2008-01-09T01:48:00.001-08:00

Getting toll free 1 800 numbers can be beneficial to your business. It can make a great difference depending on what kind of business you own. If you own a restaurant, or a coffee shop, you will not need a 1 800 number because local customers can call you toll free anyway. Not many people would call you from another state or another country. But if you own a business that does international shipping, or provides communication services, a 1 800 number is definitely essential.

There are many different companies that offer toll free 1 800 numbers to businesses. They are usually priced by the number of minutes per month they afford. If you are only going to be using the phone for 100 minutes or less each month, you can pay as little as ten dollars monthly, but if you own a large business with lots of phone lines, you'll have to likely pay more in the range of $100 a month. It all depends on what kind of service you need.

If you want to be available internationally, you have to pay more. Fortunately, international 1 800 numbers are rarely needed by most businesses. It just isn't practical. Even if you are a large shipping company, you will only have to talk to people in large companies a moderate amount, and they will gladly pay the cost to call you internationally as part of the cost of doing business. It is in the end much better to let them foot the bill than paying the high and often extreme rates for international toll free numbers.

As a consumer, be wary of 1 800 numbers. I remember when I was growing up, they were all free - that was what "1 800" meant. And most of them are still free. Many people are still not warned of this, sometimes people will get a number that starts with those numbers, but charge a high toll to call it. They may even tell you somewhere that there is a toll usually - at least they are supposed to, but even if they do, they will try to hide it, in small print at the end of a commercial or something like that so it is hard for you to notice.

Before you know it, you may be paying as high as $2 per minute when you thought you were actually calling for free. This tricky scheme is especially common overseas where the telecommunication regulations controlling the phones and the phone companies are not as tight as they are in the US.

Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.business.resources-to.com where you can find out more information on Where To Find Franchise Information

Toll Free Audio Video Teleconferencing - No Surprises Please

2008-01-07T01:09:00.001-08:00

Another very important consideration to take into account is the ease of use of the teleconferencing system relative to the skill level and motivation of your employees. It have one thing to have a Ferrari, but if no can drive it is kind of pointless don't you think?

Therefore do not ever overestimate the amount of training, which is equal to the money and time and also opportunity costs in lost productivity in the short term, if you pick something that is way too complicated to be in use on a regular basis.

On a similar note to the ease-of-use, you want to make sure that the system is easy to install as well. I suppose this is relative to the quality of the technicians and the personnel that you have on staff. However, yes, you need to ask them to the review the system if it is feasible to install and implement seamlessly with the rest of the organization.

Most teleconferencing companies and services offer at least trial period for a while where you and your organization can test out the features such as durability, reliability, scalability, availability and ease-of-use during live test runs. This way nothing is left to the imagination- you know right away whether or not the system will work for you or not. If in the event there no qualified staff on hand to help you out, they may even provide you with a checklist of things to look for during your live test runs the will help you ensure that nothing slips through the cracks, and that you do not find any hidden surprises later on.

Toll free audio video teleconferencing products will help you get started asap. Follow the link to http://www.totalteleconference.com for more.

Toll Free Conference Calls

2008-01-03T23:17:00.001-08:00

Conference calls are a convenient method of communicating with a lot of people all at once. Technologies today allow many different types of conference calling.

For a small business, simple 3-way calling may suffice. This feature is available through your telephone company and whatever long-distance rates you have on the phone that originates the call will apply.

When several people located in many different places need to access conference calls, a conference call company can provide this service.

A basic conference call service offers audio conference calls (also called teleconferencing) over the telephone. Usually, you have the option of toll-free calls or flat-rate calls.

“Toll-free” is sort of a misnomer because “toll-free” does not mean it’s entirely a free call because the person or business that hires the conference call company pays for the service.

Toll-free conference calls are free for the participants. With toll-free packages, participants use a toll-free number to dial into the call via the conference call company.

The charges for the calls are usually by the minute for the length of the call. In many cases, the more minutes used, the less money per minute it costs. For instance, one package may offer 1,000 toll-free minutes for $70 or 7 cents a minute. If you go over 1,000 minutes, each additional minute would cost 7 cents. Another package may offer 10,000 minutes for $400 or 4 cents a minute and 4 cents for each minute over 10,000 minutes. You can see the cost goes down with the larger packages.

A flat-rate conference call package requires the participants to pay their own long-distance charges. They dial a regular phone number to access the call via the conference call company. The company who hires the conference call company also pays a flat fee to set up the service.

The conference call companies always offer features that augment their basic service. For example, you can have the conference call company record your conference calls and then provide a playback. The playbacks can even be on-demand so people can hear them at any time 24/7.

As you might imagine, conducting a live conference call with dozens of people on the line at once could get a bit out of hand with everyone talking at once and noise in the background as well. Technology comes to the rescue with mute buttons that allow the moderator and/or operator to control what is broadcast on the call.

The operators at the teleconferencing companies can assist you in many ways. In addition to connecting participants as they call in to access your conference, operators can even call participants and then connect them to your call. Operators can attend the entire conference call, providing opening announcements, introductions for host and speakers, moderating question and answer sessions and making closing comments at the end of the call.

Audio conference calls are not the only options available to you. Web conferencing is another type of conference call that utilizes access through participants’ computers. Participants are able to view PowerPoint and whiteboard presentations and to share documents. Communication among participants can be audio or via chat formats. Upgrades of web conferencing services include application and desktop sharing, remote control and video conferencing.

As you can see, there are many ways that businesses today can communicate effectively via conference calling. There are lots of conference-calling companies to choose from and the competition among them drives good bargains for business owners who will take the time to do a little research to find the best bargains.

The Toll Free Conference Call website provides information on conference calling methods, equipment and prices. Before you make your next call, see if you can do it toll-free!

101 Uses for Toll Free Voice Mail to Increase Your Business!

2008-01-03T23:16:00.001-08:00

Well not really a 101, but you can employ a "Silent Partner" for pennies a day and give your business the sound of a Fortune 500 Company!

With a Next Generation Toll Free VoiceMail System you can setup surveys to find out if that idea you have to market is really needed with simple questions and answers. Let the market tell you what they want.

Setup the system to allow callers to request documentation, price ranges of homes, boats, automobiles any type of grouped listing to be faxed back to their fax machine with Fax-On-Demand.

Realtors could have multiple listings, by price, location, size, bedrooms any grouping desired. Home buyer calls in and is greeted with a short message telling them that they can receive a faxed listing of homes under $100,000 by pressing 01, $100,000 to $200,000 by pressing 02, latest listings press 10 and so on.

Automobile/Boat dealers, for this weeks special press 99, used vehicles priced $5,000 to $10,000 press 2, credit application press 44.

Are you out of the office most of the time? Follow-Me-Calling will forward calls to any number(s) you desire. When the number reaches you, caller ID allows you to decide to answer or have voicemail pick it up. System would capture all phone numbers that call in for future callbacks.

Have a downline? Just add more mailboxes and broadcast messages quickly. Like to market? Become a distributor and sell systems to your downline. Network marketers need an industrial strength and powerful system that will allow contacts to call in, hear a brief introduction directing them to whichever program they are interested in, pressing the given number, hearing another brief message and then selecting Fax-On-Demand documentation, connect with the representative or leave a message.

Churches need to connect with in/out of town parishioners and visitors. One might call in, hear a brief message and be directed to select the pastors' message press 1, directions press 3, the weeks events press 5, upcoming events press 6 and any special messages that the church might want to give to a caller.

Pet stores can offer tips on caring for different animals as well as any special sales they may have going on. Caller calls the pet store and hears a short greeting that directs them to select from an assortment of Fax-On-Demand documents that pertain to the care of rabbits, birds, hamsters, snakes and more. Documents would also contain price list of cages, feed and supplies.

Should the caller not have access to a fax they would be instructed to press # and leave their name, address and phone number for mailing. Lead capture.

Sometimes having a vanity number can make your business stand out from the rest, like 800-COOLCAR, 800-MYHOUSE, you can request it.

No matter what type of business you are in this "Silent Partner" will surely quietly and purposely work 24 hours a day 7 days a week, never complain, be late or ask for a raise.

FreedomVOICE Systems has provided the most advanced toll free service available since 1996. Create an image of professionalism with virtual office system services that allow you to enjoy far greater efficiency in running your business. For as low as $9.95 a month and 5.5 cents a minute you can have 5 mailboxes and superior services listed on our web site http://freedomvoice.com/04190 to take your business to a higher level. 1-888-267-1383

"Toll Free, Don't Answer That!" How to Stop Bill Collector Harassment

2008-01-01T22:39:00.000-08:00

If you have found your self in debt or are having trouble paying your bills you know how incredibly annoying debt collectors can be. Some bill collectors will call you every day a few times a day to remind you of what you already know. I do not have the money to pay my bills.

There are laws to stop bill collector harassment to the consumer under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You can even find a cease letter to send to bill collectors which requires further contact by law. And you can most assuredly take that route to make bill collectors stop calling you, but I would like to suggest a different route if you would really like help.

Answer the phone.

Yes, you heard me right, I said answer the phone.

Let me tell you a personal story before I give you my advice. Years ago, I had a car repossessed. It was a time of complete change. The collector called me to retrieve the delinquent amount. We had an hour long conversation. I admitted to my mistake and told him I knew I was responsible. He was shocked. He said, nobody has ever admitted that it was their fault before. I explained my financial and personal situation and you know what - they never called me again. Yes, it was still on my credit report, until I paid it. I could not ignore my debt. I just tried to comply as best as I knew how.

The importance of answering your creditors' phone calls. No one likes to be ignored. If you lent money to a friend and that person mysteriously disappeared, you would no longer trust them? Now, if you were in the business of collecting debt, would you cut a person slack who was trying to dodge you?

Answer your phone, plead your case and explain your situation. Let them know that you WANT to pay your debt; you know it is not going away; you just do not have the ability right now. Did you know that most credit service companies have hardship departments? If you had good credit history and lost your job, some companies help you by stopping the late fees, or other options that may help. If they have no way of helping you, you may want to consider a Debt Consolidation Loan

You can not ignore your debt forever, you will have to face it sooner or later and the sooner the better. Maybe they will have the perfect way to work out your debt. Maybe not. But facing your debt collectors is probably the most ethical way to get them to stop calling. Not all collectors are the same. See what they can do. They may have many options to help you until you get back on track financially.

Trisha Dingillo is an Illinois Licensed Mortgage Broker. She hopes to help Americans learn to Stop Bill Collector Harassment with a "Cease Letter"

1-800-Get-Rich Can Toll Free 800 Number Domains Pay Off?

2007-12-29T02:11:00.001-08:00

The toll free number 1-800-Get-Rich belongs to the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Perfect vanity number for a casino, right? Well apparently not. Their website shows the actual numbers, 1-800-438-7424 for the marketing department of Resorts Atlantic City. Those NUMBERS are nowhere near as memorable as is the mnemonic device of letters representing those numbers on the telephone keypad. It makes you wonder, did the casino have bad luck (no pun intended) or receive bad publicity for their 800-Get-Rich phone number?

Doing a Google search for 1-800-GET-RICH returns several spoof articles using the toll free number to make light of get rich quick schemes. Seems as well suited to a casino as to satire, since gambling represents the ultimate get rich quick scheme.

But on the web there's a another element to toll free numbers you must consider. 800 numbers are used as domain names which seem to stick in our memory as a web address just as well as a phone number. Resorts Atlantic City Hotel Casino should buy the domain name www.1800getrich.com from the current owner and assign their marketing department toll free 800 vanity number to the Casino instead.

The domain name www.1800GetRich.com is for sale as of this writing if you visit that web address. You can be certain that the current domain owner knows that the toll free vanity telephone number is owned by Resorts International Hotels www.resortsac.com which matches the domain www.1800getrich.com. It has to be enticing to think a large international hotel corporation may want his domain.

The casino owns the toll free number but isn't using the mnemonic for the numbers (GET-RICH for 438-7424). Makes you wonder about the history of the domain name, since WHOIS records show it was reserved only this past May of 2004, AND the history of the vanity number since it is going unused, at least on the web site. Hmmmm...

There are vanity phone number resellers online that actually specialize in providing 800 numbers with matching domain name for those seeking the consistent branding for their business. Clearly this is simply a marketing ploy by savvy 800 number vendors, as those domains may be full of hyphens and may cost more than they should due to the perception of value-added.

An interesting aspect to toll free numbers as domain names is that of 1-800 copyright and trademarks. Take for example, the well known flower retailer 1-800-FLOWERS.com where they use both the domain name and the toll free number. Both are copy- righted and trademarked names and essential to the business.

Legal precedent allows trademark owners to confiscate domains from "cybersquatters" who buy domain names containing trade- marked or copyrighted words and phrases hoping to sell that domain back to the trademark holder. But it is less clear an issue when it comes to descriptive toll free and vanity phone numbers. How about 1-800-PINDROP.com - which you would think would be registered to Sprint Communications? Curiously, as of October of 2004, this domain was available. What do they use? www.pindrop.com (without the 1-800) goes to Sprint.com.

It appears there are wide inconsistencies in using toll free 800 phone numbers as domain names but they can be memorable, which is one measure of a good domain name. They also aren't limiting as to word length. I've always felt it's a bit odd to type in 1800keywordphrase.com as a domain name, but only because there is no hyphen in it. 1800 looks like eighteen hundred and is just as strange as typing 247 for domains as a suggestion they are always open, more often seen as 24/7, but domain names can't have that slash mark in them.

As a matter of fact, I've always disliked numbers of any kind in domain names - especially those using numbers in place of the words "to" (up2me.com)& "for" (good4you.com) But, as owner of http://website101.com I'm at odds with the dislike for numbers in domain names. Still, it works better than 1800website.com or 1-800-website.com, both owned by Verio Web Hosting and both purchased in August of 1996, but neither have web sites configured at those addresses. They must not have been a worthwhile domains, yet they keep them.

If it offers you another option for a memorable web address, 800 number domains may be worth considering.

Mike Valentine operates WebSite101 domain name tutorial http://WebSite101.com/Domain_Name/ Free domain lookup tool to find out who owns domain names at http://website101.com/Domain_Name/Domain-WHOIS-database.html This article written for 800 Numbers Toll Free http://800numberstollfree.com/toll-free-800-number-index.htm

How Are Toll Free Numbers Obtained - How Are They Disconected And Made Available For Re-use

2007-12-26T23:20:00.001-08:00

This brief primer describes how toll free numbers are obtained, and how toll free numbers are disconnected and returned to the spare pool.

Some Useful Definitions:

Before we begin in earnest, here are some useful definitions and background information about the toll free industry. If you already are an expert, skip ahead!

What is a Toll-Free Vanity Number?

Many companies are interested in obtaining vanity numbers. A vanity number is a toll-free number that also spells a person or company name (e.g. 888-639-2277 spells 888-NEWCARS.)

Vanity numbers such as 1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-597-JENNY (Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centers) are major corporate assets. Numbers such as these will probably never be released to the public for re-assignment or re-use.

What is a Responsible Organization?

A Responsible Organization (Resp Org) is the entity designated to manage and administer a customer's Toll-Free records. These are often large Toll-Free service providers (e.g. Qwest, Global Crossing, Verizon, etc.)

How are Toll Free Numbers Obtained?

Toll-Free numbers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

To keep track of which toll-free numbers are available for new customers and which numbers are already taken, a national computer database (SMS/800™) holds information on each toll-free number.

Responsible Organizations, which are usually toll-free service providers, have access to the national database that contains information regarding the status of all toll-free numbers. At a high level, Toll-Free numbers may be considered available to be assigned to a customer/user or are unavailable (working) and have already been assigned (e.g. 1-800-FLOWERS).

Customers who are interested in a toll-free number usually will contact a RespOrg and work with them to acquire an available toll-free number that meets their needs.

Available numbers are often called Spare numbers. To reiterate, these Spare numbers are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved by any Resp Org.

Many of the numbers currently in the Spare pool are perfectly acceptable Toll-Free numbers but they don't spell anything particularly interesting.

How are numbers freed up?

Imagine a fictional dog obedience training company called Acme Dog Training. Acme owns the number 1-800-BAD-DOGS. The owner has decided to retire and disband the business. The owner instructs their RespOrg/Carrier (e.g. Verizon) to disconnect 1-800-BAD-DOGS.

When the RespOrg permanently disconnects a Toll-Free number, it is usually held for four months by the current carrier. In this case, 1-800-BAD-DOGS is available for other use until the carrier releases it back to the "available" pool. Calls placed to 1-800-BAD-DOGS at this point are usually treated with a tone known as a "fast-busy" or "reorder" tone.

Carriers hold the number for four months after the disconnect to ensure that recently disconnected numbers are not tossed immediately back into available spare status. The waiting period can protect new customers who may otherwise have to deal with numerous calls for the previous end user.

Matthew J. Noreen PMP® works for csf Corporation supporting and promoting their flagship 8MS product.

csf Corporation is excited to introduce a new beta suite of Toll Free Tools available at http://www.8mstools.com

The introductory set of tools include:

Spare Number Forecast

The Spare Number Forecast tool allows internet end-users to search the pool of toll-free numbers that are currently in the "Coming Spare" state. This tool features a sophisticated interface to search for and display various Vanity spellings or number patterns (e.g. Search for a toll-free number that ends in "0000").

Spelling

Enter a phone number and we'll show you what words and phrases your phone number spells.

Sample

"Try it Now" style tools for Toll Free Service Providers. Search for toll free numbers, or even check their number history.

Least Cost Routing Considerations For Toll Free Numbers

2007-12-23T22:51:00.000-08:00

With constant and growing cost pressures on their business, Toll Free providers can no longer rely on slow, manual, ad hoc techniques to analyze and deploy least cost call routing.

Many Toll Free service providers sign agreements with multiple carriers to carry call traffic on that carriers’ network for Toll Free Numbers in areas where the provider has no service or can find a better rate than using their own network. In order to take advantage of such agreements, your company must generate Call Processing Records (CPRs) for your Toll Free numbers that use a specific set of carriers based on where the call originated. The initial CPR that must be created may seem obvious or trivial (use the lowest cost provider for each NPA-NXX), but SMS/800™ restrictions on the size and number of paths in a CPR often prevents the simple choice and requires a more complex routing record.

Inefficiencies in implementing least cost routing translations and CPR updates can cause providers to unnecessarily sacrifice time, money, network performance, and business opportunities by:

Unsuccessfully implementing new call routing in response to rate changes
Failing to take advantage of price disparities or to apply discounts
Losing focus on the cost reduction opportunities while implementing "home-grown" IT solutions for Least Cost Routing (screen-scraping, spreadsheets, etc.)

A successful Toll Free Least Cost Routing Tool:

Produces CPRs with a number of paths and a size that will be accepted by SMS/800™ and can be loaded successfully in their Service Control Points;
Chooses between multiple carriers for any NPA-NXX;
Allows you to merge traffic data across multiple toll free numbers to generate a single least cost routing CPR for that set of number

Once the analysis is done and the LCR CPR generated, many benefits exist:

Agreements with carriers can be renegotiated for example, to provide a volume discount based on the call volume that will be sent to that carrier
“What-if” scenarios can be done to determine which carrier negotiations would minimize costs
LCR CPRs could be quickly regenerated as traffic changes on a toll free number.

Successfully implementing Toll Free Least Cost routing can be very challenging. Manual, ad-hoc solutions are not the correct answer. Automation is required! The benefits of successful automation efforts will definitely impact your bottom line!

Matthew J. Noreen PMP® works for csf Corporation supporting and promoting their flagship 8MS® product. 8MS was designed from the ground up by a team of former Bell Labs engineers to be a superior toll free provisioning system that eliminates traditional dependence on SMS/800.

csf Corporation has built a powerful Least Cost Routing CPR Generation engine that uses your providers’ rate agreements and traffic data to produce a CPR that will minimize your Toll Free calling costs. More information at http://www.8msweb.com

Also see http://www.8mstools.com

Toll Free Numbers Can Increase Your Business Sales Potential

2007-12-20T22:52:00.001-08:00

Many businesses both large and small use toll free or 800 phone service to deliver a better customer experience. Although these toll free services are used more on the sales side for ordering, some businesses, in the interest of better customer support also provide toll free contact for support and warranty issues also.

Just as there are many different types of business models today, some will benefit much more from an 800 number than others. The traditional brick and mortar corner retail store with a local market only may not obtain the same benefits of toll free service as a web or Internet business selling throughout the country.

To decide if you actually need an 800 number, consider the following points.

1. Who are your clientele? If your customers are all local and your business is generated all within the same town, toll free service may not be seen as important by your customers. If however, you're selling and shipping products throughout the country or even internationally, toll free contact calling may mean the difference between landing or losing a sale.

2. Does your business have a web presence and are the products offered of interest to others outside your direct area? A web site suggests that you're looking to increase information to your customers and probably desire to gain additional sales. Although online sales are popular, many customers still expect clear contact information. and if they are asked to pay for the call the risk of losing that order increases.

3. Do you offer customization? This can include anything from paper goods and stationery to customer designed gold clubs. Any business that builds or modifies a product specifically for a customer. Providing any customization almost demands having direct contact available.

4. Are you away from the Office a lot? Many times a small business has a staff of 1. Being the business, it's important that you are available to your customers at least during business hours. With the help of telephone technology, it's possible to have your customers reach your cell phone toll free through an 800 service number.

The decision to commit to an 800 telephone number is based on need and future growth of your business. If your business is local with all local customers and growing outside that immediate market area is of no interest, then an 800 number probably isn't needed.

If however your business is growing national or internationally, has a web site for sales or does custom work, the benefits of providing a toll free contact for your customers is great.

800 or toll free calling and many other services are now available from both your local phone company and many Voice Over Internet Protocol or VOIP companies. Check around and select the features that will best support your customer and grow your business.

Abigail Frank writes on many subjects having to do with home, family, and health. For more information on toll free numbers for your business please visit the site at http://www.toll-free.openbriefcase.com

International Toll Free Numbers From More Than 30 Countries Are Now Easy To Establish For Business

2007-12-18T23:02:00.001-08:00

Toll Free Numbers are clearly established in the business world and have in the past few years with lower cost found their way into the home. US based toll free numbers are widely known and used. In fact they became so popular in the 1990s that new 888, 877, and 866 needed to be added.

But did you know that US numbers can be made to "ring" overseas? Or did you know that a company or individual can get a toll free number in Non-US countries?

Most people do not, but many are learning fast the benefits of global toll free services.

People on the move like toll free numbers. You can send the incoming calls to a home, office, or even cell phone as needed. Many providers allow you to easily change online the number to which your toll free number rings.

NEW USES:

Now expatriates living far from family and friends get USA toll free numbers that forward incoming calls to their homes and cell phones overseas.

These include the military, Peace Corp and related volunteers, missionaries, and of course business people relocated for extended periods.

Using a toll free number makes it easy for people to reach them. They also know that people who hesitate to dial international numbers are more willing to call a toll free number.

And, of course, many companies in the world would like to have US and Canadian customers.

For example: A fishery in Costa Rica wants to easily reach the vast US market. They subscribe for a US toll free number and have it ring to their main office in San Jose, Costa Rica. And they can allow Canadian callers to reach them just as easily for just a few cents more.

Or a software designer in China would like customers in the US to feel it is easy for them to converse with the designers as needed. They would likewise get a US toll free number that rings directly to their design studio in Shanghai.

But these are still uses for US numbers that ring overseas.

There is also a burgeoning market for international business owners that want toll free numbers in other countries to communicate with their customers and clients AND establish a professional presence in globally.

When I say international toll free number now, I’m talking about a number you dial from another country (not the USA). An international toll free number can also be directed to any phone or cell phone number worldwide. International toll free numbers are NOT so cheap, so they are mainly used for business. For example, Globaltollfree.us can provide you with a toll free number in Germany that rings anywhere you want on the planet. BUT the setup charge is $20 and there is a $10 monthly fee. The per minute rates are dependent upon the countries involved and it pays to be sure your global toll free is cost effective relative to sales or customer service. For a bona fide global business, it can be extremely cost effective to encourage sales and service.

After all, a toll free number or 800 number boosts your perceived level of professionalism and represents you to be a credible prospect to potential markets. Things as small as assuming if the company wants to pay for the call, they must want to talk to their customers. People like that. When prospects see a toll free number, there is comfort that because they feel a safer connection with you. It has been said that putting your 800 number in your advertisements, you should increase your ad response by as much as 600%. And now your ads can appear worldwide via the web!

International Toll Free Numbers are investments, not expenses.

You'll Gain a Competitive Edge.

see http://www.globaltollfree.us for more detailed information

Joseph Horton started Namada (http://www.namada.com) in 1991. In 1994 we built our first website. The goal of Namada is to provide individuals and companies low cost access to unique services designed to save money in US and global telecommunications. We now have nearly 200 agents worldwide and clients in more than 160 different countries. Joseph lives in New Jersey in the United States with his wife. They have two daughters in college in Maryland.

Other sites related to Namada.com that are pertinent to this article: http://www.globaltollfree.us; http://www.globalagents.us

Packing and Crating Services – Get Moving with Toll Free Numbers

2007-12-15T04:50:00.001-08:00

If you are moving your household and do not know where to search for packing and crating services, try locating a toll free numbers directory. You can make free calls to local craters and packers and inquire about their services. It is convenient and easy to dial a toll free number, get all your queries answered, and arrange for the service without having to pay a dime.

Packing and crating services take away the burden of dismantling, arranging, packing household goods, and making the actual delivery. They ensure all fragile goods are delivered safely without any damage.

Online toll free directories can make your task of locating a packing service easier. Just type in the keywords, or if you know the business name, any part of the business with your regional area, and press enter. The results page would show you all the packing and crating services by location near you.

Toll free numbers have gained in popularity due to their ease of use. Any kind of query related to packing and moving can be placed to be answered immediately or through a return call. In addition, all this comes for free. It is great for both the business and the customers to be able to communicate with so much ease, any time of the day.

An online toll free numbers directory is just like a yellow pages directory, except that it provides toll free numbers along with other standard details. The online version keeps the directory intact and makes it easy to browse with search tools and other facilities. The businesses and services can be located alphabetically, through business names, geographic location, or relevant keywords.

If you need to urgently contact a packer and mover, and need to know more about local services available, a toll free numbers directory or its online version can help you quickly browse through the list and make free inquiries.

For more information on toll free packing and crating services, visit http://headings.internettollfree.com/packing-crating-services.html packing and crating toll free numbers

The author is the content developer of online internet toll free directory http://headings.internettollfree.com internet toll free directory He can be contacted at marketing@searchinfluence.com

Gift a Basket with Toll Free Numbers

2007-12-13T22:31:00.001-08:00

Gift baskets come in a wide range of styles, packaging and content. There is a gift basket for every occasion – birthdays, weddings, ceremonies, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and other social occasions. Toll free numbers make it easy to deliver gift baskets with a free phone call.

There is a lot to choose when it comes to gift baskets. There are fruit gift baskets, chocolate gift baskets, gourmet baskets, organic food baskets, dry fruit baskets, baby gift baskets, sports gift baskets, and so on.

Toll free numbers make it easy to inquire about gift baskets and order one whenever a need arises. It could be a friend’s birthday, an unexpected ceremony, or a wedding shower that leaves you wondering how to go about arranging for a gift.

Browsing through a toll free directory provides instant access to local and regional gift basket suppliers who are just a free call away. Simply fetch the toll free number and inquire about home delivery services, the types of gift baskets available, and how to go about ordering one.

An online toll free numbers directory also carries classified ads of local gift suppliers, apart from other information like website addresses, emails, and physical addresses. If you have any difficulty locating gift suppliers, you may easily go online and search in an 800 numbers directory.

Various facilities available in a toll free directory make it easy to search online for gift suppliers. You may search with keywords, parts of business names, or just the business category. If you know the toll free number, the reverse lookup tool can fetch you the physical address of the service provider as well.

For more information on toll free gift basket services, visit http://headings.internettollfree.com/gift-baskets.html gift basket services toll free

The author is the content developer of online internet toll free directory http://headings.internettollfree.com internet toll free directory He can be contacted at marketing@searchinfluence.com

Toll Free Numbers Bring Janitor Services Closer

2007-12-07T23:05:00.001-08:00

Cleaning needs can arise any time. Whether it is a particularly bad day, repair work debris, or routine kitchen accidents, you may need to call up a janitor service to help you get the shine back on your premises. Toll free numbers come in handy in such situations.

Janitor services provide a team of trained professionals who know the art of cleaning well. Using special equipments and cleaning solutions, they can help in removing stubborn stains and keeping the surfaces unharmed at the same time.

If you need urgent help in cleaning the windows, help is just a free call away with toll free numbers. Do you need to decorate the plants well? A janitor service can be of help. Repaired your room interiors recently? Call the toll free janitor service number and get the debris removed. No matter what the cleaning requirement, you can quickly consult and seek information over a toll free number.

If a total cleaning package is required, dial the toll free number to inquire about complete cleaning packages that can take care of every nook and corner of your premises. You may get customized plans to suit the type of construction material and fabric used in the premises.

Janitor services are easily available through toll free numbers. If you consult an online toll free directory, you may also get access to additional information such as website addresses, emails, physical contact details, etc.

Online toll free directories use the reach and technology of the Internet to provide access to janitor services located anywhere in the country. They also contain easy search facilities like keyword and business name look up to speed up the searching process.

For more information on toll free janitor services, visit http://headings.internettollfree.com/janitor-services.html janitor services toll free numbers

The author is the content developer of online internet toll free directory http://headings.internettollfree.com internet toll free directory He can be contacted at marketing@searchinfluence.com

Voice over IP Offers Your Business an Inexpensive Alternative To Toll Free Numbers

2007-12-04T22:55:00.001-08:00

New businesses can now let their customers contact them for free or inexpensively with the use of Voice over IP telephony, without having to lease the ever more expensive toll free numbers offered by many telecoms companies around the world. With Voice over IP telephony, local numbers can be setup in scores of towns and cities across a country at relatively low costs. These can then connect to a central Voice over IP service provider, which will allow free or low rate calls to you from your customers.

Internet telephony or Voice over IP as it is more commonly known has been hailed as the next big thing in the telecommunications world for quite some time. In the past it has been plagued with poor sound and connection quality, as well as complex and frustrating installations.

With huge advances in Voice over IP technology in the last few years, you no longer have to sit at your computer in order to make a phone call over the Internet using Voice over IP. It is now possible to use an ordinary phone, connected to a Voice over IP adaptor (gateway). Some specialised Voice over IP phones (IP phones) have this technology built into their circuitry, effectively allowing you to plug and play.

Voice over IP splits your voice into Internet Protocol Data Packets. These packets are then routed over the Internet. This makes it a lot cheaper for Voice over IP service providers to carry your calls. Using this method Voice over IP service providers only have to pay a small termination fee at the point where they drop your call off. This in turn make Voice over IP extremely cost effective for those companies who cannot afford the high costs associated with those of toll free numbers. It would then become possible for example to rent phone numbers in major cities across a country at cheap rates, and people in these cities would then be able to talk to you for just the cost of a local call.

In the past few years Voice over IP has matured and is fast becoming the way to make cheap rate calls both nationally and internationally. In fact most major telecoms companies around the world, are now gearing up to charge us for the amount of data sent or received, as opposed to the length of call time. Many businesses are taking early advantage of the huge cost savings for them and their customers, through the implementation of Voice over IP telephony.

Thanks for reading my article. Please feel free to give it a rating at the bottom of this page.

Jason Morris is co-author, search engine optimization and marketing consultant of Business Phone Systems Direct. An established communications company, offering advice and implementation of high quality business phone systems.

Your Toll Free Number May Be Driving Business Away

2007-12-04T22:53:00.001-08:00

When I launched my company, Championship Communication, ten years ago, a veteran entrepreneur advised me, “Get your toll free number right away.” He argued that I would attract more clients and keep ongoing clients happy if they could call me at no charge.

“But,” I asked, “isn’t that quite expensive?”

“No, Bill, it’s surprisingly reasonable, and it will be well worth the moderate cost because of your increase in customers.”

Following his advice, I got an 800 number and displayed it on my stationery, Web site, business card, and E-mail signature. For a decade, I mentioned that number when I was leaving a voice mail message for an out of town contact I had called and missed.

Then not long ago, I started rethinking whether my toll free number was gaining business for me. Discussing this with a professional speaker colleague, I was surprised to hear him say, “People who want you to have a toll free number, so they can save three or four dollars when they call you, are unlikely to be able—or willing—to pay the professional fees your experience merits. If they are so cost conscious that they don’t think they could afford to call you, then how will they change that mind set to invest in your services?”

His idea startled me. At the same time, his logic seemed sound. Over the next few months, I started looking at my monthly telephone bill to see who was using my 800 number to reach me. The answer: mostly friends and relatives.

Even worse, one company I had never heard about printed my toll free number as the contact number for its customer service department. I spent some agonizing times assuring callers I had nothing to do with that company.

Also, I reasoned, in the era when many calls originate from people using cell phones, the savings an 800 number once promised are likely to be obsolete. With most providers, cell phone minutes used are cell phone minutes, period.

Then I thought back to my twenty-three years in management. Like every manager, I fielded numerous calls from sales people who wanted to talk with me about their product or service. How did I decide which calls to return from someone whose name meant nothing to me? Simple—I eliminated the calls from strangers with toll free numbers. I knew I was in for a sales pitch, and with my packed schedule taking time for those calls would not demonstrate wise time management.

Remembering that, I wondered how many people had filtered me out of their calls-to-return list since 1996 because of my 800 prefix.

However, I didn’t want to trust my intuition alone. So I surveyed twenty-five professional speakers I had become acquainted with through our state and national associations. Included in my survey: the speakers with the most book sales, highest fees, packed calendars, and greatest reputations. Most I reached by E-mail, and with the rest I simply checked their Web sites.

The results astonished me. Out of the twenty-five, only eight have toll free numbers. The seventeen others were prospering nicely with ordinary phone lines. The most significant indicator: a speaker with a $20,000 keynote fee publishes his office and cell phones, but no toll free number.

So I took the logical next steps. I called the phone company and canceled my toll free number. I notified my friends and relatives who had been using the number that it was no longer active. The tech professional who makes requested changes in my Web site eliminated the number from those pages, and even from the “landing pages” accessed through Google. And I eliminated the number from my formal E-mail signature.

Do I fret because the toll free number remains on my business card and stationery? Not really, certainly not enough to order a fresh batch of both. I’ll change those eventually. Meanwhile, from what I have learned I will not be missing out with top-tier prospects.

I recommend that you evaluate whether my findings match your professional niche. If your toll free number attracts mostly friends, relatives, and marketers who want you to spend money on them, it’s time to switch to a traditional phone number. You’ll save substantial dollars annually, and more importantly you will attract the caliber of callers you want to do business with.

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps organizations “Finish in First Place” by strengthening their communication, motivation, sales, and customer service. His speeches, seminars, and communication coaching have benefited numerous clients, including the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gamble, Missouri Bar, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit his Web site to sign up for his complimentary monthly E-mail newsletter: http://www.ChampionshipCommunication.com Call Dr. Lampton to discuss how his services will benefit your organization: 770-534-3425. E-mail him: drbill@ChampionshipCommunication.com

Why Your Tiny Business Wants A Toll Free Number NOW

2007-12-03T03:08:00.001-08:00

All small business owners dream of greater leverage which means the reaping large profits from a simple inexpensive tool. So they look around for tools, tactics or software that will give them an edge. But they miss one of the most effective tools that sits right under their nose. The profit-building tool that most small business people miss is the toll free number.

Independent surveys have shown that toll free numbers can increase your business’ sales, improve the branding and perception of your company and significantly increase the value of your business at the point of sale. Below are 3 critical reasons why you should get a toll free number for your small business today.

Reason 1. You’ll Enjoy Increased Sales

Vanity or custom toll free numbers such as 1 800 WORKOUT are proven to increase sales. PRWeekly stated that such numbers result in more calls that are better qualified both by desire for - and also the ability to buy - the product or service. With the right phrase, a specific number for your business will make an instant bridge in your customer's mind between a desire she has and your product or service.

Reason 2. You Can Increase The Asset Value Of Your Business At The Time Of Sale

Smart entrepreneurs think differently. They don't just see their small business as a vehicle for creating sales. They see it also as a potential commodity for future sale. They know that the greatest cash windfalls in business can come from selling the whole company. And a toll free number can help you sell for a significantly higher than you might expect…

Much like internet domain names, a good vanity toll free number will appreciate in value over time. For instance, 1 800 COMPUTER has recently been valued at $500,000! While you may not easily find million-dollar 800 numbers, there are still opportunities to be found in 877 and 866 area.

Reason 3. You Could Easily Make A National Brand Out Your Small Business

If you were looking to buy from 2 companies and the first company had a toll free number and the second didn't which would you call? If you're like most consumers the answer will often be the first one. But there's also evidence that you'd trust the first company more. Consumers perceive companies who have toll free numbers as being bigger, better, more reliable and longer established.

If toll free numbers can do all this for a small business, why do so few small companies use them? The answer is their perception of the cost. Home or small business people expect these services to be expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. A toll free number service can be obtained for less than $15 a month and a vanity number could be obtained for $30.

Toll free numbers can benefit your business in several additional ways. To learn more visit: http://www.tollfreenumberweb.com or Toll Free Number. There is also information here on toll free numbers for families and non-business use.

Do You Need A Toll Free Number Service For Your Business?

2007-12-01T03:08:00.000-08:00

That is one of the first questions we should ask to ourselves when starting a business. In order to succeed in our new venture, we need to develop a marketing plan, that includes a communication strategy with our future customers, and it is one of the main reasons why we have to study all the different options available in the market, and the 1 800 number is one of them.

I am sure that you know what a toll free number is, and that you probably have called to one of these numbers in the past. Anyway I am going to explain what it is. A toll free number or "800 number" is usually setup by a company so the customers can contact them free of charge and then the recipient of these calls get billed by the phone company. The local calls you made to this vanity number are "free" because the company paid for the service. All these calls are already paid by the company and have no cost for the customer. The original area code of a toll free number was 800 but as time went by, phone companies were adding new area codes like 888, 877 and 866. A lot of people ask, is a 866 or a 877 a toll free number? The answer is yes, they are free, and probably new area codes will be added in the future. Well, now that we know what a toll free number is, we must find out if it is really necessary to get one for our company.

In my opinion an 800 number can be one of the best tools to increase your sales and you should have one, especially if you are a consulting services company. You can use it to teleconference with a group of clients, to offer training to your customers and it can also be used to accept credit cards, many people do not feel safe about using their credit cards online and they prefer to do it by telephone. Of course, you can use it to give customer support that adds a great value to the product you are trying to market.

But one of the most important reasons to have a toll free number is that it can give your small home based business the image of a large company and it is an effective way to communicate with people from all over the country, they get to know about you and your products and services in an easy manner and free. You can get voicemail services if you want and record a message with information about your products and services, then put your vanity number in ads, and sit on the phone to wait for the calls to come in. If you are a large company, you can use a toll free number to setup a call center for your customers. These are great toll free services that can improve business and gives you the possibility to attain a better image. Of course not everything is positive, you will have costs to cover and some people only call on your toll free number because it is a free service and might not be not interested in your company or your products, making you waste time and resources, but I truly believe that the good things surpasses the bad ones.

Jon Bono owns and operates http://www.tollfreenumbersguide.com, a website with all the information you need to know about Toll Free Numbers

Are You Thinking About a Toll Free Number for Your Business?

2007-11-30T00:21:00.001-08:00

When you think about it, toll free numbers have really gone far. Today, there are literally hundreds of toll free providers and companies out there that can give you similar basic features.

Each year it seems that the prices and services of these toll free number services keep going down. That’s due to the fact that the long distance companies have been fighting each other for the longest time regarding who has the lowest rates. In the end, it is the consumer that wins as we benefit from this.

Toll free numbers have really lost their importance over the last few years. Don’t get me wrong, if you can get a toll free number today and can afford it, by all means do so. It will raise your credibility with your customers and clients and give your company a larger image, even if you are a one man show. As I mentioned above, long distance companies are in the ever long battle to provide you, the consumer, with the lowest rates and packages. Therefore long distance is included in most cell phone service plans and residential home service plans at a flat rate. What this means is that there no longer is this need for toll free support, or at least not as much as there used to be. Today, larger companies typically use these toll free numbers to take orders for their business.

One of the best ways to utilize a toll fee service today is to get a vanity number. That will allow you to market or advertise your company’s products or services using a number that people can remember and will connect them with your company. They will even refer friends to your business for the simple fact that they can remember your information. That’s one of the reasons that I like to use vanity numbers with each of my toll fee numbers. There are right way and wrong ways to go about selecting the proper vanity names. On my website I go into great detail of how to end the frustration of selecting vanity numbers. Check it out; it’s a great resource if you plan to get involved with any toll free number service.

Keep in mind that when selecting a toll free number you have options. You are not only limited to an 800 number. You have prefixes that include 888, 877 and the newest 866. This should give you greater flexibility when coming up with your vanity numbers as well.

For more information regarding your own Toll Free Number check out this website http://www.1tollfreenumber.com now for more details.

Do I Really Need a Toll Free Number for My Business?

2007-11-30T00:20:00.001-08:00

Toll free numbers are no longer only for big corporations. If you have a business today, and want to be seen as serious, you absolutely need a toll free number.

Why do you need an 800 number? Here are only a few of the reasons:

Your customers will know they are valued: after all, you are footing the bill for their benefit.
In your customer's eyes, your 800 number places you at the same level with the more prestigious, service-oriented companies.
You can use it as a marketing or sales tool. Starting a specific marketing campaign to which you assign a toll free number, will help you measure the success in real time.
Helps you increase your sales: it's so much easier to pick up the phone and call, when you know you don't have to pay! Then, once you have your potential on the line, studies show your dollar value per order can increase ads much as 40%, because of the excellent opportunity for up-sells.
Customers are more likely to call for assistance if there is a toll free number available.

You also don't have to get a separate line for your 800 number, but instead you can receive the calls through your regular business line.

So, you decided to get a toll free number. Then here are a few suggestions for things to look out when getting a toll free number:

make sure you know exactly what your cost will be.
find you if you can redirect your calls to another number, in case you need to: after all, the purpose of a toll free number is to get people calling you, and talking to you. So, if you are out of the office, or away on some business, having your calls transferred to your cell phone will be very useful.
see if you can get a vanity number. What is a vanity number? It's a series of numbers that if typed on your phone keypad spells something memorable about your company. This is great for branding purposes, and makes you toll free number more memorable.

Adriana Copaceanu helps gift professionals grow their business. She also offers affordable web design to the gift industry at her gift basket portal.

How to Save Thousands on a Multi-Line Phone System with Free Toll Free Number

2007-11-30T00:19:00.002-08:00

If you’ve priced a multi-line phone system, even for a small company, you know the price can range anywhere from $2000 up to $8000, and even higher.

Factor in the cost of wiring and your cash outlay becomes bigger.

But what if I told you that you could have a multi-line telephone system for less than $10 a month?

• No wiring
• You get your own personal 800 toll free number with the system
• Plus you get a bundle of other features expensive systems can’t touch

Sounds rather unbelievable, doesn’t it? But all you have to do is check out ‘toll-free pbx telephone communication services’ on the Internet. You’ll find it’s all absolutely true.

Here is how a toll-free business phone system works.

Your phone can be answered in a number of different ways.

Each of these messages can be setup to automatically click-in at appropriate times of the day. That way you don’t have to remember to activate them manually. You won’t end up driving a block away from your office and suddenly think that you didn’t change the telephone message before you left.

No busy signals.

It doesn’t matter how many extensions are being used, your phone will always be answered. If an extension is busy, the caller will be invited to either stay on the line or leave a message. And if they decide to hold, you can provide music while they wait. This music can be anything you want because you select it...record it...and upload it using your personal control center.

Have your calls forwarded.

This is another feature with toll-free business telephone services. If you’re going to be out of the office and want all your calls transferred to another number, you can set this up in less than a minute through your control center on the Internet.

Also, if you are expecting an important call or fax and won’t be in the office to receive it, relax. Your multi-line toll-free services will send you an alert as a text message on your cell phone or PDA.

Here’s still another ‘out-of-the-office’ feature. All messages left on your voice mail are recorded as a ‘wav’ file which means they can be e-mailed. And they will be...automatically. So wherever you are, you have access to your messages either on your computer or by picking up the phone and calling your voice mail.

Customize your phone number.

Let’s say you run a wholesale florist business. Think how much easier it would be for you and your customers if you had a toll-free number such as 1-800-FLOWERS. Easy to remember. Simple to give out over the phone. And every time someone sees or uses your telephone number, you are promoting your business.

Your toll-free business phone provider will help you select a custom number that fits your business.

Keep track of all your calls.

All these features are available without new equipment, wiring or delay.

A toll-free business phone system will give you everything you need or want...and then some.

Manohar Chapalamadugu is the president and founder of 800PBX Inc. The company offers reliable and affordable Toll Free PBX services with no double billing. Visit http://www.800pbx.com.

Can Your Business Succeed Without a Toll Free Number?

2007-11-30T00:19:00.001-08:00

The toll free number is an indispensible part of doing business today. Toll-free numbers allow consumers to contact your business without having to pay for the call themselves. Toll free numbers can be a powerful sales and marketing tool and consumers have come to expect companies to have a toll free number for their customers to reach them. Many times, a toll free number will also give you more benefits than a local number service.

90% of Americans report using a toll free number and studies show that using a toll free number in your advertising increases your response by 30%. Other research shows that when faced with a choice of several similar businesses, consumers are much more likely to call a business with a toll-free number than a business with a local or long distance number. The reason for this is two-fold. One is because, right or wrong, people see a company with a toll free number as being larger and more stable. Secondly, they don't want to have to pay for the call themselves.

Some of the benefits of using a toll free number include number portability, call blocking, and caller id. In 1993 the FCC ruled that toll-free numbers are portable. This means that a toll free number belongs to the toll-free subscriber and not to the carrier. A company can now advertise with their toll free number with confidence knowing that if they change their toll free service provider, they won't have to change their number as well. A toll free number also allows you to block calls from areas where you don't do business. You can advertise your toll free number and not be concerned about paying for calls from consumers outside of the area that you do business in. Another benefit of toll free numbers over local numbers is caller ID. On a local line callers can block their id from being captured. Toll free lines use automatic number identification (ANI) to capture the caller id. Because you are paying for the call, you have the right to see who is calling.

Toll free numbers are an integral part of doing business today. They combine a powerful sales and marketing tool with added benefits over a local line. Small and large business alike use toll free numbers to appeal to a larger percentage of consumers, establish confidence with their customers, take advantage of features not offered on local lines and capture 30% more of the market. Can your business succeed without a toll free number? I guess that depends on your definition of success.

Brandi Cummings, an expert in the field of virtual telecommunications recommends checking out Freedom800.com (http://www.freedom800.com), a leading provider of toll free numbers and virtual office technology for small businesses.

5 Easy Ways to Increase Your Business Using a Toll-Free Number

2007-11-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

Toll-free numbers allow customers to contact your business without them having to pay for their call. Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to call a business with a toll-free number than those who only have a long-distance number, and 90% of Americans say that they use toll-free numbers. By following these five easy steps, you can discover for yourself how a toll-number can help your business grow.

1. Expand your market. Toll-free numbers allow you to use the same number for receiving local toll and state-to-state calls. This gives you the opportunity to market your business nationwide. Even if you don't provide service in certain areas, toll-free numbers have the flexibility to block calls from those areas.

2. Advertise your number. Toll-free numbers lend an air of legitimacy and professionalism to your business. By using a toll-free number, your business may appear larger and more established to the consumer which will make him/her trust you more.

3. Initiate a direct response mechanism for impulse buyers. By allowing your customers an avenue to immediately react to your company's efforts calling for their action, this prompts significant increases in phone orders. It has been found that these buyers generally order more merchandise and higher ticket items nearly every time they call.

4. Qualify your buyers. Toll-free numbers enable your business to use time more efficiently and effectively. With a toll-free number, you know that someone who has called your business is already interested in what you have to offer. You spend less time trying to find interested prospects and let the number find them for you.

5. Analyze your call detail. Toll-free numbers allow you to track calls and access all of a call's details such as the number, time, date and duration of every call. This information cannot be blocked and is an excellent tool for generating leads which can lead to more sales.

Katherine Hansen is an experienced Business Writer who deals with various telecommunications topics, offering you interesting and useful information on long distance calling services.

Selecting a Toll Free number?

2007-11-30T00:17:00.000-08:00

Toll Free numbers have gone a long way; nowadays there are hundreds of toll free companies and resellers out there that provide the same basic features. Enhancements on telephone applications enabled toll free service to acquire most if not, all of the telephone applications inherent in landline services.

Consumers now look for quality of service provided by telecommunication companies with respect to appropriate pricing. The advancement of T1 lines and their corresponding circuits, colocation and cooperation between competing companies now allowed to consumer to call different networks which was just a dream 10 years ago. Now wireless phones, VoIP phones, enhanced landline, drives voice communication to its peak.

Analysts believe that wireless communication is going to take over as the main medium of mass media in the near future as wireless bandwidth becomes faster and more secure. Businesses are now trying to integrate as much of their well-invested telecommunication products to wireless and web based applications. Toll Free numbers are a staple for a successful business venture, proven again and again by many different experts, white papers, feasibility studies and old fashion experience. Technology convergence remains fast but what will happen to toll free numbers?

VoIP long distance companies are able to provide toll free service, which is nothing, more than a collect call forwarding service at a much cheaper price than most stand alone toll free providers. Consumers are still wary of using VoIP phone, which have major disadvantages such as calling emergency numbers like 911. Consumers believe that the lack of access to such important government service is not worth the price of reduced long distance cost.

Toll free numbers however, which are dependent on incoming rather than out going minutes are less affected by this and is able to fight and win on a service price war.

The minute cost of toll free numbers has been drastically reduced for the past few years but are they really cheaper? Toll free providers have found myriads of ways to increase profit by adding additional monthly service fees on top of your phone subscription, minimum monthly minutes, expiring pre paid minutes, and the biggest scam of all to win the price war is the multiple leg pricing scheme.

Toll Free numbers as explained before are call forwarding service, which effectively makes it 2 phone calls. The first call from the original caller to the toll free service provider, then another call from the toll free service provider to the service subscriber. This is a great opportunity to charge for more while legally advertising a cheaper price. This annoys consumers but found it difficult to change service provider or acquiring a new number. Vanity numbers are hard to find and takes a week to register. For most businesses the cost of changing service providers is very expensive on wasted time and opportunities

A lot of consumers don’t know that their numbers are “portable” and can be used on any service provider assuming proper legal procedures have been done; this normally takes just as long as registering a new vanity number. There are people who also thought that Telco’s such as AT&T have more numbers in their database for them to choose from, what they don’t realize is that all toll free companies get their number availability from the same place.

Today even experienced toll free service subscriber still fall for tricks made by service provider to make money. The best advice for a good deal is the same as any other consumer advice, shop around, be thorough, and find great toll free service providers out there.

** Carlo Caparras is currently a marketing consultant for several ISP’s, webhosting, web development, outsourcing and telecommunication companies including toll free express (www.tollfreeexpress.com)