Toll Free
Number Tricks: Preventing Prefix Misdials
By Nick Gowdy on February 26, 2010
We've all
misdialed - swapping a couple digits or mashing multiple numbers by accident.
We get connected to some random stranger who sounds nothing like who we were
expecting, and we fumble for an embarrassed explanation before hanging up.
With 866,
877, and 888 prefix toll free numbers, the main cause of misdialing is in the
prefix. 800 numbers have been around considerably longer than these other
numbers, so "8-0-0″ is the default in the minds of your customers. If they
don't have your contact info handy, there's a risk they might fill in the blank
with the wrong prefix.
Here are
some easy ways to prevent prefix misdials.
1. Split
the Prefix Up
There's a
growing trend among businesses that use 866, 877, and 888 toll free numbers to
strongly emphasize the second two digits by breaking the prefix into two parts.
This way, customers can't gloss over it and go straight to 800 in their minds.
For example, instead of reading a number in a tv commercial or radio spot as
"1-866-555-1212″, instead use, "1-8-66-555-1212″ (one, eight, sixty-six,
five-five-five, one-two-one-two).
This
practice does add a little complexity, so it typically works best when used
with an attractive word-spelling or repeating-digit vanity toll free number
that is already easy to remember.
2. Get an
800 Number
Occam's
razor - the easiest answer is often the best one. If you're worried customers
might be misdialing your toll free number because it's not an 800 number, the
simplest solution is to, well, start using an 800 number. You'll need to update
your advertising, your website, and anywhere else your toll free number is
floating around, but once you do you'll be worry-free moving forward.
The supply
of available 800 numbers is as low as it has ever been, causing some toll free
providers to start charging outrageous premiums or stop selling them
altogether. Not to worry, we've made it easy for you to choose an 800 number of
your own for just ten bucks.
3. The
"Superfecta"
Some
businesses are really really worried about misdials because they fear
competitors might pick up a similar number with a different prefix to try and
confuse customers. To prevent this from happening, they pick out a toll free
number that is available in every prefix and get them all. For example, why
stop at just getting 800-555-1212, if you can get 866- 877- and 888-555-1212 as
well and point them all to the same virtual phone system? Some might call this method
overkill, but it definitely works.
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