Why Your Small Business Needs An Inbound Number

If you want your small business to be competitive, every advantage counts. And in particular, those that positively impact your customers. 
Whether you’re running a boutique retail store, a home-based consultancy, or a growing e-commerce brand, the way you interact with them is vital to your success. 
Digital channels like email and social media are essential communication tools most companies have at their disposal. But for many people, having the ability to talk to a human being within your organisation is even more important.
That is one of the major reasons why over 300,000 businesses in Australia choose to have an inbound number as their first point of contact.
If this is something you’ve been weighing up recently, this post will explain why your small business needs an inbound number.

What exactly is an Inbound Number?

An inbound number is a virtual business phone number that allows customers to contact you easily, no matter where your business is located.
Unlike a traditional landline that is tied to a physical address, an inbound number can be redirected to any landline, mobile, or VoIP service anywhere in the country. This flexibility makes it a valuable asset for businesses of all sizes in Australia.
Some of the most common types of inbound numbers in Australia include 1300, 1800, and 13 numbers.
A 1300 number, for instance, is a shared-cost number where callers pay a local call rate while the business covers part of the cost. On the other hand, an 1800 number is a toll-free option where the company absorbs the entire call cost, while 13 numbers are shorter and easier to remember, which makes them ideal for brand recall.
If you’re looking to upgrade your communication system, you can get a 1300 number from Telcoworks, which offers a cost-effective and professional solution tailored for small businesses in Australia.

Benefits of an Inbound Number for Small Businesses

While setting up an inbound number for your small business will result in you incurring a cost, there are some benefits associated with doing so.
Here are six reasons why you should consider getting one.

1. Boosts Your Professional Image

First impressions matter in business and with a dedicated inbound number, your company will resonate a polished and professional appearance to callers.
Instead of listing a personal mobile number on your website or marketing materials, an inbound number reassures potential customers that they’re dealing with a legitimate business, which, in turn, establishes greater credibility with them. 
Additionally, having a 1300 or 1800 number gives the impression that your company is established and customer-focused, which can be a deciding factor when customers choose between you or a competitor.

2. Increases Customer Trust and Accessibility 

Customers value businesses that are easy to contact. So, by providing them with a centralised point of contact, an inbound number makes it more convenient for people to get in touch with you.
Thanks to call-routing features, inbound numbers ensure that calls are directed to the right department or team member, which reduces customer frustration and offers them a better experience.
Moreover, businesses with an inbound number can appear national rather than tied to a single region, which can be beneficial for those companies who want to expand beyond their local area and target customers nationwide.

3. Improves the effectiveness of your marketing activities

Marketing campaigns often involve multiple channels, such as digital ads, radio promotions, and print materials, which, if successful, can result in you receiving a large volume of calls. 
Using an inbound number in your campaigns allows you to track the performance of different marketing strategies more effectively. That is because you can assign unique ones to each campaign, which enables you to monitor which particular efforts generate the most calls and, therefore, adjust your strategy accordingly.
This data-driven approach ultimately helps small businesses to allocate their marketing budgets more efficiently and focus on the tactics that deliver the highest return on investment.

4. Allows for Flexible and Remote Work

With more small businesses embracing remote work and flexible arrangements, an inbound number allows teams to stay connected regardless of their location.
It doesn’t matter if your staff are working from home, in different cities, or even overseas, calls can be forwarded to the relevant person in real-time.
This level of flexibility helps to ensure that customer service is not disrupted, even in situations where employees are working outside traditional office environments, which is ideal for small businesses that are looking to scale.

5. Reduces Missed Calls and Increases Sales Opportunities

Missed calls can mean lost business, but with an inbound number, you can implement call forwarding and voicemail-to-email services to make sure that customer enquiries don’t go unanswered.
Indeed, many inbound number providers also offer after-hours options that allow businesses to maintain availability even outside standard operating hours.
For small businesses, being responsive to customer calls in this way can make a significant difference in securing sales and building long-term relationships. Perhaps best of all, it ensures that a missed call is not a missed opportunity.

6. Cost-Effective Communication Solution

If you think that inbound numbers are expensive or an unnecessary cost, then you should be aware that they can actually be quite a cost-effective solution for small businesses. 
Many providers offer scalable plans that closely match the different needs and budgets of a business. For instance, as mentioned, 1300 numbers allow businesses to share the call cost with customers, which reduces the financial burden on them that standard mobile or landline calls bring.
Additionally, features like call analytics, call recording, and automated responses can streamline your overall operation and improve overall efficiency across the business to save it time and money.