[Great Outdoors]

Thanks to Bt we are having to change our 'local' business land line number... after reviewing incoming calls slightly surprised to notice majority still use our 0800 numbers followed by mobiles, starting to question having a 'local' landline number, especially as we cover three counties.

This is probably due to the majority of our customers are outside of our 'local' area.

Thoughts appreciated... constructive 

[Matt Gibson]

I have been using an 0800 number for the past 3 months. never used one before that.. I have found that very very few people call the landline. i have it on my contacts page, but the 0800 number is everywhere else on the website.

I find that its the older people who tend to use the landlines for some reason. I also think it depends what kind of business your in between using an 0800 or a local number.

[chris scott]

Free phone and mobile only. Redirect your freephone to your mobile if you don,t answer it .
Your mobile answerphone is last in line with your missed freephone and mobile calls ending up there.This you can then check without returning to the office to check the freephone  /landline for answer phone messages.
Did that make sense i just re-read it and i seemed to be rambling!!

[BDCS]

My first leaflet just had my mobile number on - no calls. The second had the mobile and landline and the landline started to ring. We have done local out of area numbers which is all the likes of Able do which brought in a bit but nothing to write about - Local numbers are all about misleading people to think you are local to their area. I also don't like 0800 numbers because if the customer won't pay a few pence for a phone call they won't want to pay my rates ( price shoppers )
 If customers want to book a job then they have to ring the landline to get it into the diary anyway

[chris scott]

BDCS ..I agree (twice this year!) but as long as there is a "landline " number not just mobile ,the phone will ring. I class freephone numbers as landline's.
Other advantages of the freephone/mobile config is as long as you pay the bill you keep the number so office,location change have little impact on your advertising.

[johnny bravo]

its been built into elderly people  if they dont have a landline number to think twice  about phoning them,  security reasons, with a landline they seem to think you  are not a cowboy trader, but more trusting,   all these rouge trader programes have drilled this into them.     its easier to track a landline number if they do a rip off job.

[Katy Radcliffe]

I hemmed and hawed and eventually bit the bullet and got a virtual land line number. I think it is good to have a local number. 0800 would be next best, in my opinion.

If mobile works for you, then keep using it. But, I'm new, there are a lot of other outfits in my area, and I have to do everything possible to establish trust.

My biggest worry is that the entity who provides my number will go out of business or something and then I'll be stuck with a bunch of useless leaflets, business cards, and clients who can't find me. So, I should probably put the mobile number on there, as well.

[Great Outdoors]

Thks for the responses

I also don't 0800 numbers because if the customer won't pay a few pence for a phone call they won't want to pay my rates ( price shoppers )
 If customers want to book a job then they have to ring the landline to get it into the diary anyway

Carl I keep reading this... but to be honest I havent got a clue what you are saying  thks anyway 

[Great Outdoors]

I class freephone numbers as landline's.

Eh   

[BDCS]

I've added like  :

[chris scott]

I class freephone numbers as landline's.

Eh   

To a customer a freephone/landline number is "attached " some where. Where as a mobile only... in all probabilty  is only attached to the local pikey site ....ending in disa_ttachment when the poop hits the fan!
I think a freephone or landline number validates your business to a certain extent.
This is what my smartarseseal/kleenezzee training tells me.

[Matt Gibson]

I was under the impression, that alot of other businesses, see you as more of a professional with an 0800 number.. if i see an 0800 number attached to a company, i just assume they are are large(ish) size business, professional blah blah.. I guess it depends who your targeting although one things works for one, where another thing might work for another. BDCS for example is booked out, and he uses a landline. I've just booked in two large commercials, using 0800. Lee from blastaway uses an 0800 number, and is booked out..

Whatever works for you is the way i see it

[Blast Away]

The reason I don't bother with a landline is because my office is at home, I don't have a unit, I don't need one and I feel not everyone wants to leave a voicemail should they reach the answerphone, they'll ring the next company.

As I'm always out during the course of each day where the majority of enquiries come at, an 0800 number diverted to my mobile is perfect.

Just had a statement yesterday from number group. 21 calls in the last 7 days to the 0800 number.

[BDCS]

I work from home and don't have a unit - if the long haired general answer the phone then they can get either mobile number from the answer machine, leave a message or she picks up the missed numbers. 0800 or landline the principle stands.
I hate answering my mobile when I'm working - take your gloves off, dig it out of your pockets and it rings off so then I have to ring back. I refused to take bookings so they have to ring the landline or email to book work in. Customers need to realise I'm just a lowly drain jetting,gutter clearing, pressure washing, carpet cleaning numpty who dos'nt want to talk to people - I'm not a people person and thats why I employ an office general at great cost 

[Great Outdoors]

Customers need to realise I'm just a lowly drain jetting,gutter clearing, pressure washing, carpet cleaning numpty who dos'nt want to talk to people reads the daily mail - I'm not a people person and thats why I employ an office general at great cost 

[BDCS]

I'm an ex-miner who struggles to read and write and not likely to read the daily mail - more likely to be a socialist worker reader . The BNP is too middle of the road for my liking 

[Great Outdoors]

I'm an ex-miner who struggles to read and write and not likely to read the daily mail - more likely to be a socialist worker reader . The BNP is too middle of the road for my liking 

 

[Blast Away]

I'm an ex-miner who struggles to read and write and not likely to read the daily mail - more likely to be a socialist worker reader . The BNP is too middle of the road for my liking 

In the middle of the road on an island that they think is theirs!

[Great Outdoors]

I'm an ex-miner who struggles to read and write and not likely to read the daily mail - more likely to be a socialist worker reader . The BNP is too middle of the road for my liking 

In the middle of the road on an island that they think is theirs!

Lee, Hope you finish that job by Friday 

[Blast Away]

What do ya mean Mike?

Not bad weather down here. Bit of rain forecast tomorrow, no sleet.