Thursday, October 2, 2008

More Companies Using Home-Based Customer Service Reps

Many large U.S corporations these days have started employing freelancers, working from their home-based offices, to cover all incoming customer service calls. This arrangement benefits both the employee and the company and is made easy with 1-800 numbers.

Toll free phone service from providers like Tollfreenumber.ORG allows any call to a 1-800 number to be routed to any home office or cell phone. Companies like 1-800-FLOWERS and J. CREW are employing freelance customer service representatives to handle incoming calls to their toll free lines. Customer service reps handle all aspects of inquiries from customers, just as if they are working in the main headquarters of the corporation.

The home-based employees save money on gas, childcare, and they do not have to worry about lengthy commutes. And the company benefits financially too—they need less office space and fewer in-house resources.

This type of employment arrangement works easily with toll free phone service. Calls can be forwarded to available customer service representatives at any time of day, in any time zone. And the customer never pays for the call.

This set-up can work for smaller companies too. A customer rep can work from anywhere—toll free 800, 888, 877, or 866 area codes are not tied to any geographical location. So, the company’s customer base is broad and incoming calls can be routed anywhere the toll-free-subscriber chooses.

Using home-based staff to handle customer concerns and inquiries is a growing trend, and another reason why toll free phone numbers help all types of businesses to thrive.

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Saturday, August 16, 2008

Advertising Nationally.

There are many businesses choked by a limited customer base because they post a standard phone number and expect potential customers to call long distance for a product or service. There is another alternative used by millions of successful companies.

Toll free phone service can open up their potential market as much as 1400%, maybe more. All they have to do is opt into one of the most reliable and affordable marketing tools available---a 1-800 number.

By simply placing ads with a toll free number in publications throughout the country and on websites, a small company can instantly attain national appeal, reaching millions of potential customers. This has worked for major companies--that started out very small--like 1-800-FLOWERS, AMAZON, DHL and hundreds of others.

Consider this: an ad in a distant market that includes a standard phone number could instantly lose the interest of 7 out of 10 potential customers. But an ad placed in a distant market that has a 1-800 number could increase interest up to 1400%. The difference is staggering, isn’t it?

Toll free service has become a staple for businesses, organizations, and not-for-profits. According to reports, 98% of Americans use toll free numbers regularly. Responses to ads can increase as much as 600 % if the advertisement includes a 1-800 number.

Toll free numbers are economical, convenient, and very effective in helping small and mid-sized businesses grow. And what if this growth necessitates relocating to a new space, expanding to other locales? There is no problem—your toll free number can go with you.

Quality, rates, and service plans can differ greatly between carriers so when looking into obtaining a 1-800 number, make sure that you find a service provider that uses fiber optic technology, offers affordable rates without a lot of hidden fees, and provides a variety of features so you can amend your plan if your needs change.

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