Marketing is vital for the growth of an organisation, and it helps skyrocket the revenues, if done right. There are plenty of tactics that modern businesses do in order to get more sales.
However, businesses often overlook IVR thinking that it has nothing to do with the business growth. Well, IVR is something more than just serving the customers. With the help of IVR, businesses can close more sales while they can make the prospects aware of their new products.
This article covers some important information about IVR and how it can empower business success through marketing growth.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is a technology that enables telephone users to communicate with a computer-operated telephone system by utilising voice and DTMF tones that are input through a keypad. Through IVR, customers can interact with an organisation’s host system with either voice recognition or a telephone keypad, and then inquire about services through the IVR dialogue. This system can provide pre-recorded or dynamically generated audio to guide users in their next steps. IVR systems deployed in the network are able to handle high call volumes, and they can also be used for outbound calling as they are more advanced compared to many predictive dialler systems.
This is a very clinical explanation of what an interactive voice response is, so let’s break this down. If you are in the market for an IVR system, Simple Telecom has a range of products that Include the technology to deliver an IVR technology to your business. The IVR systems are common when routing calls into contact centres and give a customer experience that is well received.
We refer to them as free add ons, but it is part of the core platform – not so much an add on. With our 1300 number and our Call tracking number, you can have IVR systems or menus as part of the experience your caller will engage with. We don’t have IVR software, instead we have a complete web based platform that allows you to configure your system including detailing exactly what keypresses route calls and manage your incoming calls in real time.
Some people also associate the IVR technology that is present in speech recognition platforms that accept voice telephone input instead (or sometimes combined) as an IVR menu, but technically they are a lot more complicated and therefore expensive to build and maintain. This type of IVR software can be used for call centres but generally this is for large business to handle high call volumes and route calls with a seamless customer experience with automatic call distribution.
IVR Systems are commonly used to set up how customer calls are managed when they first call your business. By directing the caller to a call queue or a department or a specific person we can save time for both the caller and for the business by not tying up people on the phone who are not equipped to help the caller with their specific request.
There is not much point connecting a caller to the support department when they have a sales related enquiry.
Often at Simple Telecom we have customers that might want to appear like they have multiple departments. Using the touch tone keypad selection can give calls the impression they are going to be connected with call centres or even self service facilities. The IVR system that Simple Telecom includes is perfect for getting this perception up and running for your business.
Lastly, the other common use for the Interactive voice response system is to simply appear more professional to your customers. Given that the IVR is a free add on for your inbound calls there really is no reason not to do this!
Customers can pay bills, fees, and more over the phone using Simple Telecom’s IVR add on feature. This is done through integration with payment gateway applications that feature security and compliance measures to protect customers. To learn more about this please contact Simple Telecom and we will discuss it with you.
The Payment Gateway will handle the collection of invoice related data and the PCI data (credit card details). This can really improve your ability to get paid to improve cash flow through the interactive voice response platform.
What are the Benefits of an IVR System?
An IVR or Interactive Voice Response lets companies interact with their prospects and customers using technology. This technology used to be clunkier before, but the advancement has made it a must-have for every business, irrespective of the size and industry.
IVR solutions have now become more intelligent and have a plethora of offerings. Some telcos are even providing IVR bundled with AI and natural language processing to help businesses use natural language processing to understand customer queries better.
Here are some ways IVR can be leveraged to give businesses a winning advantage:
Long gone are the days when customers used to fill out the feedback form or reply to emails giving feedback. IVR has now changed the scenario, and customers can quickly give feedback just with a click. Streamlined customer service interactions are at the core of customer satisfaction during the rapidly moving digital age and IVR can help leverage this.
These systems give customers an option to choose from 1-5, and things can’t be more convenient.
IVR systems can automate the identification process, and it sheds the burden from the salesperson’s shoulders, while the callers also get a sense of security.
Customers can easily feed their data to the system using keys, and there is no need to wait in the ACD queues. These significant factors make customer interaction better and increase their satisfaction.
Businesses can transform the IVR options depending on their need and can get in touch with a reliable telco to get IVR services activated on their toll-free number.
With an IVR system, the bounce rate of inbound calls can be decreased dramatically. The reason is location-based routing. The IVR system automatically connects the call with the right agent of a particular location.
As a result, the callers quickly get a solution, and they don’t have to wait for longer to get in touch with a human.
IVR eliminates the chances of downtime, as this is a cloud-based platform. Even if the company’s servers go down, the IVR keeps up and running because this works on the cloud of the telco.
IVR allows businesses to offer around-the-clock uptime, and businesses can serve their customers 24×7. All the customers and prospects need good service, and that’s what a business can provide using IVR.
If you are into a business that sells services and products which require reordering or renewals, you can use the IVR system to automate the process. The outbound IVR service reminder calls the customers and asks them if they need the services or products again.
Orders and renewals can be done just with a click, while businesses can also connect the callers to the sales rep for collecting the order information using IVR.
1300 and 1800 numbers are helping Australian businesses expand their reach while making it easier for the customers to remember them. Some telcos offer IVR services bundled with these numbers, and businesses can reap more benefits.
IVR can also be activated on existing 1300 and 1800 numbers. This combination helps businesses make it easier for the callers to call them and reach the right destination to get the solution/service they need.
You are only a few clicks away from getting your new IVR system. The process for getting this setup is as follows:
Sign up for a 1300 or 1800 number from Simple1300Numbers
You can port your number if you already have a number
You can opt for a local number rather than a 1300, click on Call Tracking for this
Write your script for the audio files that form the IVR Technology. This is normally something like: “thanks for calling Billy’s Bike Shop, the number 1 bike shop in Sydney. To talk to sales press 1, for Service press 2 for accounts please press 3 and for account balances please press 4”
Supply us the script and the phone numbers that correspond to each keypress
We will provide you a price for the professional recording of the required files and setup everything up for you when it’s ready.
Getting a new advanced IVR system from Simple Telecom will lead to better customer service and listing specific menu options will help self service options and improve the efficiency of your contact centre calls.
Over the years, Interactive Voice Response has evolved and has become a marketing tool for businesses. Every business, irrespective of the industry, can use IVR to engage customers and help them in a better way.
Getting IVR service on your number is easy, and all you need is a telco like Simple Telecom. We help you activate 1300 and 1800 numbers while you can get IVR services activated on these numbers.
Click on the Contact Us button, or you can give us a call to know more about our IVR service.
You might like to believe that when a person finds your blog or clicks an advertisement, they instantly become a lead or a sale – sadly, that doesn’t happen very often. People will visit your website multiple times before making a purchase.
They will find your blog post, land on your social media, visit it again the next week, and click a re-targeting ad the following day. So, the question is – who gets the credit for the marketing channel?
Was the sale a result of your website SEO? Or was it the Facebook ad you ran?
It can be challenging to demonstrate and measure the benefits of each marketing channel. Each channel contributes to the customer journey’s many touch points.
This question is the foundation of these attribution models, and the intent of this article is to demonstrate how Simple1300Numbers low-cost products and free features can help answer this question for your business.
Marketing Attribution Modelling is a strategy that can help businesses to analyse and pinpoint which touchpoints are having the biggest effect on the overall customer journey.
Marketing Attribution Models are a set of statistical models used to determine how effective each marketing channel is in driving sales or other desired customer actions. The most common marketing attribution models are last-click, first-click, and linear.
Last-click attribution gives all credit for a sale or conversion to the last marketing channel that the customer interacted with before making a purchase.
First-click attribution gives all credit for a sale or conversion to the first marketing channel that the customer interacted with.
Linear attribution gives equal credit to all marketing channels that the customer interacted with leading up to a sale or conversion and would be one of the most common attribution model.
Using attribution models helps you understand which marketing efforts are driving the most leads to the end of the sales funnel. Simple 1300 Number has a number of products and tools that will help you with sale attribution modelling which could be used in other contexts such as custom attribution model and marketing touchpoints. Continue reading to find out more.
This saves you money and allows you to focus your advertising effort.
There are three common types of attribution models commonly used by businesses and marketers to understand their sales funnels – First interaction model, Last interaction model and Linear attribution modelling. Lets unpack these in detail as well as some other common methods
The First Interaction or First Touch Model is an attribution model that gives credit to the first touchpoint in the customer journey.
With the Last Interaction model, 100% of the credit for a conversion is given to the last touchpoint in the conversion path. So, if a customer clicked on a PPC ad, then visited the website organically, and then converted, the PPC ad would get 100% of the credit.
The Last Non-Direct Click Model gives credit to the last touchpoint in the conversion journey that wasn’t a direct click. This is a data-driven model that uses machine learning to identify the most likely path to conversion, and then assigns credit to each touchpoint along that path.
Market attribution is the process of assigning a value to each marketing touchpoint in the customer journey in order to measure the impact of each touchpoint on conversion.
The Time-Decay Model is a market attribution model that assigns credit to marketing channels based on how close to the purchase date the interaction occurred.
The position-based model is a market attribution model that assigns credit for conversions based on the position that an ad has in the conversion path.
Some benefits of marketing attribution include being able to more accurately measure the performance of marketing campaigns, being able to attribute credit to the most effective marketing channels, and being able to optimise future marketing spend.
Marketing attribution can also help marketers better understand the customer journey and identify areas for improvement.
Instead of picking up a handful of spaghetti and throwing it at the wall, you can be very targeted and specific about what marketing efforts you commit to in the long term. This means understanding what direct traffic particular assets generate, what their marketing ROI is and detailing the multi-touch attribution.
You may find out your GMB listing generates 50% of your calls, which is easily measured by using a Simple1300Number call tracking number on the listing. Then you may discover the other 25% of your customers find you from a Facebook advertisement and the rest from SEO search terms and your website.
This raises questions as to why you are spending so much with Google PPC. Understanding and attribution modelling are key data points that you can use to document the conversion path and marketing channels that work for your sales.
Direct insights into the customer journey and relevant touchpoint experiences refer to processes that allow businesses to track and analyse customer behaviour in order to optimise the customer experience. This process involves collecting data from various touch points along the customer journey, with data points that include website interactions, customer service interactions, and sales interactions.
This data is then analysed to identify pain points and areas of improvement. Finally, businesses can use this information to make changes to their customer experience strategy.
Highlighting areas for improvement and identifying underperforming campaigns refers to a process whereby a company or organisation identifies areas in which they need to improve, as well as campaigns that have underperformed. This process can be used to help set priorities and plan future improvement efforts.
Data allows marketers to track the success of their marketing channels by measuring how many leads or sales are generated from each channel. This information can help marketers adjust their budgets and strategies to get the most return on investment from their marketing efforts.
Getting a cheap and easy no-nonsense service from Simple 1300 Number will enable you to measure and track the performance of your marketing assets.
Signup here for a Call Tracking service starting at $5 per month.
Once you understand the power behind decision-making using tools such as attribution modelling you will want to implement it across everywhere you do marketing.
Simple Telecom’s free features make excellent sense for the call-tracking process and different attribution models. Making use of such things as Call Forwarding will mean you can play back the call and understand and create a feedback loop for the sales process.
Email notifications are crucial when it comes to a good attribution model – these will allow you to understand exactly when a call has occurred. If you use multiple call tracking numbers across each different asset you will be building a solid understanding of the source.
Succeeding in this fierce competition is challenging for every business! As per stats, around 840,529 business applications were registered in 2020 in the United States. Every country across the globe is experiencing huge growth in terms of new business organizations.
And it has made the competition even tougher. However, there are still some innovative marketing ideas that can help your business outshine the competition.
In this article, I’ll talk about some cost-effective and innovative marketing ideas that are helpful for almost every small and medium-sized business.
These are the four essential marketing ideas that every small and medium business should incorporate in their marketing campaign. Not just do these ideas help close the leads, but they improve the outreach of a business.
The best and most effective tactic is using a 1300-number. At Simple 1300 Numbers, we help businesses get the best vanity numbers. Also, we offer a range of packages that you can choose from depending on the requirements of your business.
Click on the Contact Us button to know more about 1300-number, or activate yours today!
Have you ever tried running A/B tests to check whether or not your marketing campaigns will stick? Did you know digital marketers are using 1300 numbers to conduct A/B tests?
Digital marketing has taken a new and exciting turn in this century, where advertisers and marketing gurus are not only looking into the creative process of generating hype and leads for a new product or service, they’re also running tests on user behaviour in different scenarios. While big companies allocate generous marketing budgets to be able to leverage digital marketing for their benefits, new or small businesses can’t afford that luxury.
However, there are always solutions that yield positive results for less than the price. And 1300 numbers are one of the best solutions for this query.
Running an A/B campaign has many benefits when launching a new product or service. Add in a 1300 inbound number to receive calls, and you get the perfect combination through which you can quantify data and gleam meaningful information from it.
But before we dive in any further, you may be wondering what is A/B testing?
A/B testing – also known as split tests – is the process of comparing the performance results of two different marketing campaigns either for a website, email, social media platform or more. It basically involves creating two versions of a marketing idea to analyse which one will be a hit among new and existing clients.
Based on the performance analytics you’ll receive from running an A/B test, not only will you find out which campaign will bring in more traffic (or clicks) but also the number of potential sale conversions as well. Companies that aren’t running A/B tests not only lose out on a lot of money but miss out on the chance to know what their customers want or how they behave.
When you add in cheap 1300 numbers from Simple Telecom, you’re easily able to translate the power of online A/B testing to fixed line marketing. Whether you’re an e-commerce business, a new restaurant, a service based company or a local venture, dipping your proverbial marketing fingers in all domains of digital marketing will yield you the best results.
And A/B Testing is one of the best ways to make sure you’re not wasting thousands of dollars on marketing campaigns that have poor Return on Investment (ROI).
Now if you’re wondering how will an affordable 1300 number from Simple Telecom help you run A/B Tests? Well, there are so many ways where adding a 1300 number to different areas of your website can cause an increase in calls made for queries or orders.
Testing out the placement of your phone number on different areas of your website can show you how easily and effectively a customer can contact you. Let’s face it, no one likes to spend minutes searching for a number to place an order or ask regarding the services provided by businesses. What may be an obvious placement of the number for you could be completely ignored by potential customers.
However, with the help of running A/B tests for the placement of your 1300 number by Simple Telecom can you show you a world of difference in the amount of calls or queries you receive on your line. Similarly, optimising local ads with a local number both online and offline can push your products and services to the right customer.
But the only way you’ll know which placement or what font works best in terms of providing the highest amount of traffic, uptick in calls and solid sales conversions, can only be through A/B tests. As a company specialising in Inbound Telecommunications, Simple Telecom understands the needs of local businesses when it comes to marketing their brand both online and locally.
Therefore, purchasing Simple Telecom 1300 numbers for Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne can help make your business visible to the local customers for the best market penetration and awareness. The combination of using A/B tests with 1300 numbers gives digital marketing a whole gold mine of statistics to use and make better decisions with regarding marketing and running campaigns.
A/B tests have become adopted by major companies all over, and not utilising them for your own marketing campaigns is a huge loss for your own brand.
Running A/B tests with 1300 numbers from Simple Telecom can open up new avenues of improving your marketing strategy and targeting specific demographics that are local to your business. You can also use 1300 numbers to test on different platforms to gauge what works and what doesn’t.
Whether your business operates purely B2B, B2C or a mix of both Simple Telecom provides reporting that will help you analyse the performance of the various A/B Tests you may run using the 1300 numbers. Simple Telecom’s reporting dashboard provides all the necessary data that can help you make the right decisions to steer your company in a profitable direction and make meaningful campaigns.
1300 numbers are not only affordable but provide insightful analysis into how well your business is breaking into a new locality or market. There are so many variations that can be achieved when running campaigns with 1300 numbers. You can diversify the mediums you push the campaigns towards, and see how effective the marketing content is.
Similarly, running A/B tests on different platforms can give a better idea on which demographic and audience suits your services and products better. The possibilities of running A/B tests with Simple Telecom’s 1300 numbers are limitless especially if your business is operating out of Syndey, Brisbane, Melbourne or anywhere else in Australia.
To know more about Simple Telecom’s 1300 number packages and the possibilities of A/B tests that can be customised for your business, contact our team to know more or set up a meeting for an in-depth briefing today.
A 1300-number or a custom vanity number sets your business apart and helps the prospects recognise it. From reputed brands to startups, businesses in Australia have now started opting for these numbers to reward their customers with a great experience while enhancing their reach.
However, a 1300-number can be more effective if you pair it with some addons. Not a lot of businesses know about these extra services, and that’s something that is stopping them from experiencing the true potential of a vanity number.
Whether you have an existing 1300-number or you are planning to get one, these following addons should be on your bucket list.
There are tons of benefits of live call answering, including you can serve your customers round the clock. Furthermore, it helps your business spread its reach, while you can minimise the pressure on the employees.
Outsourcing the incoming calls of your business helps in improving the customer experience, and your clients don’t have to wait for longer to get a solution.
Look for an Australian telco that offers multiple plans for live call answering so that you can enjoy this seamless service at a reasonable price.
Postcode prompter helps you in gaining more insights about the caller’s region. The callers get a pre-recorded instruction, and then the system asks them to enter the four-digit postcode.
Some telcos offer advanced services that include breaking down the postcode into sub-region with the help of IVR KEYPRESS.
Businesses can serve their customers better when they know about the specific postcodes and location. This addon also helps connect the call to the right department and cuts down the waiting time on call.
Call recording is the essential addon every business should club with their 1300 or 1800-number. There are tons of benefits of recording calls, such as quality assurance. Also, it helps in training new employees while keeping track of the essential information required to run the business operations.
The IVR keypress system helps the callers connect with the dedicated department they want. There are many benefits of the IVR system, such as it prevents the customers from all hassles.
The callers can quickly select the service they need or the solutions they have called for. After you get the IVR Keypress add-on integrated with the 1300 or 1800-number, the callers will hear an announcement that helps them select the right option.
Furthermore, businesses can choose up to 10 keypress options depending on the type of industry or service they offer. The IVR Keypress addon seamlessly works with international phone numbers, mobile phones or fixed lines.
Businesses can get a digital fax service connected to the 1300-number and enjoy receiving the faxes to a dedicated switch. Furthermore, the fax gets converted into. PDF document, which is easy to review and store.
Australian businesses using this addon will get the benefit of collecting all faxes in the form of PDF, so they can keep track of all essential information that the customers share with them.
All the aforementioned add-ons are important for every business that is using a 1300 or 1800 number. But is it possible to get several add ons on one number? Well, yes!
You can get different addons with the 1300 and 1800 numbers, depending on your requirements. Ask your telco about the add-ons they offer, and get them activated to better the business operations.
These are the must-have addons every Australian business should get. The best way to learn more about these services is by contacting your telco.
At Simple 1300 Numbers, we are a preferred telco in Australia that helps you get 1300 and 1800-numbers activated. Moreover, we offer a range of add-ons to help your business expand its reach while serving the customers better.
Click on the Contact Us button, and you can quickly get these addons activated.
Modern consumers are more demanding than ever because of the availability of multiple service providers and the ease of finding anything they want! So, the key to unlocking business success is customer satisfaction.
When it comes to connecting to a business, voice technology plays a crucial role, and the experts see it as a game-changer. The ever-growing popularity of voice assistants like Siri and Alexa have made consumers enjoy a hands-free experience.
In a nutshell, a business cannot ignore the voice assistants when devising a marketing strategy and running customer support operations.
But how do voice assistants affect the 1300 number? Do they make a good combination and can be used as a marketing strategy? Here’s everything you should know.
Known as vanity phone numbers, 1300 numbers are making it easier for the customers to reach the desired business. These numbers are easy to remember and can even contain phone words that are easy to remember.
A vanity phone number is a good investment for every business, and it serves some special benefits to start-ups and helps them flourish.
Furthermore, business organizations can expect higher leads and more chances of lead conversion while portraying them as professional against the competitors.
Dialling a custom 1300 number is really easy using a voice assistant, and consumers are doing it to make their lives easier. Voice assistants are everywhere, be it controlling the music track or making an appointment with the local salon.
One can easily dial a vanity number using a voice assistant like Siri or Alexa. Simply ask the assistant to dial “1300-PIZ-ZAS”, and the assistant will quickly dial the exact business number you want.
Voice assistants and vanity numbers do make a great combination for every business. They also serve an immense potential to the organization when it comes to lead generation and conversion.
No doubt, an unforgettable number is essential for the success of a business, but when it meets a voice assistant, it can enhance the chances of calls a business receives.
Customers love everything that makes their lives convenient, and that’s a reason why smart businesses in Australia are using vanity phone numbers.
Getting a custom 1300 number is pretty easy these days. You can purchase the number directly from ACMA’s official website and then get it activated by your preferred telco in Australia.
Furthermore, choose a good plan depending on your budget and opt for more features like call tracking and forwarding to serving the customers better.
Now you know that a 1300 number and a voice assistant make a great combination, so it would be great to apply for a vanity number. Get a number that relates to your business and helps people understand the services you need.
Also, the number should be dialable through a voice assistant, so it should be easy and clear. Like 1300- FLO-WER. Don’t opt for hard numbers as they may confuse the voice assistants.
At Simple 1300 Numbers, we are the most preferred telco in Australia that offers affordable plans on 1300 and 1800 numbers. We have made the process really easy, so you can apply for a number and then get it activated with us.
Contact Us today, or check the 1300 pricing plan to proceed with getting a number for your business.
As per stats, the start-up rate in Australia is 5.8%, which is pretty good! The numbers are increasing with each day as things get better for budding businesses.
However, as the numbers grow, the competence also thrives, and start-ups face immense competition for their survival. One of the core pillars that help a start-up grow is customer service and, more precisely, excellent customer service that leads to satisfaction.
Smart businesses are using 1300-numbers to make things easier for their clients. Not just these numbers are easy to remember, but they make it hassle-free to contact a business.
Here are six ways a vanity number can help a start-up grow.
A 1300 or a vanity number is a 10-digit phone number for a business. These numbers can contain phone words that help businesses fit their brand name in the number.
For example, a cafe can go for a number like: “1300- COF-FEE”. The customer would need to dial the number for the specific letter, and they can contact the business they want.
A start-up in Australia can easily apply for a custom vanity phone number with its brand name in it.
Customers these days prefer interacting with businesses that make their lives easier. Like I gave you an example of a café that can own a number 1300-COF-FEE. It will help customers remember the number, and they don’t have to do a Google Search to find the nearest café to order a coffee and some cupcakes.
There are several other reasons that make it a must for every start-up company to own a vanity phone number.
If you are a florist with the number 1300-FLO-WER. The customers don’t have to think about what services you offer. The custom phone number tells them about your business, so the interested customers can call you and get more details.
If a business owns a regular number, the prospects may have difficulty guessing the service it offers. Furthermore, more than 30% of prospects don’t even bother calling, and they go with the businesses they already know.
A 1300-number doesn’t need a landline for operations. Instead, a start-up business can operate it using any medium, including a mobile phone. The biggest problem with start-ups is that these businesses migrate more often, and the 1300-number will remain the same irrespective of the location. However, it should be in Australia.
Businesses can even use advanced features like call forwarding to offer their customers with better user experience.
This is an implied benefit of using a 1300 number. 1300-BEA-UTY is a lot better than 1300-232-889. Whether a start-up company puts this number on the billboard, hoarding, or anywhere else, it will double up the marketing effort.
Even if the customer doesn’t remember the name of the business, they tend to remember the number as it’s easy and relates to the service they need.
A start-up company with a vanity phone number looks much more professional than a regular business. The more a company promotes itself to be promotions, the higher the chances of getting more sales and customer satisfaction.
Tracking calls is a key to unlock customer satisfaction. A smart start-up company understands the importance of tracking calls and using the information to improve its service. The 1300-number telco offers call tracking, routing, and some other essential services a business can use with vanity phone numbers.
The turnover depends on how many prospects are interested in your service. For example, having a 1300-number increases the number of inbound calls, as more people remember the number, so they dial it.
Getting more calls is really helpful in increasing the turnover and closing more sales.
1300-numbers in Australia have almost become a necessity for every start-up and existing business. Not just do these numbers offer a plethora of benefits, but they help a business scale its growth. If you run a start-up, it is essential to apply for a vanity phone number and get it with the help of a trusted telco like Simple 1300 Numbers.
We offer a multitude of affordable packages with bundle services like call tracking that are really helpful for the business of all types. Moreover, we help you operate the same number Australia-wide.
Click on the Contact Us button, and apply for an amazing vanity phone number.
Getting a custom 1300 number or vanity number has become a preferred strategy among Australian businesses. From plumbers to pizza delivery chains, every business aims to have a number that reflects their brand name and helps in connecting with potential customers.
But how do I get a 1300 number with my brand name in it? Well, the process is really simple, and you can probably get your desired number.
Here’s the detailed process to apply for a custom vanity number and get it activated quickly.
Before we get to the full detail here, let’s first unpack what a 1300 number is. 1300 and 1800 numbers are inbound numbers that are a standard local call numbers that you can advertise for your business to receive incoming calls. This leads to more phone enquiries and a maximised return on your advertising dollars.
In order to buy a vanity number, you need business phone services. Unlike a traditional landline, these services work over the internet, and we call it VoIP (voice over internet protocol).
You should get a VoIP service in Australia before applying for a 1300 number. Any computer, desktop, or smartphone would work with VoIP, and businesses can use it to direct calls Australia-wide.
ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authorities) regulates 1300 numbers, so you have to look for a smart number on their website to determine which 1300 numbers are available. You need to go on this: https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#/smartnumbers-login website, and then click on Get Started.
It will redirect you to a webpage – select 1300 prefix, and enter the phone word along with choosing the status and price. Now click on Search, and the website will show you if the number you are looking for is available or not.
It even suggests the available smart numbers, so you can easily make a choice. Once you select the number and pay for it, your business will hold all exclusive rights to use it.
As long as you hold the rights, ACMA will not assign this number to any other business.
If the 1300 number that you would like is already taken, you may be able to lease or buy the number from the current owner. There are many companies that have built a business around owning a database of 1300 phone words and they will work with you to find the best number.
You can search for a number here – we might be able to help you, check here: https://console1.simpletelecom.com.au/searching
It is always the cheapest and best option for you to buy the number directly yourself as the lease fees and contract terms are generally on the more expensive side of the 1300 number market. The good news is once you are online you will get more customers and companies like Simple Telecom will work with you on call costs for your incoming calls as best as possible. There are deals such as unlimited calls, fixed landline routing, single point call overflow, automatic call routing during business hours and a streamlined operating call overflow for you.
Keep an eye on lock in contracts for toll free numbers or virtual numbers, and be sure to understand how lock in contracts may impact your business in the longer term. You may find yourself dependent on number and be forced to renew the contract each year.
Here is the Simple Telecom top tips for owning a 1300 number for your business. We strongly recommend you select the direct match for your business inbound numbers. You are allowed to have a minimum of 6 letters and a maximum of 10 – the final four letters, beyond the first six are just for you to help create that perfect word. Australian phone line will support this and it will still be a local call rate for your callers.
If you can’t get your brand, our 2nd top tip is to go for a well know product or industry term. Get creative, think of what your customers might associate your business with or your product.
The last tip we have is make use of a 0 (zero) or 4 (four) as the fifth digit. “13000 XXXXX” and “13004 XXXXX” are great ways to find something that suits your brand and that might be available numbers.
There is a high chance that the first few queries you search for won’t be available. So, it is essential to brainstorm and then select a custom vanity number. Here are a few tips to help you make an informed choice.
You are getting a number to lure the audience, so it should be something they like and is easy to remember. If you own a flower shop, you can opt for 1300 FLO WER. However, numbers like these are already occupied, so come up with ideas that relate to your business.
The most popular example of a long vanity number is “1300 PIZZA HUT”. Usually, these smart numbers have ten words, but as you can see, this number has 12 words.
Going above the limit can be expensive. Search for the numbers you like on ACMA’s website, and purchase them if they fit in your budget. The numbering system is run by the Australian government and can improve your business image and how many calls you receive.
Multiple Australian businesses go for numbers with repeated digits as they are easy to remember, and the customers don’t have to look at the keypad while calling.
There are several words in the English dictionary that sound the same but are spelled differently. When choosing a custom phone number, avoid incorporating homophones, else the customers would end up calling someone else.
So you have purchased the number you wanted? Great! What’s next?
Now you need to contact a 1300 number service provider in Australia to help you set the number and use it. The service provider will help you determine the call rates while offering other services, including call routing.
In a nutshell, you cannot set up a vanity number without a telco. These companies will also take care of the service and maintenance. They will offer routing options, included features and additional services to make your new 1300 number better than ever. Keep an eye on the cost and make sure you have full control especially during peak times.
At Simple 1300 Numbers, we have made it easier for Australian businesses to get a custom phone number with a brand name in it. You can go to ACMA’s website through our channel, purchase the number you want, and get it set up by us.
We’ll even help you determine the call rates, so you can use the new number at reasonable rates. As you directly purchase the smart number from ACMA, the complete process is transparent.
Now you are all set to get a custom vanity number. Click here, and follow the process mentioned on the website to get it set up quickly.
When you’re thinking of starting a new business, one of the main roadblocks you’ll come across is overcoming the communication channels for your company even if you’re not selling in that league. Running a business needs an entrepreneur to be on top of all trends and technologies that’ll boost their brand online and offline, because let’s face it word of mouth still works – no doubt – but nothing sparks more buzz and sales like a viral post online.
We’re here to make sure that you’re not stuck in figuring out complicated telecommunications processes and SOPs and can run your dream business right from the comfort from the beach enjoying a nice cocktail. That basically is our ethos and since our inception in 2006 we’ve helped many small to medium businesses focus on selling their products and services rather than getting caught up in figuring out regulatory compliance and making sure their phone lines are up and running.
Back in the day it was easy for any carrier or carriage server provider to join the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman – that handles all disputes between providers and customers – and begin selling their service. However, since 2012 TIO has released a long list of requirements to fulfil that only add more roadblocks to the process of becoming a TIO member than actually resolving small business owners or resident’s complaint regarding their internet service or telephone provider.
The room for small or big telcos to survive in Australia is becoming harder and harder with the amount of regulations to comply with and the amount of information to provide which to be honest is unnecessary and only a cause of stress. At Simple Telecom we’re all about transparency of data and following a process that ensures customer’s privacy and service satisfactions – but when it comes to B2B transactions the same guidelines cannot be replicated.
Following every single point, the Telecommunications Consumer Protection code is an overkill when it comes to conducting B2B sales as most of that information becomes irrelevant in the light of the documentation already available by the companies. Requesting information for every single user’s date of birth, driver’s license, fingerprint, face scan results in owners stuck in providing each information rather than actually providing the service they’re selling.
It would’ve been a different scenario for companies if this information would actually be important in the way TIO conducts their processes for dispute resolution but according to a report by communications alliance the numbers have reduced to all time low in three years. Usually what happens is that each company has to pay per user for each complaint file to TIO against a Telco – Simple Telecom has never had to pay due to our professional and efficient service. But most recently, since the complaints have dropped tremendously, TIO has started demanding an annual membership fee.
This is the Catch-22 for telcos as you cannot function without registering with TIO and even though you’ll provide fool-proof service you’ll still have to pay the Ombudsman for keeping the organisation alive. The fault doesn’t lie with good companies following the guidelines and SOPs – that is what they wanted all along – they might have a better shot at re-evaluating their processes if they want businesses to survive.
Compliance regulations are necessary for every industry to make sure that service and trade providers aren’t violating any rules or working against the benefits of their consumers. However, with the pace technology and new trends are changing it is important for organisations and regulatory bodies to keep up with them as well. Currently, TIO penalises companies for every complaint they receive and so far Simple Telecom has made sure not a single complaint tarnishes our reputation and service.
But this also means that the barrier for entry is becoming bigger and harder to cross for a new business owner as the Telecommunications Consumer Protection codes and data retention policies are making it harder and harder for small businesses to operate especially if they deal with B2B.
And this doesn’t include the whole list of Data Retention policies required by telcos as well. If you’re a company that deals in innovative products for agriculture or launching Internet of Things products it is a tedious job getting those products launched especially if you’re a small team and are banking on the success of your company’s vision and products to launch you further. The investment required to get through all the compliances and regulations alone can be a hard feat for many small businesses which is why Simple Telecom exists to make sure dreams and revolutionary ideas don’t get crushed under the weight of regulatory guidelines.
Simple Telecom has helped many small businesses launch off the ground with our professional and low cost services that have saved tons of money for companies that would otherwise have been knee deep in overbearing costs of TCP codes and TIO fees. We provide great customer service with our quick response to customer issues raised and our low-cost packages.
We have a secure customer platform and key self-serve business telephony features along with inbound 1300 number and live call answering so that you don’t have to worry about setting those things up for your business and can focus on the more important aspects of running the company. Despite it becoming harder and harder for Aussie telcos to operate with many regulations thrown at them companies like ours are making sure that there is a level ground for everyone to compete at and launch their products. If you want to know more, get in touch with our team at Simple Telecom today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a curve ball to every single business and industry around the world, and has put on a halt on the dreams of many enthusiastic entrepreneurs. We’re living in a very uncertain time where definitive answers are rare and everyone is just taking it one day at a time. The pandemic – as declared by WHO in March 2020 – has forced many countries to completely halt business and office operations in order to prevent the spread of the virus and Australia has been affected by the lockdown situation as well.
Although, many companies have been taken more aggressive marketing strategies in the online domain it is becoming hard for small or family owned businesses to make it in these uncertain times. However, that doesn’t mean that yours cannot survive! Now is the time to put on your thinking caps and become innovative in order to reach your targeted audience with new techniques and strategies. Social distancing has made many brick and mortar stores come up with creative solutions to implement it strictly, but your business can still survive through ever expanding but highly available digital solutions.
Simple Telecom is helping the average Aussie entrepreneur not lose on any sales leads or see a decrease in their sales conversion rate through our low cost, highly effective inbound number service that helps business owners better manage sales call. Right now is the time to deploy all sorts of low cost marketing strategies to yield sales lead and to reign in profit because no one can predict when this pandemic will end.
Even though every business comes up with a contingency plan in order to meet any unexpected circumstance but with the COVID-19 pandemic not even the strongest and financially secure companies could foresee or plan in advance for the economic blow they are facing. Many countries are coming with bail out plans and even though the situation seems grim and stressful this is not the time to lose hope or give up.
Simple Telecom is here to make sure that our clients and their businesses remain afloat despite the battle everyone is facing and the good news is digital engagement is increasing, which means that there still is a market available for selling. What you need to do is find the sweet spot between a low cost marketing strategy and targeting a specific target audience according to different variables.
Many companies around the country that Simple Telecom is associated with are adopting efficient and cost effective measures by providing a Sales Inbound number and support number that is driving sales for their businesses in these times. This allows them to focus more on the missed calls and target leads that are bound to convert into potential sales. Support and Inbound numbers allow your business to grow passively even when you’re not available as potential clients can find the right information through them.
Similarly, it saves time for the staff as they can focus on the right type and volume of customer engagement that result in effective time management and resource utilisation. With everyone stuck at home due to the lockdown you can expect calls at different times during the day or night because “normality” or “9-5” has been thrown at the window. We’re not just working from home, we’re working from home during the crisis and providing support or being available 24/7 has never been more important and more stress inducing.
You can’t be stuck to the phone throughout the night and morning just because “you’re at home” or your employees are; there has to be some structure to this unconventional time and if you can find that harmony with low cost marketing techniques then there shouldn’t be any hiccups right? But let’s face it, businesses are shutting down and laying off employees left, right and centre – and we hate to be the torchbearer of such stressful facts but the truth of the matter is only those companies will survive this pandemic that thought literally outside of the box while remaining inside.
Many creative entrepreneurs are making full use of inbound techniques apart from employing the tried and tested strategies of using keyword research optimisation along with on-page fixing up and the good old chat box – all too appear on the first page of Google’s Search Engine Results Page. We’re advocates of using all SEO techniques to get your brand out there online but consumers are looking for more than just content that is written well and intrigues their curiosity.
Buyers are looking for sensitivity to the situation at hand and services and products that are close by as international shipping and shopping isn’t the best at the moment. Many Aussie entrepreneurs are taking a more microscopic approach to marketing by targeting only single suburb or town, and getting traction for selling their services, assets, products, etc over there. Any SEO traffic is welcome at this point and getting is pretty cheap which results in sales that are solid and airtight.
But what is inbound marketing without an inbound number to register and see the results of all your strategies with the amount of calls your company is receiving. Getting an inbound number for your after or pre sales is highly crucial, and once you find the average call time your staff can better manage reporting answered VS missed calls and getting back to the ones that they couldn’t receive.
Just because the pandemic has hit every business hard and in an unimaginable ways that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market available ready to sell. People are nervous but there is always a demand for a trade or service that impacts everyday life, the goal right now isn’t to reach everyone but to reach those that will result in definite and confirmed sales lead. With Simple Telecom and our Inbound and Live Call answering services will make sure that your business isn’t affected no matter what.
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