Number Lowdown on Toll Free Numbers
March 21, 2009
Statistically speaking, toll free numbers are proven to be a vital part of any business. Interestingly, toll free numbers were first created in the 1960’s so that big corporations could feel free to keep their customers on hold for longer periods of time. Since there was not cost involved for the customer, it worked well. Since then, the use of toll free numbers has skyrocketed and even today, there doesn’t seem to be any end of use in site.
Let’s look at some general statistics about toll free numbers and get a better understanding of why a toll free number is essential for good business.
- More than 90% of Americans use toll free numbers, with more than a third of people making 60 or more calls to toll free numbers a year.
- The average amount of toll free number requests that come in a month for the prefix 888 averages close to 250,000, with close to three million new 888 numbers generated in a year. Because of the high demand, the new 877 prefix had to be created to meet the demand.
- Toll free numbers help generate billions of dollars a year in sales and services.
- Research shows the more than 80% of internet users will first look to locate a toll free number on a company’s website before placing an order for service or product information.
- On average, a phone order can be up to 70% higher than standard mail order.
- An advertisement that features the company’s toll free number can generate more than 30% more orders than those ads without a toll free contact number.
Toll free numbers are a common part of the business world and have been for a long time. Customers tend to rely on and trust in companies that have a toll free presence. The statistics only confirm what most consumers already know – having a free resource for established customers and potential new customers brings in business.
Posted in Benefits of Toll Free Numbers, Business Basics, Starting a Small Business, office communications
