The FCC has now released five toll free prefixes for businesses and other organizations to purchase: 800, 888, 877, 866, and now 855. With the amount of toll free numbers available increasing exponentially, what’s the difference, and which is best?
When it comes to new things, the latest and the greatest new products tend to get the spotlight. However, this tends to be different when it comes to toll free vanity numbers. In the world of phonewords, 800 is still best. When it comes to band perception, simplicity, and the widest demographic range possible, only one toll free prefix stands out after all these years: 800.
Brand Perception
What does it take to prove custom numbers lead to business success? One could easily do it with one word: 1-800-FLOWERS. This brand completely upended the floral industry. Using the brilliant, simple system devised by innovator Carl Wescott and popularized under the leadership of Jim McCann, thousands of flower shops in America were united under a simple banner, and orders could be taken through one simple, toll free number. The result created a boom in the industry, and a corporate legend was born.
How did a custom 800 number help? When customers call 1-800-FLOWERS, they think they are talking to a national flower vendor. The reality is that 1-800-FLOWERS (in many cases—the company uses drop shipments and has its own proprietary products) is simply a broker. Florist nationwide under the brand’s Bloomnet network all received the benefit of being under one toll free vanity number.
Simplicity
Say it out loud: “One eight hundred.” Now, recite the other toll free prefix options available: “One eight seven seven.” “One eight eight eight.” “One eight five five.”
What’s the difference? Syllables. The 1-800 prefix is simpler and easier for customers to remember after all these years—which leads to the final point.
Demographic Awareness
The 800 prefix has been around for decades. Put simply, every corporation with an 800 number has helped drive these toll free vanity number prefixes into your customers’ minds already. When customers see 1-800 underneath your business name, they know that you are a serious business.
For exceptional brand perception, unmatchable simplicity, and inborn demographic awareness, the 1800 vanity number is unbeatable. The best toll free numbers, after all these years, belong to the “oldie but goldie” prefix, 1-800. “How do I get a vanity phone number?” you ask. Find out more from telename.com.