0333 numbers 'memorable, cheap and national'

Date: 27/07/2011

No doubt many companies will already know the benefits of purchasing memorable, non-geographic phone numbers when expanding, starting out or attempting to attract more customers.

With so many prefixes available - and with so many companies all vying for business in an increasingly competitive marketplace - firms may be keen to find a solution that sets them apart from the crowd.

New 0333 numbers could, therefore, be the perfect choice, as they provide many of the same benefits that accompany 0800 numbers, but are not as common and could therefore stick in people's memories and ensure they keep a particular firm in mind.

The numbers were introduced by regulatory body Ofcom as an alternative to chargeable 08 prefixes, which means consumers can reach organisations at a single, nationwide point of contact without having to pay anything extra.

They are charged at the same rate as local 01 or 02 numbers and this is the case whether they are contacted from a landline or a mobile phone.

Businesses could find this is very useful to them, as it means individuals will not begrudge getting in touch because they will not have to pay high prices. Some prefixes charge people premium rates when they are using their mobile phone to make a call, but this is not the case with 0333 numbers.

One of the benefits of 0333 numbers is that they are very memorable, which means customers may be more likely to recall the digits with ease and then get in touch with a company. After all, if they have to spend time searching for the number or go online to discover it, they may end up just using the internet to answer their query instead.

Furthermore, because these digits provide a national presence, organisations can be based in a remote UK location and still give callers the impression they are headquartered in a busy city such as London or Manchester. This could put those who have not used the products or services before at ease and make them feel more confident about carrying out a transaction with the enterprise.

Additionally, it could make businesses seem more competitive to rival enterprises if the firms think they are based in the capital and even boost their chances of generating trade with companies that could prefer to deal with clients in well-known urban areas.

There are also many reasons why purchasing these 0333 numbers from Commsready is a good idea. There are three different options available – standard, gold and platinum – the numbers for which are categorised according to how memorable they are.

As well as receiving between 1,000 and 3,000 inclusive free minutes every month, enterprises can also benefit from the use of Commsready's free online Call Statistics tool or Call Management technology.

This could be perfect for businesses that are just getting themselves off the ground, as they provide them with several ways of monitoring the calls they receive and tracking how much interest there has been in the number. Similarly, firms are able to reroute calls, direct them to certain extensions and use the technology as a disaster recovery solution.

As well as making life easier for those working at the enterprise, it could also lead to greater levels on customer satisfaction if their query is dealt with swiftly and professionally by the correct department, thus encouraging them to return with more business or make another purchase. Individuals may also be happy to recommend a particular service or company to friends on the strength of its customer service.