Toll free or 800 numbers are everywhere, and for good reason. They are a useful sales tool that helps make businesses more reachable to customers and potential clients.
In this guide we will answer what a toll-free number is, how they work, and how your business can use one in 2022. Then at the end of the guide, we’ll show you a simple way to get a 800 number with just few clicks.
What is a toll-free number?
A toll free number is a telephone number that can be called without cost to customers and clients. Calls made to a toll-free phone are free of charge for callers, because the business using the toll free number will be billed for all incoming calls.
Callers using a mobile phone may be charged minutes by the service provider, depending on the country and their mobile service provider plan.
In Canada, toll free numbers start with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833. These toll-free dial codes are the same as in the United States of America. Both countries (as well as other North American countries) share certain phone numbers through the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
Can you text a toll-free number?
Text messages can be sent between some toll free numbers and their customers and clients. This depends on whether the business has specifically enabled text messages between their customers and their toll-free number.
Benefits of a toll-free number
Businesses that have toll free phones can enjoy many benefits from using a toll free phone. Being more accessible to potential customers can lead to more leads and sales. Furthermore, a toll free number is useful for small or new businesses that want to add more legitimacy to the branding of their business.
Toll-free numbers can be 24/7 so long as the business has made arrangements for calls made after hours. Businesses using a smart communications platform could redirect calls made to their 0800 number after hours, or make it easy for callers to leave a voicemail which is then sent to the customer services email inbox.
Using a VoIP system with your toll-free number
In 2022, toll-free numbers have newfound value when used with a VoIP phone system. A VoIP phone system is a cloud-based phone system. It allows businesses to create phone numbers, make and receive calls, and create call flows for their customers, with a click of a button on a website.
Using a toll free number through a VoIP system gives businesses the ability to work flexibly, and integrate call data with their sales software such as Salesforce, Slack, and Pipedrive. This makes your toll free phone number a valuable sales tool, rather than just a point of contact for your business.
How to set up a toll-free number
Step 1: Use a Smart Telecommunications App
You can use a telecommunications app found on your browser, or download the app for your iOS or Android device.
Step 2: Create an Account
Follow the instructions on-screen to create an account using your email address, phone number, Apple Account, or Google Account.
Step 3: Upgrade to a Call Plus plan
Click 'Settings' then select 'Upgrade'. From here, choose the Call Plus plan. This will allow you to make and receive calls using a VoIP platform.
Step 4: Create a Toll-Free Phone
Click ‘Add a phone’. Then select ‘Vxt Call phone’.
Select that you want the toll-free number to operate in Canada. Then change the Number type to ‘Toll-free’ and choose your toll-free number prefix.
Step 4: Choose your plan
Lastly, choose how many prepaid minutes you want based on how many calls you expect to receive. You can always upgrade or downgrade later.
Step 5: Done!
From here, you can experiment with the other features in the VoIP system, such as setting a greeting for your customers, call queueing, holds, and more.
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