0800, 0845 Etc., Worthwhile?

[KaraokeDJ]

Has anyone considered or already have an 0845 or 0800 number?
Had a sales bloke hounding me today with a wicked offer for an 0800 diverting to mobile with no call charges.

I notice not many DJs have them so I wonder if it's worth doing.

Thoughts anyone?

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I have also often wondered about doing this so any information would be great.

[Vectis]

Oh yes.

I have an 0800 with skycom - costs me £1 per month plus call charges by the minute when folks call in. My monthly bill has NEVER gone over £5 total. If I get a call that looks like being a long one, I'll ask to call them back.

No tie-ins either and I can set up online routing plans that I can change anytime I like. So for example if I'm home, I can have it try the office number for 30 seconds, then my mobile, then whatever. And vice versa.

[wensleydale]

but does it entice people given that most have free minutes on a mobile and to call 0800 actually costs with these minutes.

this has been discussed- my personal view is that it would not entice me to call a company at all.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If it was a company that I had to ring for service then maybe, but I wouldn't think "Wow, must ring them 'cos it's a freephone number"

[Vectis]

but does it entice people given that most have free minutes on a mobile and to call 0800 actually costs with these minutes.

this has been discussed- my personal view is that it would not entice me to call a company at all.

I publish an 0800 and a mobile number with the line "If you're calling us from a mobile it may be cheaper to dial XXXXXXX"

Best of both.

[rob1963]

If it was a company that I had to ring for service then maybe, but I wouldn't think "Wow, must ring them 'cos it's a freephone number"

Agreed.

Think about it logically.

How many people will call one particular business over another, just because it's got a freefone number & they can therefore save about 2p a minute?

Bearing that in mind, I don't really see any point.

[Richard Veal]

I have had an 0800 number for several years now through BT business.
I would say this honestly BE CAREFULL.

Give it plenty of thought. why?

Well marketing will show you that an 0800 number will receive approx 20% more first time calls over a standard number and 80% over a mobile number listed in an advertising area, such as Yellow pages for example.

I dont think this is entirely true, most of our enquirys come from the web anyway and in some instances the number has worked against us simply because people dont think your local.

Sad but true, some will see it and think thats going to be expensive straight away and will dis regard your number right away.

Others think you are a national company just covering your area and want a local company so again dis regard the number.

If your brand is strong in your area then go for it but then again if your doing well, do you need it anyway?

Put it this way they arn't expensive, they look good, but be warned all that glitters is not gold.

I am considering giving mine up next March (09) when the new yellow pages comes out just to see if more local rather than national enquirys come through.

Feel free to disagree just my experience of them.

Regards Richard