0845 numbers

[stez]

I am taking my ad out again this year in yellow pages and for the last three years have always had my home phone no and mobile,this year they have advised me to have four 0845 numbers with four local areas next to them
the salesman recommends this will bring in a higher class of bookings as well
as the normal enquirys etc.
my point is this really .will changing from my home number to 0845 numbers
effect me in anyway as regards to the advert,have any of you got 0845 number and what effect has it made to your disco
any advice comments would be really great thanks

[TonyB]

I do use one 0845 number. I'm not so sure if it is a good idea because some people think they are premium rate numbers and won't use them. Only reason I decided to use one was so that I could divert it to wherever I want. Does it cost more to have 4 numbers? I'm wondering if the salesman is more interested in earning extra commission rather than what works best.

I think having one 0800 number would be of more benefit.

[theoloyla]

So far as I am aware the only advantage of 0845 numbers is for people calling you from outside your local exchange area. Since most of my work these days is fairly local I dont see it as important

[Corabar Entertainment]

From previous chats with Yellow Pages, I think what they are trying to get you to do is have an 0845 number for each YP that you advertise in. That way, they / you can monitor how many calls come through from the YP directory. This does mean that you shouldn't use any of the numbers for any other advertising, or YP will claim the success!

I didn't go into it in details with them, but that was my understanding.

[TonyB]

Can you get an 0845 number that gives you caller stats? Only option I have with the one I have is to what number it is diverted to so if I had four, I wouldn't have any way of knowing what 0845 number the call originated from.

Probably easier to ask the caller where they saw your ad. !

[ross@rds]

Personally i feel that people call free numbers before anyother i think its 0800 thats free

[groovy-nights]

I have just got a 0800 cost just £1 a month have a look at http://www.skycomuk.com/ got it diverted to my mobile cost £15 extra.

[Ricesnaps]

We have an 0845 number - really did it because I didn't want my home number on the net or out in all the advertising. But it does have it's advantages. We are about to move house for the third time this year - so the 0845 number won't change, just the divert, so no loss of customer contact. It diverts to my mobile automatically if I am not at home and we get a stats package with it so you can see who has called, when and for how long.

the 0845 number was free, but I have to pay for any calls which divert to the 0845 companies voicemail.

Can't say I am disapointed - thought about 0800, but they do have a monthly cost don't they - ie you have to pay for the calls...?

[NeilP]

Groovy-Nights,

Had a look at that website (as i am interested in the competition!) and the 0800 numbers start at £4.95 per month. How did you get yours for £1 per month?

Stez, What YP are trying to do is be able to provide you with a solution to finding out from which YP the caller got your number. I don't know how other companies work, but UWDC (Utility Warehouse Discount Club) itemise each telephone number seperately on your monthly bill, so you can see how many calls you got from which telephone number. As Tony B said, if you simply ask where the got your number from, it's problem solved!

It is also a proven fact, statistically, that potential clients prefer to call an 0800 number first, then a local number second, not an 0845 local call number, and actual local number ie. 01892, 0208, 01732 etc etc. Primarily because the 0800 number won't cost them anything, and the second because they want to use a local company. 0800 numbers can improve advertising by up to 400%, so for a couple of quid a month, i would always recommend one.

If you PM me with whether your telephone number is residential or business line rental, i will forward you details of what UWDC do theses services for. Have a look and let me know if you want to know more/take it further.

[groovy-nights]

i have the low usage option.Works out to be a very good deal.

[Danno13]

15p a minute though if you divert it to a mobile!

I have an 0845 number, this years YP ad will use it as the old one used my parents number which is a pain when i'm away at uni... time will tell if it puts people off ringing me.

[groovy-nights]

[QUOTE=Danno13;80934]15p a minute though if you divert it to a mobile!

QUOTE]
you take callers name and number and tell them you will ring them back.This way it does not cost you as much.

[Danno13]

Yeah, but then you look like a cheapskate :D

It'd probably pay for itself though i guess. I mean the first call i get for an enquiry usually wouldn't be longer than 5 minutes so less than a £1 off the fee from the gig, providing they book.

[dj-jaym]

i have the low usage option.Works out to be a very good deal.

Ok clear a few things up,

Yellow pages group brought this system into place after myself suggested it to quastor group, Who paid me a visit to my own house and paid me 75.00 to discuss with me why i didnt advertise.

I told them i wanted a system to monitor the adverts and to prove they are working, This is acheivable by the 0845 prefix number as call stats can be provided to the customer, in various formats, Online Cd etc.

Its purely to give them a way of proving to you your adverts are working !.

Any more questions about the system please feel free to ask

[soundlad]

are there any free companies??

[dj-jaym]

are there any free companies??

For which service ?

[soundlad]

0845 diverted to your mobile or landline

[dj-jaym]

yes plenty type into google

free 0845 number

[Danno13]

I don't think you can get a free divert to a mobile, but i only paid a £5 one off for my landline one.

[Ricesnaps]

It is also a proven fact, statistically, that potential clients prefer to call an 0800 number first, then a local number second, not an 0845 local call number, and actual local number ie. 01892, 0208, 01732 etc etc. Primarily because the 0800 number won't cost them anything, and the second because they want to use a local company. 0800 numbers can improve advertising by up to 400%, so for a couple of quid a month, i would always recommend one.

If you PM me with whether your telephone number is residential or business line rental, i will forward you details of what UWDC do theses services for. Have a look and let me know if you want to know more/take it further.
Now I'm listening!

Can you give me some more details. Would be really interested to understand the 0800 statistics you quote - if it's not that costly, maybe it would pay for itself? I did consider an 0800 number.

More details please?

[CRAZY K]

I do use one 0845 number. I'm not so sure if it is a good idea because some people think they are premium rate numbers and won't use them. Only reason I decided to use one was so that I could divert it to wherever I want. Does it cost more to have 4 numbers? I'm wondering if the salesman is more interested in earning extra commission rather than what works best.

I think having one 0800 number would be of more benefit.

As I get "free" calls with my phone package with talk talk I always avoid ringing 0845 whenever possible because they cost me money on that package.

I always try--if given choice--- ring a "proper number" and get it free.

Maybe im not typical but im sure some other people look it the same way--

I dont need 0845 facilities--agreed proper "free" numbers 0800 would have an attraction---and a cost to you as well---

Anyway we now get more emails than phone calls these days.

Yellow pages? Just cancelled mine --Website very much more cost effective for my specialist business.

CRAZY K

[Steve 'B']

I have an 0845 due to the fact I find the price hunters tend to phone the 0800's first. If I was buying a car, do you think the fact that a company had a 0800 number would make the slightest difference? At the end of the day people who ring me are ringing because they have already had a look at the site and they are interested in a service we offer. When they dial a 0800 disco, generally I would say they have not got a clue who they are ringing and what the company service is like as it costs them nothing.

[NeilP]

Can you give me some more details. Would be really interested to understand the 0800 statistics you quote - if it's not that costly, maybe it would pay for itself? I did consider an 0800 number.


I only get told these things as a sales aid! I've had a quick look through Google, and most of the other companies providing 0800 numbers also quote either 300% or 400% better response rate according to statistics..... but none of them state where that statistic is gathered from!

Personally i feel that for 50p per week, with no contract, it can't do any harm to at least try it out. The benefit of no contract is that you can have an 0800 number for a short run advert or different 0800 numbers for different adverts and when you get you bill at the end of the month, you can see exactly how many calls you got from which number and from where they called you (it gives you the Std code + 3 digits).

The 0800 number, under the low usage plan from the same company that Groovy Nights has got his 0845 number from is better on the monthly fee (£1, whereas UWDC are £2 per month) but the call charges are a bit more expensive (3.9p per min, whereas UWDC is from 3.6p per min) and Skycom charge per min and UWDC charge per second (which is better). In summary, if you are expecting under 80 mins/month of inbound calls on your freephone, then SkycomUK are a better deal than UWDC.

The 0845 numbers are similar in comparison, but the threshold is only 45 minutes per month when UWDC becomes the cheaper option.

Both companies offer a no minimum contract service.

If you want to know more, PM with your address and i will post you the information or visit my website www.pigginsimple.co.uk and visit the Home savings for 0800 numbers on residential lines, or Business Savings for 0800 or 0845/70 numbers of business lines.

Neil.

[CRAZY K]

Now I'm listening!

Can you give me some more details. Would be really interested to understand the 0800 statistics you quote - if it's not that costly, maybe it would pay for itself? I did consider an 0800 number.

More details please?

Rice---are you surprised that people go for a free phone number first ???

If I thought it was cost effective then I would do it--BUT dont they then ring the others anyway for alternative quotes?

After all who knows whats a good quote unless you have something to compare it with??? Thats my approach anyway.

Just because they ring you FIRST is no guarantee of business.

CRAZY K

[NeilP]

Very True Crazy K

But it does help to ensure that you are one of the ones that they call to get a quote. And if it means that you get the business of say 1 in 10 calls, the calls will cost you say £3.50 (inc the monthly rental charge) then surely that's got to be good?

[stez]

great comments suggestions

spoke to yp again this morning just to make sure i had my facts right.
apparently this will be the first year yellow pages have put into place the call counter program,they have brought all the 0845 numbers off bt so they then
allocate them numbers to yp customers if and when needed.
in my case my advert covers the northamptonshire area they have chosen four areas within my book region and allocated me four different 0845 numbers
(dont know if i fully like this idea really .i am weighing the odds up on this at
the minute)
when i asked about cost they told me it will not cost me anything plus the
setting up to my home phone is done automatically
at the end of the advertisement (renewal )they will then show me the statistics (end result of the call counter program).
also being its free i cannot use it in any other way e.g.business cards other
media,s as it will not give the true statistics.
being a bit of a sceptic some times,this will be helping yellow pages a little bit more than me maybe.( being used for testing purposes comes to mind ).
have learned about 0800 numbers as well from thi thread,might well do that on my business cards and other media.
while i remember anyone taking out an ad this year in yp you now can tell them you dont want your address put on the ad (never ever liked that idea
and they will omit it.
anyway havent made my mind up as yet ,what im going to do, book not due out until april so ive got a bit of time to decide
thanks again for comments.
stez

[CRAZY K]

Very True Crazy K

But it does help to ensure that you are one of the ones that they call to get a quote. And if it means that you get the business of say 1 in 10 calls, the calls will cost you say £3.50 (inc the monthly rental charge) then surely that's got to be good?

How many calls do you get for £3-50 a month?

Depends on the length of call I guess?

I probably get 35 phone calls a month.

Then again you must reach saturation point where you are turning away business because you are booked already?

No one in my particular specialist area offers free calls that I know of--

CRAZY K

[NeilP]

OK, let's look at 35 calls a month to your imaginary freephone number, each call lasting 4.5 minutes each:-

UWDC Residential £2 p/mth + (35 x (£0.075** x 4.5)) = £13.81
UWDC Business £0* p/mth + (35 x (£0.045** x 4.5)) = £7.09

* if you get over 100 minutes per month on the UWDC Business 0800 you get your monthly rental charge waived

** Peak rates calls. Off Peak calls are charged at 3.6ppmin Business or 6.5ppmin Residential

SkyCom £1 p/mth + (35 x (£0.039 x 5*)) = £7.83

*rounded up to 5 minutes as Skycom bill per minute

So, if you are wanting your 0800 number on a residential line, then, in this example, Skycom is better value (if they can put 0800 numbers on residential lines, doesn't say on the website), but UWDC is better value if you have a business line (especially as UWDC can save you 10% on your BT Line Rental as well!). I haven't taken into account the savings made to the UWDC cost if the calls are during Off Peak times, which could reduce the UWDC cost by £1.57 on the Residential Costs (Skycom still cheaper) and £1.42 on the Business Costs (making UWDC much cheaper).

Call me on 07779 139216 if you want to talk more.