Even though most businesses have websites or social media accounts, phone numbers still play a major role in how customers find you. Judge you. And decide whether to reach out. Primarily, this is because they remain the preferred communication channel for many customers who want to speak with a company employee.
That said, expectations among your target audience have significantly changed. People nowadays are prepared to tolerate engaged tones, long delays, and being bounced around from one department to another. Instead, they want fast answers to their queries, clear communication, and a smooth experience from the moment they dial your number.
For this reason, every business in Australia needs to have a professional phone number strategy. If you are not sure what this is or why you should have one, then keep on reading.
What Is a Professional Phone Number Strategy?
A professional phone number strategy is about how your business uses phone communication to support its growth. It covers everything from the type of number you use and the system behind it, to how your calls are handled and tracked.
Rather than listing your mobile or a landline as your main point of contact, a virtual business phone number, a cloud phone system, or a full VoIP phone system is central to this strategy. All of which offer features like call routing, voicemail handling, and tracking.
To appreciate the need for a professional phone number strategy, it is wise to consider it as part of your overall customer journey. In other words, when someone calls your business, they should feel like they are dealing with an organised, reliable operation. One that ensures every call is answered, directed, or followed up in a structured way.
Why Is Your Business Phone Number So Important?
You may be wondering why you need to have a strategy for a business phone. Well, the main reason why is that customer behaviour has changed. Nowadays, people often search on their phones, click a number, and expect to speak to someone straight away. If that call goes unanswered or feels like it has been unprofessionally handled, then they move on.
By contrast, having a strong business phone number setup builds trust from the very first interaction customers have with you. It gives them the impression that your business is established and ready to help.
At the same time, it also helps your internal operations run more efficiently. With a proper professional business phone system, your team can manage calls across locations, devices, and time zones. This can be especially beneficial for businesses with remote staff or that allow flexible working arrangements.
Additionally, there is also a branding benefit to having this type of system. That’s because the more recognisable your business phone number is, the easier it is for customers to remember. Therefore, this increases the likelihood that they will call you or refer your business to others.
What Are The Different Types of Business Phone Numbers in Australia?
Choosing the right number is a key part of your professional business phone number strategy. It is worth taking the time to make this decision because there are several options available to you from established providers like Telcoworks. These solutions include the following:
1. 1300 Numbers
1300 numbers are a popular choice for businesses that are growing or want to scale. With this type of number, businesses share the cost of the call with their customers. The idea is to make it more affordable for people across the country to contact you.
They can be very useful for companies operating across multiple regions that want a single point of contact.
2. 1800 Numbers
1800 numbers differ from 1300 numbers because they are free for the caller. As a result, they remove any hesitation someone might have about picking up the phone and ringing you. Irrespective of whether they are in another state or territory from where you operate.
This tends to work well for businesses, such as service providers or sales teams, that rely on inbound enquiries. Mainly, that is because a toll-free number can increase your call volume and create more opportunities to convert leads.
3. Local Numbers
If your business operates within and targets a particular city or geographic area, listing a local number could be a good idea. This can help you build trust within the community and make you feel more accessible. Some customers may feel more comfortable about calling a number that matches their location.
4. Virtual Phone Numbers & VoIP Systems
A virtual business phone number or a VoIP phone system setup is ideal for businesses with remote teams or multiple offices. These cloud-based phone systems give you the flexibility to route calls to different team members, devices, or locations, which means you never miss a call.
Perhaps best of all, it also allows you to scale as you grow by easily adding users and features without major infrastructure changes.
What Are The Main Benefits of Having a Professional Phone System?
Having a professional system will improve your customer experience, build trust, and improve the efficiency of your internal processes.
When calls are answered promptly and directed correctly, it creates a strong first impression of your business to customers, who feel valued from the outset. At the same time, it will improve your productivity because features like call routing and voicemail will help your team spend less time chasing missed calls. Hence, it will result in a better use of their time and resources.
As mentioned, these systems scale with you, which means as your business grows, you can easily add new lines, users, or features without disrupting your operations.
Lastly, it also helps you make more insightful decisions because features like call tracking let you easily see where your calls are coming from and how they are handled. By using this data, you’ll be able to refine your approach and improve the results of your marketing campaigns.
