0800 numbers have been around for decades but how can they help your business in the modern era?

For starters an 0800 number is far more appealing than dialing an 0345 number for anyone over 30 years old.

Why is this? It comes down to years and years of advertising by 0800 businesses on the TV, radio and in newspapers - 0800 is an acronym for 'FREEPHONE' and ask anyone aged over 30 and they will be able to tell you just how much an 0800 number costs to call.

As for 0345 numbers, you will probably get a response similar to - 0345 numbers are something new that was brought in, possibly calls will be charged at a local rate, but they are certainly not free. You may even experience confusion with consumers mistaking the 0345 numbers having a similar tariff to the more expensive, premium rate 0845 numbers. The bottom line is that 0345 numbers have never been associated with freephone tariffs.

Think of people that are more senior in age to yourself, such as your parents or grandparents, perhaps an elderly neighbour. How likely are they to call a number that is 0800 verses a number that begins with 0345 - the answer is 'not very likely at all.'

They will be wary of how much they are spending for a call that they might not have control over. If these older customers are calling a business then the chances are that they will be expecting to be put in a queue, and that even once they have connected to a customer service agent at the other end, then they will want to ask lots of questions about the product/services that they are enquiring about.

They need time and a freephone 0800 number means that 'Time costs nothing'.

If there was an advert for an 0800 number in the local paper next to an 0345 number then this is going to attract a lot more enquiries based on the cost factor alone.

The modern world sees the majority of the population in the United Kingdom using a mobile phone each and every day for both business and leisure.

And the majority of these people are savvy and know that 0800 numbers are free to use from a mobile device. Students on pay as you go tariffs and those elderly folk again are 'in the know' with regard to tariffs and calling an 0800 number from a mobile is an easy way to avoid charges or eat in to their phone operators plan.

0800 numbers are nationwide too, so no matter whether you are in the Shetland Islands, Belfast, Llandudno or Guernsey your business will have a wide market appeal irrelevant of where you are located.

And the 0800 are not just nationwide but they are also memorable. There are many memorable radio adverts and TV jingles that are lodged in peoples minds from their childhood days. I know that there are some that I can still remember, and more importantly I can also remember the brand that they represented - a simple marketing win!

So how much better is having an 0800 number for your business? Research has proved that companies using an 0800 number have seen an increase in call volume of up to 175 per cent verses having a standard landline or 0345 number.

From the moment that the consumer picks up their handset to place the call, you have got off to a great start as they will be impressed that you are not one of those companies that is trying to scrape every penny from them, but instead you are valuing their custom by allowing them to connect with you for free and this will earn you respect and with respect comes loyalty.

You can find out more about what an 0800 number is and more by contacting Number Supermarket today. By providing virtual telephone numbers to businesses of all shapes and sizes, they help keep business communications running efficiently. Call today on 0330 332 0400 to talk to a member of the Number Supermarket team.